Read Online Ever Night by Gena Showalter - Free Book Online Page A

commotion around the corner, voices—male and female—then stomping feet. Then the clone, the monster, four females and another, older male were bearing down on them.
    Vasili stiffened as he turned. He stepped to the side, in front of her, shielding her.
    â€œWho,” the older man snapped while trying to glare at Rose, “is that?”
    A moment passed in heavy silence. During that moment, Vasili’s entire countenance changed. From glaring, snarling beast to wicked charmer. “Greer,” he said. “Princesses. So lovely to see you.”
    Princesses? Were they his sisters? His daughters?
    Rose studied the females. Three were petite, slender. One slightly taller, but plump. Two had silky brown hair, one red, and one honey blond. The brunettes were pretty, the redhead plain, and the honey blonde stunning. Each wore gowns of sparkling velvet, jewels dripping from their ears, necks, and fingers. They radiated wealth and confidence, even the plain one.
    â€œThe girl,” Greer insisted. He had thick silver hair, scars lining his face, and the body of a warrior.
    â€œMy apologies if I gave you the impression you had the right to question me about my people,” Vasili replied in that smooth, humming tone, and the older man narrowed his eyes. “Now let’s all return to the party, shall we?”
    â€œFather,” the redhead said in a gentle voice—to the old man. Not Vasili’s sisters or daughters, then. Potential girlfriends? Rose wanted to hate them, but their eyes were kind. “Perhaps the girl would like to change into a gown first?”
    â€œWhat a kind little thing you are, darling.” Vasili patted the top of her head. “But she won’t be joining us.”
    Darling. He’d called the redhead
darling.
A moment ago, he’d called Rose by her name. And with that thought, she realized that he hadn’t called
her
darling. Not once during this visit. Not while he’d had his fingers inside her, not while he’d tongued her to orgasm.
    Disappointment rocked her. No endearments. Did that mean his affection for her had waned?
    Oh, he wanted her; she knew that much. He was still hard, after all. But you could screw a woman, even a wife, and not truly like her. And he’d bonded them, so he couldn’t sleep with anyone else. She was the only outlet he had.
    â€œMay I escort you back to the ballroom, Your Majesty?” the redhead asked. Without waiting for a reply, she reached out and took Vasili’s hand.
    Now
Rose hated the girls.
Mine,
she wanted to scream.
He’s mine.
No one else was to touch him. Ever. Even so innocent a touch. He’d just had that hand on Rose’s body, inside Rose’s body, and to casually touch someone else . . . Her teeth ground together.
    â€œActually,” she said, raising her chin, “I would love to join the party. As is. So . . . let’s do this.
Maj-ass-tee.”

Chapter Six
    He’d had her, Vasili thought, but he hadn’t
had
her. And now he had to parade Rose around the ballroom with his enemies surrounding her—and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do to stop the madness. Not without drawing more attention to her. Worse, he had to do it with the intoxicating taste of her in his mouth, the feel of her burned into his hands. And a hard-on only
she
could relieve.
    She remained by his side, at least, as she watched the happenings through wide eyes. Both a blessing and a curse. She was here, but he couldn’t claim her. Couldn’t stop every single man from staring at her. Men he wanted to kill, his own as well as Greer’s. But he couldn’t blame them. She was enchanting. That fall of white-blond hair, those cherry red lips swollen from his kisses. Even dressed like a warrior, she was the most elegant woman in the room.
    And she was his. He wanted to announce that fact more than he wanted to throw her on his bed and strip her. Well,