Vivienne stared at her appearance in the mirror. She sighed as she set her long dark hair in its proper place. The violet haltered dress she was wearing highlighted not only her pale skin but also her eyes – more violet than blue against the candlelight. She looked stunning, but there wasn't a hint of pleasure in her face. Instead, she appeared anxious and afraid.A knock on her door made her turn around. Xavier appeared in the doorway, his dark hair closely cropped and his eyes betraying how much he adored her."They've arrived," he announced. "Your father asked me to come and escort you to the dome." The way he spoke the words revealed that neither of them was fond of the guests he spoke of."Has my father forgotten what I went through under that monster's hands?" Vivienne asked as she ran both hands over her slender form to smoothen out the slight creases on her dress.Xavier's gaze darkened, pain looming over his handsome face. "Vivienne…

I made my way to my bedroom as noiselessly as I could and retrieved my sketch book and pencil from my belongings. I returned to his bedroom relieved to find that he was still asleep. I saw the trace of blood on his bed sheet, a reminder of what I had surrendered to him.I pulled the red velvet ottoman near the edge of his bed and sat down across him, and began sketching him, never wanting to forget that moment. I knew why I gave myself to him and I didn't regret it. Just because sandcastles are temporary, it never stopped me from making them as beautiful as possible. As I sketched his appearance, I couldn't shy away from the truth that was staring me right in the face. I was in love with Derek Novak and the idea that he returned my affections thrilled me.Beginning to focus on the quick sketch I was trying to finish, I didn't realize that he'd already woken up until I looked up to find his stunning eyes on me."You're so beautiful." His gaze was hooded, his voic

The Oasis, the underground Egyptian tombs that were now home to the Maslen coven, was every bit the fascinating legend it was rumored to be. The triangular gate, the seven levels, the circular glass lift, the lavish royal quarters… It was a worthy abode of the second most powerful vampire coven existing. I wasn't too happy about being in the arid deserts of Egypt, but I wasn't about to complain. The Oasis was the only place I could think of running to – especially after the Maslens offered me sanctuary after my own coven, my own flesh and blood, turned against me.Two guards led me to a large opulent chamber, at the center of which was a black throne made of human skulls. Borys Maslen still looked the same way he did hundreds of years ago – dark, muddy brown hair, dark brown – almost black – eyes, a stocky, well-built physique, wide and muscular. I recalled his obsession with my sister and couldn't help but imagine how frail Vivienne looked comp

To say that I was curious over what my lovely vixen had up her sleeve was the king of understatements. The knowing smile on her face and the way she looked at me as if she knew something I didn't was driving me crazy, but not any more than the way she was behaving as we moved around my bedroom dressing ourselves for the day ahead.I was watching her as she picked out an outfit to wear and I began thumbing through her clothes. I saw a white dress hanging on the rack and recalled the last time I saw her wearing it. "I love the way you look in this dress."Sofia winked at me, took the dress from the rack and put it on. She then went and stood in front of the mirror. She lifted her locks high over her head and twisted clumps of them around as if wondering whether to tie her hair up."I think you'll look lovely just wearing your hair down," I commented.Thus, stabbing at my curiosity even further, her long auburn locks stayed down, cascading over her waist&mda

The moment Derek returned, the first words that came out of his lips were: "I need to go to the lighthouse."We often retreated to the lighthouse whenever he felt particularly plagued by his own darkness. I wondered what his father could've told him to once again make him doubt himself. I exchanged glances with Ashley, Paige and Rosa. We had all been seated on the living room couches, talking over the things that Cameron and Liana had said earlier."And you should get dressed in something else." He added, "We'll spend the night there.""We need to have a talk when you get back," Ashley spoke up when I rose from my seat and walked toward him.I caught the way Derek swallowed hard upon seeing her. A pang of jealousy hit me over the way he looked at her, like he wanted her. I reminded myself that it was only because he'd already had a taste of Ashley's blood and that it had nothing to do with his affections toward me."Since when was it your place to