All Chapters of Stolen by The Vampire King: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

I glanced around Francois’s bedroom. The place he wanted to bring me. The dread festering in the pit of my stomach tasted bitter.But this room was clean and dust free, with touches of modernity that were incongruous with the rest of the house, and also incongruous to how Francois presented with his hairstyle and the clothes he favored.The maid threw open another door. “This is the bathroom. Once you’re finished in the shower, I’ll bring the dress the master has selected.”Another wave of longing for Nicolas passed through me. I missed him. But once I escaped here, I didn’t intend to see him or Francois ever again—no matter how much I yearned to be in Nicolas’s arms, kissing him, fucking grinding against him as he roamed his hands over my body.“Go in.” The maid waved her hands forward and I entered the bathroom, where I expected to find the same clunky plumbing as in my bathroom at home, but my mouth dropped open at the modern luxury.The shower was an altar to cleanliness, with a b

Kyle chuckled. “Nah. My contact.” He drew his phone from his pocket. “I should tell him we’ve arrived. Get this party started.”I crossed my arms and ankles and leaned against the wall while Kyle had a brief, quiet conversation, the street sounds of New Orleans filtering in behind me, the breeze bringing the bitter tang of coffee and the cloying odor of swamp. I’d never really enjoyed New Orleans. It had always been enemy territory, but diplomatic visits had always been necessary—and Father had usually relied on me for those.But since Leia had been attacked here, I didn’t just dislike it. I hated the entire city with a loathing that burned through my veins. Final death would be too good for Francois Ricard.I hadn’t figured out what to do with him yet. But maybe New Orleans was ripe for takeover.“Nic?”I glanced at Kyle. “Yeah?”He shook his head slightly and his eyes narrowed. “I said Temple’s on his way.”I nodded. “Good.” I returned to my thoughts then glanced at Kyle again. “But

We made our way to the Ricard Mausoleum on foot. I wanted to race, utilizing my super speed, but the witch couldn’t have kept up, and she wouldn’t be carried. Instead, she insisted on leading.“Where are we going?” I fell into step beside her, keeping my voice low as we stuck to lesser-known streets.“Out beyond Holy Cross, to one of the oldest cemeteries. No one will bother us there.”“Good.” I nodded. “But I wish you’d let me carry you, witch, so we could move at speed. We’re not exactly unobtrusive here in New Orleans, even where it’s quiet.”I cast a watchful gaze around.“It’s going to be a long night, but I have my own protection and my own strength. I’ll get you to the cemetery, I’ll open the portal,” she said. “You will have one hour. No more, no less. But that’s all I can hold the portal open for. Temple has told me where the girl is, and I can give you precise directions through the home.”“And how do you know about this portal?” I asked a question I didn’t expect her to ans

As I began to slide my hand over the comforter, searching for the blade I’d hidden, he grabbed my wrist and yanked me to my feet before pressing me against the wall, the movement so fast it was almost a blur.I whimpered. “Please, Francois. Please, no.”“Please, ma petite,” he groaned in response. “I long for you.”I struggled against him, but the long skirts tangled around my legs, and he grabbed my wrists, jerking my arms over my head as he pressed closer and dropped his head forward, resting his nose at the crook of my neck. His tongue touched my skin, and he groaned.“I need—” His voice was hoarse. “I need to claim you before I go… I want…You’re my bride, my queen.” As he spoke, he rocked against me, and his fangs grazed over my skin.“I’m not willing, Francois.” I pushed against him, arching my back and twisting my head away, my voice emerging thready and desperate. I didn’t entirely know why I had to be willing, but that much seemed important to all of them, so maybe it made a d

“I concur,” he said.We slid along the hallway, close to the wall, sticking to the shadows that seemed to blanket every surface. We reached a door with a worn brass doorknob and I stopped.“I think this is it.” I pressed my hand to the wood like I’d somehow be able to feel her, and I automatically turned the handle to go in. “Is the door being locked a good sign?”It had to be. Anxiety squeezed my heart. I had no idea what Francois was capable of—I hadn’t thought him capable of even this. I simply had to hope Leia was most valuable to him alive and unharmed.Kyle motioned me away from the door and Jason checked his watch.“We have to step this up, guys. Nic nearly getting his throat ripped out cost us more time than we planned for.”Without further hesitation, Kyle destroyed the doorknob in the same way he’d crushed the one downstairs. He didn’t pretend clumsiness this time, swinging the door open instead as he stepped forward with his gun raised. I shoved him aside.But the room was