Dark Seduction (Vampire Royals of New York #2) - Sarah Piper Page 0,97

for any symptoms of concussion.”

Concussion? It seemed so minor, so insignificant compared to what Sasha must be going through.

“But my sister—”

“We’ll get her back, Charlotte.” Dorian pressed his lips to her forehead again, his kiss as gentle as his voice. “You need to rest tonight. Can you do that for me? Let me work on this while you—”

“No. No way.” Charley tried to stand again, but Dorian put his hands on her shoulders, holding her in place. She looked up at him through watery eyes, every muscle screaming in protest. The pain didn’t matter, though. Charley felt like a mother bear, overcome with a fierce need to find her sister. “I have to go to Rudy’s place. I have to get to him and—”

“And do what?” Dorian asked. The gentleness evaporated from his voice, anger taking its place. “He’s a violent psychopath and a demon, for fuck’s sake. And right now, he’s holding all the cards. He’s using your sister as bait. He wants you out of the way, Charlotte, and if you think he won’t finish the job…”

Dorian’s voice broke at the end, and when Charley met his eyes again, she saw her own fear reflected right back at her.

She pressed her bandaged palms to her temples. “I have to try. I can’t just stay here and… and do nothing while she… and I’m… and the heist is… and…” Charley tasted blood in her mouth again, another cut that wasn’t deep enough for stitches but still stung like a bitch.

Fuck.

She was being ridiculous. She couldn’t even stand up, let alone face off with the demon who’d done this to her. She had no fight left—not tonight. She could barely breathe.

Charley felt like a child stuck in a nightmare, crying out for a mother who would never come.

“I thought I’d lost you,” Dorian whispered. He bent down and gathered her in his arms, pulling her to his chest in a suffocating embrace. “Nothing else matters but you and Sasha.”

“But—”

“Nothing, Charlotte.” He pulled back and met her eyes, the intensity of his gaze leaving no room for argument. “When I tell you we’re going to figure this out, I mean it. We’re going to get your sister back, and we’re going to make sure that bastard never hurts either of you—or anyone else—again. Do you trust me?”

Do you trust me?

They were only four little words—words Charley should’ve been asking Dorian, not the other way around. But now she was locked in his unrelenting gaze, his honey-brown eyes seeing right through her, stripping her down to the core.

She was vulnerable and scared, ashamed at everything she’d done to bring this situation to his doorstep, but when he looked at her like that—like he believed in her, like he had total faith in her ability to get through this or anything else, like he loved her—she felt strong, somehow. Capable. Wanted. Cared for. Unstoppable.

Forgiven.

Charley’s heart expanded in her chest, and the moment felt suddenly huge and all-encompassing.

The question…

Dorian’s intense eyes…

Those four little words…

They weren’t just talking about getting her sister back.

Charley blew out a breath.

She’d never, ever trusted a man before—not like this. She’d learned that lesson early on, and though she’d regretfully and stupidly allowed her life to be dictated and controlled by men for decades, she’d never trusted them.

But Dorian wasn’t those men. He was a vampire. He was a king. He was strong and honest. Sincere. Protective. Even after everything she’d put him through—all the lies, the trickery, the games—Dorian Redthorne hadn’t run away. He hadn’t turned her in to the police, or threatened her, or twisted her weaknesses into something he could use against her for his own gain.

Whatever had happened between them, whatever she’d done to betray him, Dorian Redthorne had come back for her. He loved her. He was here. Now. Right by her side. And one look into his eyes told her that he wasn’t going anywhere—no matter what.

“I trust you,” she whispered, and those three little words from the bottom of her heart paved the way for the next ones. “You have my heart, Dorian Redthorne. Tonight, and always.”

They were the same words he’d said to her last night, but only now did she truly understand the depth of their meaning. Loving someone… That was easy by comparison. But giving someone your heart? Freely, without strings, without expectations? It was exhilarating and terrifying, like jumping off a cliff and having no idea what awaited you at the bottom. No idea if there even was a