Whatever It Takes by Nicolette Scarletti Page B

him.
    Grabbing a fistful of my curls he jerked hard. A whimper passed my lips. “Enough! Or I’ll ask my father below if we can honeymoon in hell.”
    My eyes widened at his threat. Satisfied with my reaction he released my hair. Then Kristoff unbuckled my corset across my throat and unzipped it down the front. I was thankful I had decided to wear a bra. His hand was large and warm against my hip, sending a slight shiver up my body, my skin erupted in gooseflesh. What the hell was that about? I was so not reacting to this sleaze bag or his devil given power.
    “Here.”
    I felt the skin on my hip bone heat up. The feeling grew more intense as a green glow emanated from Kristoff’s hand. It was like getting tattooed all over again. Except this felt about one million times worse, think a disturbed nest of killer bees eating you alive, from the inside out.
    His touch forced his thoughts into me. I could see everything, from all the death and debauchery he’s caused throughout eternity, to what he planned on doing to me. A tear slipped down my cheek. Through our link I sensed his excitement at my anguish. It seemed Kristoff enjoyed breaking me in front of his dark father.
    “The bond has been established. It is up to you to finish it.”
    The green wall of hellfire faded from sight. As soon as it was gone, the heat on my hip diminished and I found myself sagging against my chains. Bittersweet relief, the heat was gone, but now I would belong to my enemy for all eternity. Can’t I catch a break? Even Sherlock Holmes and Steve McGarrett were afforded the chance to rid themselves of their nemesis. Of course they were fictional characters and more cunning than I, not to mention they each had their own sidekick. Yep, some guys have all the luck.

Chapter 16:
    Kristoff climbed up onto the altar with me. Before I could protest he straddled my waist and leaned over me, a triumphant smile tugging at his mouth. He let his lips brush along the column of my throat, the contact making my stomach roll. The thought that this monster would soon be able to make my body betray my heart, had tears threatening to spill from my eyes. After all the years I had trained my will so that this would never happen and here I was tied to an altar and facing a sentence far worse than death.
    I wanted to thrash and scream; to curse him back to whatever dark pit of hell he had crawled out of. I couldn’t kid myself anymore even if I was on my feet with a flaming sword from Heaven in my hand there would be no way for me to defeat Kristoff. He was bigger, stronger and a whole hell of a lot older; it would appear that the dice were stacked. Chained as I was all I could do was accept my fate.
    “Now, you shall belong to me always.”
    I felt Kristoff’s fangs scrape my skin and I screwed my eyes shut. There was only a moment to catch my breath before he bit down. His fangs pierced my skin and I wanted to die. As he drew my blood into himself, he pumped his venom into me. The pain was like nothing I’d ever felt before.
    Um hello, I thought a blood exchange was supposed to be sexual. You know all lust, and raging hormones. Not that I wanted it to be, especially with the creep feeding from me, but I just wasn’t able to stand this much pain on top of my humiliation. I guess that’s the last time I listen to a rumor. The people who said bloodletting was ecstasy were either lying or just plain out of their minds.
    Supposedly, it felt pleasurable, so the parasite that fed from you could keep you coming back for more. I had assumed that it worked that way all the time. But this burnt as if hellfire was racing through my veins. Kristoff planned to brand me inside as well as out. He pulled back, a trickle of blood running out of the corner of his mouth. I watched on in horror as his tongue darted out to catch it.
    “Master, we must use the cup.”
    I heard every word Priest said but couldn’t follow what he was saying. My mind felt like it was torn into a