Chapter 19.

The Castle was just as she remembered, even more intimidating in the dim lighting. Imelda didn't say a word to her during their trip and Lacey felt somehow relieved. The silence made her focus on many other things. Like what her father said about her mother and the possibility of she and Lila being related.

If she really wanted to know more, she had to talk to Hunt about it. If there was a way she could talk to the Hampshires or if he trusted her enough to help her find the truth.

But what if finding the truth meant that her mission would be jeopardised?
Hunt could find out she wasn't really Candy Holmes. Or worse, he could find out she was working for Aidas.

She asked herself wearily and sighed. There had to be a way.


She sighed as she walked into the castle with Imelda in tow. She paid no attention to the Castle's interior decorating although it did look better than it did when she saw it first.

It looked a bit lighter and airy, like someone had stripped the rooms of their dark curtains and replaced it with a warmer color.

"Come now. Don't be scared."

Lacey followed the voice and found Aidas at the top of the stairs smirking. She frowned noticing that he was mostly shirtless.

Aidas was half shadow, every muscle on his torso flowing from the light into the dark. He was a living work of art, his pale skin so tempting to touch; every move giving away his strength as he started walking down the stairs.
His low rise jeans on his waist sent a shiver down her spine and she had to look away quickly.

His eyes were locked onto hers when she finally summoned up the courage to look at him again.

He was enjoying her attention, most importantly he was enjoying her reaction.

"Are you still mad at me?"

Aidas asked as he finally stood in front of her flexing his biceps and Candy rolled her eyes.

"Go get a shirt or something."

"Why? Am I distracting you?"

He whispered huskily and she turned away.

"Far from it. Now will you tell me what was so important that made you ask me to come to this depressing home of yours?"

She retorted and Aidas touched his chest feigning hurt.

"Ouch. I see you're still mad. Come upstairs. I've got tequila."

"Oh no! I'm not drinking this night."

She shook her head wearily and Aidas raised his eyebrow.

"Sure you don't need it? I could use one by the way."

"Why am I here?"

Lacey asked trying very hard not to focus on the powerful outline of his back. He was flawless, from head to toe. The only ink one his body was the one on his left arm and it seemed to be a tiny inscription she couldn't make out.

It didn't seem like it was in English.

Finally, they got to a large airy room which appeared to be Aidas's bedroom.

"Why am I in your bedroom?"
She asked as she stood at the threshold watching him wearily.

If she thought his castle was dark, his room was certainly darker. Darker than any other room she had seen in the Castle.

His large bed was the one that caught her eye. The sheets, they were Egyptian silk that looked like they were made of the blackest of black and the bloodiest of red. Every other thing in his room looked like the entire castle.

Old with a generous sprinkle of outdated Victorian era fashion. Although the castle has it's own unique charm, Lacey couldn't stop thinking about how it would look remodeled.

"This is the only room I like to recieve special guests like you."

"That's not a convincing answer at all."

She sighed as she walked into the room when she spotted a bottle of tequila in his hands. She missed drinking, it had been a long time since she had a proper drink.

"How was your date with Hunt?"

That was the first question Aidas asked as he beckoned her to seat right across him at the far end of the room.

"Well... It went well. I met his father and as usual he seemed shocked to see me."

Aidas nodded.

"That's expected."

"You've been providing me his schedule every week. Last night I went through them and noticed something."

Lacey frowned in confusion. She knew she had been sending in Hunt's schedule, but she wasn't aware of any irregularities.

"Apparently, he has made three visits to Elderden house."

"Elderden house? That doesn't sound familiar."

Adidas nodded.

"Yup, it won't. Because it's on his schedule as City Council tax conference."

"Just a fancy name for a private City Council meeting ain't it?"

Aidas asked as he downed his shot of tequila but Lacey still looked lost.

"I don't understand. Why are you so bothered about it?"

Adidas groaned. Obviously getting pissed off.

"Because Hunt is not on the City Council, his father is. And Council meeting are always very private."

"Do you understand what I'm getting at?"

"Well, you said he's a candidate for Mayor just like you are. Maybe that's why..."

A deep sigh escaped from Aidas lips as he clenched his jaw.

"I've never been invited to one of those. Ever. Not before or even after my nomination."

"Oh."

Lacey simply said feeling stupid for not connecting the dots. She stayed quiet for a while, Aidas clearly looked mad.

"You know, if you were actually doing your job and not fawning over Hunt like some lost puppy, maybe you'd actually notice."

Her jaw dropped. No way he was going to try and blame her! How was she supposed to know?

"Oh! It's my fault? Really?"

"Yes! It is! You're his personal assistant! You're supposed to know these things! Or ask! Have you ever asked him why he takes you to all his meetings except that particular one?!!!"

"Did you even care to ask?"

He shouted and she flinched at the sound of his voice.

Okay. Maybe he was a little right.

"I understand you're angry. But if Hunt didn't want me to know about it he wouldn't. He's very good at hiding things."

"That's why you're there! That's why you're my spy! I didn't put you there just so you could go drool over him."

"What are you really angry about? Because I don't understand why you're attacking me?"

"You asked me to go on dates with him! You even asked me to seduce him so where is all this coming from?"

Aidas sighed and the two of them became quiet again.

"I should be asking you. You have a job to do Lacey. Don't lose focus."

"I know, He looks like the perfect guy, he's prince charming and he is sweeping you off your feet. But I promise you, underneath all that charm and smile is a beast."

"One that would haunt your nightmares for years to come."

His voice was low and raspy and she could feel goosebumps all over. She couldn't believe the nerve of Aidas, or the lengths he was willing to go just to make her hate Hunt.

"You're just trying to make me hate him"

She whispered and Aidas grey eyes shot at her. His intense gaze seemed to penetrate into her soul.

It bothered her.

"Is it working?"

Aidas asked and Lacey rolled her eyes.

"Barely."

She chuckled.

"Have you kissed him yet?"

Aidas asked and her eyes widened at the question.

Then her cheeks reddend in embarrassment as she saw Aidas smirk a little.

"How did it feel?"

Lacey shrugged.

"I don't know. It felt like how a kiss would feel."

That was a lie, it felt so much more than a ordinary kiss. But she didn't have to admit it. He already looked pissed.

"Did you enjoy it?"

He asks huskily and Lacey blinked rapidly. She knew where Aidas was going with his questions. The could feel the sexual tension in the room. Just his gaze alone on her was making her feel all hot and bothered.

He moved closer to her with lust clouding his vision. She licked her lips as she watched him intently, he moved so slow. Almost as if he was teasing her with his every step.

Lacey moved uncomfortably in her seat as Aidas finally stopped in front of her. He stood rigid, looking down at her with hard grey eyes that looked like cloudstorms and an unreadable expression. She felt weak at the knees.

Slowly she raised her hand and placed it on his chest.

Aidas cursed softly as she slowly caressed his chest. Not only was Aidas cold to the touch, she could feel him inching closer to her while his eyes closed in pleasure.

She stood up slowly.

Aidas grabbed her waist and pulled her close to him and to his growing erection.

She moaned a bit and the sound seemed to drive Aidas wild as he grabbed her even harder.

At that moment she didn't care. She couldn't think of anything and anyone else with his hands on her waist.

"Lacey?" Aidas called out impatiently and Lacey turned to face him and kissed him.

The kiss was frantic and urgent. Like they both couldn't get enough of each other. It was a greedy kiss, a battle of the tongues that made Lacey grab a fistful of Aidas's hair.

They broke the kiss and Aidas ran a hand through Lacey's hair as he kissed her neck softly, gently nibbling on the soft flesh and she moaned in pleasure.

He could feel the rush of her blood beneath her warm skin. But he restrained himself. Drinking from a vein in the neck was the best way to enjoy blood for a vampire, but Aidas restrained himself and clamped down on his jaw so his fangs wouldn't grow.

She stopped for a while to stare at Aidas. She wanted him so bad that it wasn't a feeling but a need that grew continually with every passing second leaving her body tightening with anticipated pleasure.

"To the bed." She murmured and Aidas didn't need to be told twice as he lifted her up with effortless ease and she wrapped her legs around his waist.

Aidas threw Lacey on the huge dark bed with reckless abandon and crawled on top of her.

Lacey's body racked with impatient need, she wanted him so badly that it physically hurt to be one second away from his body.

He brushed her hair away as he kissed her neck and she snaked her arms around him and kissed him hard and wild.

The next few seconds happened in a flash and Lacey could not explain it.

One second Aidas was on her kissing her with brutal passion and the next second a loud scream was what she heard.

Aidas was pushed away from her and she found a woman with a face of a demon staring directly at her.

Lacey tried scrambling away but the woman was as fast as lightening.

She pinned Lacey down while Lacey thrashed beneath her and then she attacked, lunging for Lacey's neck

Lacey blacked out.