Olivia
The days began to meld into one another, each morning marked by Coleâs absence. Brayden explained that Cole was putting in extra hours at work, preparing for our departure. I wasnât entirely sure what that entailed, but I didnât dare question it.
Initially, Cole would have Brayden escort me to his office. It wasnât a grand space, but one wall was lined with bookshelves, filled with volumes that ranged from ancient and dusty to crisp and new. I hoped to find some answers about my recurring dream among them, but most were related to Coleâs work or the history and origins of vampires.
As Coleâs meetings began to consume more of his day, he decided it was best to keep me in our room. It wasnât so bad at first. I had the chance to explore a bit more, and Brayden would occasionally keep me company.
Cole started to let me choose my own outfits, at least on the days I stayed indoors. I often opted for leggings and a sweater. Despite the warmth outside, the vampires kept the estate quite cool.
Today, I found myself perched on the large windowsill overlooking the garden. It was a beautiful sight, filled with vibrant flowers and a few small trees. It reminded me of the forest from my dream.
I was still gazing out the window when I heard the door click open and soft footsteps approaching. Normally, Iâd be on edge, but I assumed it was just Brayden or one of the human servants coming to tidy up.
âLittle dove? I think you should change into something less warm if we are to venture outside today.â Coleâs voice broke my reverie. I glanced at the clock, surprised to see it was just past noon.
âCole? Youâre back already?â I asked, taken aback.
He didnât respond verbally, but instead walked into the closet and emerged with a thin dress in his hands. He laid it out on the bed. It was a lovely shade of yellow, simple but light and airy. He also placed a fresh pair of white lacy underwear and a bra on the bed.
I approached the bed slowly. Cole was still dressed in his suit. The weather never seemed to affect the vampires; they were oblivious to the changing seasons. Cole was the only one who seemed to care if I was dressed appropriately. I suppose he was just looking after his property. Raven had taught me that they saw us as nothing more than that. I tried to shift my thoughts to the garden outside.
I didnât want Cole to know about my dream, but he never seemed pleased about the things Raven told me about vampires. I knew he was different, that he cared for me, but he was still a vampire and I was still a human.
I gathered the clothes and retreated to the bathroom to change. I discarded my sweater and leggings into the clothes basket and replaced my old underwear with the fresh ones Cole had laid out. I slipped into the yellow dress, the fabric soft against my skin.
Goosebumps prickled my skin from the chill of the suite. The bathroom always seemed to be the coldest room. I realized I couldnât zip up the dress on my own, so I stepped out of the bathroom. Cole was standing with his back to me. I tugged on his shirt, and he turned to face me.
âUm, I need help with thisâ¦dress, Cole.â
He didnât respond, but zipped up the dress and spun me around.
âThere, little dove. Are you ready to go? Weâre going outside, so youâll have to wear the collar and leash for a bit.â
I smiled up at him, letting him know I was okay with it. I started to think about random things, testing if Cole could really read my thoughts. So far, it seemed to be working, so I guessed he was telling the truth about that.
He pulled my hair to the front and fastened the collar around my neck, then clipped on the leash. I could tell he was indifferent about the collar and leash; neither of us liked that I had to wear it, but it was necessary for my safety.
As we stepped out of the suite, the hallway filled with screams. Cole gripped my forearm tightly, pulling me against the wall. I peeked around him to see two vampire men chasing a human girl with wild hair and a sharp kitchen knife in her hands.
âGet back, you blood-sucking demons from hell,â she screamed, waving the knife at the two vampires.
âWhat is going on here?â Cole demanded, his voice laced with irritation.
âLord Vallen! Apologies for the intrusion. Weâre just trying to capture this human. She escaped the auction, and Lord Cain wants her taken in alive,â one of the vampires explained.
It struck me as odd that they would want her alive. I was grateful, of course, but it was puzzling that they wouldnât attack her. They could easily use their speed, but she did have a weapon, and they could end up injuring her.
I clung to Coleâs sleeve, hoping he could hear my thoughts. This was Raven, my friend, my only friend. I could only hope he would intervene and help her.
Raven continued to brandish the knife until she saw me. âOlivia?â She then turned her attention to Cole. âGet away from her, you blood-sucking leech. I will fucking rip your head off if you hurt her!â
Without hesitation, Cole used his vampire speed to grab Raven's arm, twisting it behind her back and disarming her. The knife clattered to the ground, and one of the vampires picked it up.
âNow, I donât care what your orders were, take her down below and Iâll deal with her myself. Do you understand?â
The two vampires exchanged glances, seemingly unsure if they should follow Coleâs orders. Cole raised an eyebrow at them, and they quickly complied, dragging Raven away.
Her protests were loud and vehement, no doubt laced with a colorful array of expletives.
âDonât fret, little dove. Your friend will be just fine,â Cole murmured into my ear, his voice a soothing balm against the chaos. We descended the grand staircase, making our way to the main floor of the mansion.
As always, we were the center of attention. Vampires and humans alike watched us with a mix of curiosity and surprise. Brayden had explained that it was because Cole had never kept a pet before, making our pairing an oddity in their world.
Once we reached the main floor, Cole guided me towards the back of the mansion. There, a pair of imposing French doors beckoned, promising a world beyond the confines of the mansion.
Excitement bubbled within me as I realized we were heading outside. I could almost feel the warmth of the sun on my skin, the cool tickle of grass beneath my bare feet.
But just as we were about to step through the doors, a vampire blurred into view, blocking our path. I glanced up to see Annabelle, her presence a chilling reminder of the danger that lurked within these walls. I quickly retreated behind Cole, seeking his protection.
âCole! Itâs been ages. I see you havenât drained your sweet little human yet,â she said, her voice dripping with casual cruelty. As if draining a human was an everyday occurrence. As if I was nothing more than a disposable commodity.
âWhat do you want, Annabelle? Canât you see Iâm busy?â
âCole, I just wanted to chat. The annual gala is coming up and I was wonderââ
âNo, Annabelle. I donât attend those events. And even if I did, your presence is a nuisance. Now, if youâd kindly fuck off, I have matters to attend to.â
The shock on her face was priceless, and Cole couldnât help but smirk as he brushed past her, pushing the doors open. His hand rested lightly on my back, guiding me forward.
The view that greeted us was nothing short of breathtaking.