by Jenny Frame
“I’m jabbering, aren’t I?” Katie said, her cheeks blushing with embarrassment. “I do that when I’m nervous.”
Katie’s innocence and bashfulness lit an unexpected hunger inside of Alexis. Some vampires got off feeding from a blood virgin, to have the first taste of them, to be the one who would always be the human’s first, but the idea never appealed to Alexis. So why this twisting of need in her stomach now?
Katie’s mother and father were well-loved and extremely important to the Debreks, and Katie had grown up amongst them all. Usually, Alexis was barely aware of the human staff’s children, unless they were getting in the way. But she had noticed Katie when she left for university as a young woman, and since she had returned. It was clearly a bad idea to indulge such a strong desire and satisfy an urge with someone so important to the family, so she was doubly sure to turn down this particular host.
“Katie—” Alexis was just about to turn her down when Katie interrupted.
“You want a more experienced host, don’t you?” Katie’s shoulders slumped, and she sighed. “You’re the fourth vampire to ask for someone else.”
“Oh, why is that?” Alexis said.
Katie popped her phone into her pocket, preparing to leave. “They’re frightened of giving me a bad experience, I suppose, because of who Mum and Dad are. They probably think the Principe will be mad at them if it’s not a perfect experience or something. I mean, I know Mum and Dad are close to the Debreks, but I’m still a human like everyone else here.”
Alexis immediately felt guilty at the thought of turning Katie down, even if the vampire in her was a little too interested in drinking from her. She couldn’t do that to Katie and supposed it her duty as Duca to guide her through this first time if no one else was brave enough to.
She caught Katie’s arm as she started to walk away. “I’d be honoured to drink from you.”
“What? Really?” Katie said.
“Yes.”
The door to the blood room opened as another vampire came in ready to feed. Alexis turned around and gave them a hard stare. “Leave.”
“Yes, Duca,” the vampire said quickly.
The last thing Katie needed was an audience for her first time. Alexis locked the door with the key. “So we won’t be disturbed.”
Katie started to undo the first few buttons on her blouse. Alexis walked up to her and stilled her hand. “You do know you have the choice of wrist or neck?”
“Yes, Duca.”
“The most important thing to remember is that in here, you are in charge. Don’t let any vampire influence you about where to feed, or whether to feed at all. You always have the right to change your mind, at any point.”
Katie nodded.
“And if any vampire in our clan does not respect your rights, or tries to influence you, report it to me, or your mother and father, understand?”
“Yes, I do.”
Alexis felt the corners of her mouth rise into a smile. That was out of character. “Good.” She walked around to Katie’s back. “And you want to give me your neck?”
She saw Katie shiver and the pulse point in her neck pound. Alexis’s teeth broke through her gums at the sight, and her mouth watered. The hunger she had felt in her gut was even more demanding.
This wasn’t normal for her. She never needed someone like this—well, never since she had fed from the only woman she’d ever loved. That thought was ridiculous.
Just feed from her and get out of here.
Alexis took a step closer and pulled Katie’s blouse around her shoulders. She inhaled sharply when her fingers touched Katie’s skin and felt Katie shiver. This encounter was making her feel, and it scared her, but she couldn’t turn back.
Just do it.
She moved closer so that her lips were next to Katie’s ear. She closed her eyes and inhaled Katie’s sweet perfume. It was intoxicating to her.
“Do you consent?”
“Yes, Duca,” Katie said in such a breathy, wanting voice.
Alexis’s hunger, and now her sex, burned with need. This wasn’t about a lesson any more, it wasn’t just feeding—it was a need. Alexis needed Katie.
She sank her incisors into Katie’s neck, and before she even tasted her blood, Alexis was lost in the taste of Katie’s skin. Then Katie’s blood hit her tongue, and she experienced both shock and unbelievable bliss at the same time. Alexis sucked harder, and after Katie’s initial gasp, the feel-good chemicals hit, and she relaxed in Alexis’s arms.
Alexis’s head swam with what she could only describe as joy. She was sating a hunger that she didn’t know she’d had since Victorija Dred first turned her and destroyed her humanity.
She should stop, but it just wasn’t an option. Alexis stepped even closer and pushed her groin into Katie’s bottom. Katie responded by groaning and slipping her hand into Alexis’s hair and pulling her into her neck even more.
This wasn’t feeding any more—this was a prelude to sex. Sex, love, and feeling like she hadn’t since her fiancée was killed. The shock of the realization poured over her like cold water.
No. That couldn’t happen again. She was never going to let herself feel that way again. Alexis pulled away from Katie’s neck sharply, making Katie gasp, and like a coward, she ran.
“Alexis? You all right, mate?”
Slaine pulled Alexis back from her memories. She rubbed her face and said, “Yes. Give me some Debrek Special Reserve, will you?”
“Will do,” Slaine said.
Alexis needed blood to calm herself. The memory of Katie never dulled in her imagination.
Slaine served her the glass of warmed blood, and she brought it to her lips. Katie’s dance with the shapeshifter in female human form came to an end, and she saw the woman whisper something in Katie’s ear that made her laugh.
Then Katie somehow sensed she was looking and returned her gaze. Alexis took a sip of the blood from the glass and whispered to herself, “No one will ever taste like you.”
“Slaine? Your finest malt whisky. Great wedding, eh?” Bhal said, joining her at the bar.
“Hmm.” Alexis nodded.
Bhaltair was leader of a group of warriors, bound by honour to serve the Debrek clan, and had been a mentor of sorts for Byron.
Slaine gave Bhal her whisky. Bhal said, “You don’t seem too enthusiastic, Duca.”
“I have reservations about a big celebration. Byron has taken her eye off the ball now that she is bonded. There is a war brewing between the witches and the vampires. After Victorija’s last defeat, the Dreds are in a weakened state, but they are angry and eager to strike back.”
“That may be so, Alexis, but Byron and the Principessa couldn’t be safer here. We will deal with what we have to deal with tomorrow, for tonight we celebrate,” Bhal said.
“There’s nothing more dangerous than a wounded animal. My vampires on the ground in Europe tell me there are newly turned vampires flocking to the Dred banner, as well as some smaller European vampire clans.”
Bhal patted her on the shoulder. “I know it’s the job of the Duca to anticipate problems, but don’t let life pass you by.”
“Life? What life?” Alexis asked.
Bhal indicated over towards Byron. “Your friends, the people who care about you. Byron needs you as a friend, not just as her lieutenant.”
Alexis snorted and took a quick drink. “Byron doesn’t need me any more. She has the Principessa.”
“Of course she needs you. More than ever now that she has a family to protect. You know what would happen if Byron lost Amelia? She would make Victorija and her father look like pussycats. It’s our duty to keep them both safe and protected—for all our sakes. That’s why she needs you.”
“Maybe.” Alexis wasn’t entirely convinced.
“Besides, I think you have someone else to take up your attention.”
“What are you talking about?” Alexis knew exactly what she was meaning.
Bhal indicated towards the danc
e floor. “Be careful though. If you don’t grasp your chance, someone else will, and you’ll be full of regret.”
Pain or regret? She couldn’t stand to have her heart broken again, so she would just have to live with her regrets.
* * *
Katie almost floated back to the table escorted by her new friend Greda. They were soon joined by Daisy, who came back from the dance floor too and took a seat.
Ever since Katie had met Daisy through Amelia, they had become great friends. Daisy worked at Amelia’s family’s suit tailoring business but in her free time was a paranormal hunter.
Through her YouTube channel, Daisy and her small band of like-minded friends ghost hunted and interviewed whistle-blowers who said they had information on the paranormal world. But when Amelia had fallen in love with Byron, Daisy had finally found the paranormal world she had always believed in. Unfortunately, she now had to keep it secret herself, in order to keep her friends safe.
“They say never trust a shapeshifter, but Greda was lovely,” Katie said.
“I could say the same about any paranormal in this room,” Daisy said.
“I suppose it might seem that way, but I’ve been brought up in this world. It’s normal to me.”
“I can’t believe those are Byron’s parents,” Daisy said. “Her mum is bloody gorgeous. If it wasn’t for the grey streaks in her hair, you would never believe she was her mum.”
Katie looked over to the middle of the dance floor where Michel and his wife Juliana were dancing alongside Byron and Amelia. Michel’s hair and beard were carefully streaked with grey to take attention away from his much younger appearance, and Juliana was elegance personified, perfectly befitting vampire royalty.
“They are so nice too. They might look intimidating, but they couldn’t be nicer to my parents and me,” Katie said.
Out of nowhere Daisy grasped the table and closed her eyes.
“Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“Just feeling a bit dizzy. I think I might be coming down with something.”
Katie beckoned a waiter over. “Can you get me a bottle of cold water, please?”
“Yes, miss.”
Katie covered Daisy’s hand with hers. “Do you want to go upstairs to your room?”
“It’s okay. It usually passes in a minute,” Daisy said.
Katie was concerned by that answer. “Usually? How long has this been happening?”
“Not long.” The waiter returned with the water. Daisy clasped her hand to her silk neck scarf that perfectly suited her 1950s style dress.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Katie asked.
Daisy nodded. “Absolutely. Don’t worry about me. Worry about the scary Duca.”
“What? Why?”
“She hasn’t taken her eyes off you. Every time you dance, her eyes are glued to you. I think she maybe wants to eat you,” Daisy joked.
Katie laughed. “Hardly. She can’t stand me, and I’m the last person she’d want to eat.”
She turned around and tried to find Alexis, and there she was, standing at the bar, gazing over. When she saw Katie, Alexis turned quickly and spoke to Slaine.
“Hmm…she is a super scary vamp with everyone, but she really seems to get under your skin. Does she make you angry?”
“Infuriated, mostly. I think because she disappointed me. Can you keep a secret?”
Daisy rolled her eyes. “I’m a paranormal hunter who has discovered the paranormal world and can’t tell anyone. I think you can trust me.”
“True—well, the secret that I never told anyone was that I had a crush on Alexis Villiers ever since I can remember. Even before I understood why I found another woman so interesting. She strode through the Debrek estate, all-powerful and telling people what to do. She was exciting.”
Daisy leaned in closer. “Oh, this is getting interesting. What happened next?”
Katie sighed. “People rarely live up to the pedestal you put them on, do they? I went off to university, then came back to work with the Debreks, and I was put on the blood rota.”
“The blood rota?” Daisy questioned.
“All the humans who work for the Debreks provide blood for the clan’s vampires. We are well rewarded, and we always have the right to leave or refuse. Blood rights are always about consent for the Debreks.”
“Weird, but if it works for you, then great.”
“I was called down to the blood room, and it was going to be my first time, and Alexis walked in,” Katie said.
Daisy rolled her eyes. “Just your luck to get scary features.”
“I was so nervous and yet so excited at the same time. The vampire who’d been my crush all my life was here to be my first.”
Daisy took a drink and said, “I can imagine she behaved like an arsehole about the whole thing.”
“That’s the strange thing. She was so gentle, so caring, walking me through every step of my first time. It was like a dream. Then—”
“Then?”
A feeling of utter sadness descended on Katie. “Then she tasted me, tasted my blood, and was so disgusted that she tore her teeth away and ran out of the room, just leaving me there.”
“She did that? I was right—she is a bloody arsehole, Katie,” Daisy said.
“To this day I don’t know what was wrong with my blood.”
“There’s nothing wrong. If I were a vampire, I’d happily feed on you.”
Katie laughed. “Thanks, friend. At least I found out who she was. A cold, heartless vampire. Not worthy of my teenage crush.”
She looked back round at Alexis. What she didn’t tell Daisy was that in the brief moment Alexis was feeding from her, it felt better than any fantasy she’d ever had. She felt her everywhere. In her mind, her soul, her sex, everywhere. Katie remembered being so overcome with the need to touch and be touched that she’d reached back and grasped Alexis’s dark hair.
But then Alexis ran like she was some cheap one-night stand. What was so wrong with her?
* * *
“How long before we can slip away, mia cara?” Byron whispered into her wife’s ear as they swayed to the music.
Amelia giggled and kissed Byron on the nose. “A little while longer. We have to be polite. So you’ll need to put up with your hunger for the meantime.”
“Fine, but I will be in misery until my fingers touch your body and my teeth graze your neck.”
“Aww, you are sweet.” Amelia tugged on Byron’s stiff jacket collar. “I must say, I love your wedding outfit.”
“Hmm. Debrek ceremonial wear. Thankfully I don’t have to wear it too often,” Byron said.
She wore a formal navy military jacket with large gold buttons and swirled gold braid on the sleeves, gold tassels on the shoulders, and matching navy trousers. A loose gold belt was slung around her waist with an old looking rapier hanging from it.
The outfit was similar to Byron’s father’s outfit, only he had different gold braiding. Amelia guessed that it signified their different ranks within the clan.
“I think you look very sexy,” Amelia said.
Byron smiled. “Then wearing this uncomfortable uniform was all worth it.”
Byron’s mother and father swept past them as they performed some elaborate ballroom dance moves.
“Your parents really know how to dance,” Amelia said.
“Yes, they very much enjoy dancing together. The Grand Duchess Lucia used to tell me of the great balls the family would host when the Debreks still lived in Vienna, and how they danced together.”
Amelia sensed a sadness in Byron every time she talked about her great-great-grandmother, a sadness she’d be able to feel even if she didn’t share a blood bond with her partner. Lucia was killed by Victorija in a terrible confrontation.
“You miss her a lot, don’t you?” Amelia said.
“I do. It can be lonely when you’re a leader, but I always had Lucia at the end of the phone.”
Amelia kissed her cheek. “You know yo
u’re not alone any more, don’t you?”
She pulled Amelia closer. “I know that.”
Byron twirled them around and tipped her head to the bar at the back. “Look at my Duca, nursing a glass of blood and staring at Katie’s table.”
Amelia smiled. “She’s lovesick, but she’s never going to win Katie’s love by mooching around the bar and looking so serious.”
“She wasn’t always so serious. At one time I had to caution her about falling in love so quickly and intensely.”
“The girl that Victorija’s vampires killed?” Amelia said.
“Yes, Anna. It broke her heart when she died. After that, she wasn’t interested in anything but work and became harder and more serious.”
Amelia trailed her fingernails down Byron’s cheek. “So were you, and I melted your heart.”
Byron’s eyes started to turn red at Amelia’s touch. “Are you sure we can’t go upstairs now?”
Amelia laughed. “Not yet, but I promise it’ll be worth waiting on. I have something special planned.”
Byron was just about to reply when her sister, Serenity, danced up close to them with her dance partner, Angelo. Angelo was Byron’s cousin, head of the North American wing of the Debrek bank.
Angelo was a younger vampire and biracial, African American on her father’s side, but in most ways she was a kindred spirit and very like Byron in her tastes and her love of fashion, although Angelo was more relaxed in her dress sense. Not today, though—today, she wore a dinner suit and looked extremely sharp as she danced Sera around the room.
“Sera, keep out of trouble,” Byron said as the couple danced beside them.
“As always—anyway, I have my lovely cousin to look after me,” Sera said.
“Are you enjoying yourself, Angelo?” Amelia asked.
“I sure am, Principessa. It’s so much fun being with all the family again,” Angelo said.
Byron smiled. “It’ll be your turn next.”
Angelo gave an exaggerated shiver. “God, I hope not. There are too many beautiful women out there to narrow it down to one.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Sera agreed.
Byron looked back to Amelia and deep into her eyes, “You might think that, but one day love will strike and never let go.”
