Stolen and Seduced - Christine Pope Page 0,26

her to repair that relationship. Roman had more money than God and he was the Vampire Prince. He could order whoever owned Ash to release him.

Just then that owner showed up. Or her goons did. The door of Ash's tiny living quarters smashed in and two huge, red-eyed vampires crashed their little love nest. "Up against the wall, slave. Mistress Romig isn't going to be happy with you having a woman in your quarters."

Ash rolled and shoved Ruby behind him. "She is no concern of yours or my mistress. Get out. I will report to her at my assigned time and do my duty as always."

The vampires stalked toward her and Ash, their fangs out and ready to kill. "Not this time, dragon boy. She's going to turn you into a dragon skin rug for her bed."

Scales rippled over Ash's body, and smoke drifted up from his mouth and nose. He crouched like he was going to pounce, but Ruby couldn't let that happen. She grabbed the blanket up to cover herself and stood on the cot, her face barely able to see over Ash's shoulder. She had one skill in life and that was making the help feel like peons. "Stop right there, you blood-sucking minions. Do you know who I am?"

"Ruby, no."

"I won't let them hurt you because of me."

The two vamp-dickheads exchanged a look and then bowed. "Lady Ruby. I believe Prince Dracul has been looking for you. Mistress Romig will be pleased to help you return to the House of Dracul."

"Yeah. I bet." She lifted her chin and stepped down off the cot. She didn't know how else to get them to leave Ash be, except to insist that they escort her away. It was the only way she could be sure they weren't going to hurt him. She had the haughty act down pat, and it would be easy peasy now that she had these guys on the hook to leave. She just didn't want to.

Oh no. What if she left and then came back for Ash? She wouldn't be here to protect him. As soon as they took her to Roman, he'd kill her and there would be no way for her to make sure Ash was freed. Nope. Not leaving.

"Please, my lady come this way." The one vampire waved her toward the wrecked entrance to the hallway.

"Fine. Come along, dragon." She made eyes at him that said play along. "Once we're out of here, we can make a break for it."

Ash shook his head but didn't have the chance to say anything.

"I'm afraid you won't be doing that. He is the property of Mistress Romig."

Wait. The vamps could read minds? Dammit. That would have been nice to know. She thought something very unkind about vamp-dickhead number two, but he didn't react. Okay. So, they couldn't read mind, but could hear their mental telepathy. Fine. She could work with that.

Plus, there was that bond. Ash had specifically said it couldn't be broken. "Then I'll buy him from her. Bring him. But if you harm him, there will be hell to pay."

Hopefully this mistress vampire lady would take a check.

The guards led them through a series of tunnels and elevators until they arrived in a mansion just as nice as Roman's. This Romig lady must be pretty far up the vampire food chain to rival the prince of their whole species.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here? Slumming it with the help, Lady Ruby? That's the last place we all thought you'd run off too. Roman won't be too happy about that." A pale woman covered in jewels and her own brand of haughtiness sat in a darkened room. She waved to the guards and the vampires grabbed her and Ash and shoved them toward Mistress Romig.

Ruby tripped, but Ash grabbed her arm and pulled her into an embrace. His touch brought the marks on her skin to life and the flames of desire licked over them both.

Mistress Romig stood and glared down at Ruby. "I don't like to share my pets."

"He's not a pet, he's a..." she almost said human being. "He's a good man and you're disgusting for keeping slaves."

"But he's so delicious. I suppose you are now too that he's marked you and fucked you. I think perhaps we'll have to tell Roman my slaves killed you and I'll simply keep you for a snack." Mistress Romig reached a sharp nail out toward Ruby's throat.

Ash growled and jerked toward the vampiress,