For several long, tense moments, the only sounds in Cass’s ears were the rush of his pulse and the soft crackle of logs in the fireplace. Then a whisper of steps in front of him made him stiffen; his knuckles pushed down harder against the floor as he bowed deeper, swallowing against the bitter taste in the back of his throat as fear tightened its vice grip around his heart.

Seeing fine black boots stop in front of his face, Cass tensed with the expectation of pain. His mind spun with confusion when the vampire noble knelt down in front of him, instead. Cool hands framing Cass’s jaw as the vampire gently raised his face; concern and pity flooded his dazzling golden eyes as Raielle frowned, fangs dimpling his bottom lip.

“There is no need to bow before me.” The vampire’s soft voice was rich and dark, a shiver running over Cass’s skin.

As he drew in a sharp breath, Cass inhaled the scent of flame and cinders clinging to Raeielle’s clothing from standing so close to the fireplace; it was disarming, Cass so used to Emrys’s chilling presence that the warm smell was somehow comforting. “You are a noble, the lord of Sector 8,” Cass whispered, his gaze dropping as his fingers trembled against the floor.

The vampire noble’s soft scoff had Cass’s gaze flashing up to his face, pale blue eyes wide. Raielle shook his head, softly curling locks of brown hair falling over his broad shoulders with the motion. “That’s a title Emrys forced upon me. I have no desire to see anybody on their knees before me.”

Cass stared up at him, at a loss for words and trapped in the vampire’s kind golden gaze. He slowly raised his hand from the floor, straightening his back; Raielle’s fingers trailed along his jaw as the vampire allowed him to pull away, Cass’s face hot without the cool press of the noble’s hands. His breath caught as Raielle got to his feet in a smooth, elegant motion, his towering form leaning over him as the vampire offered his hand to the kneeling human.

Cass’s hand hesitated in the air between them before reaching out. His fingers slipping over Raielle’s palm, the skin slightly rough, his grip tight and strong as he pulled Cass up to his feet. Their hands stayed connected for a moment longer, Raielle looking down at Cass’s slim, delicate fingers in his grasp. 

“I’m sure you have a lot of questions,” the vampire said softly, squeezing Cass’s fingers lightly before releasing them; looking faintly amused by the human’s confusion as he quickly snatched his hand back. “I won’t harm you. Ari didn’t bring you here to suffer at the hands of another vampire master.”

Gaze flickering to where Arius stood by the fireplace, Cass’s jaw was tight. “Then why did they bring me here?”

“Because you are not a bird to be caged for Emrys’s amusement,” Raielle replied, his eyes narrowing and a bitter frustration in his voice.