by Kimbra Swain
“I make my own decisions,” she insisted.
“What decision have you made on your own?”
“To seduce you into killing your father so we can oust the old rule,” she said.
“You aren’t going to seduce me into killing my father. I imagine you have many skills in the sack, but none of them will convince me to kill my father.”
“But you hate him.”
“I hate vampires!” I clarified.
“I’m a vampire. So are you, but you are screwed in the head somewhere. You are like, a nice guy.”
“No, because a nice guy wouldn’t pin you half-naked and wet against a wall. He wouldn’t enjoy watching you squirm. He wouldn’t get hard, hoping that you’d push me over the edge of control.”
She bit her bottom lip. “I want that. Let go, Malik. You won’t hurt me.”
“No.”
“You don’t have to be in control with me. Maybe you don’t kill your father. That’s fine, but you need this. Have you even been with a vampire before? Have you ever really let go?” she asked. I released her, picked up her clothes, and threw them at her. “You haven’t. Why? Because you hate us so much.”
“Because if I let go, I know what I’m capable of doing.”
“You killed a girl during sex?” she asked, holding her wadded clothes in front of her.
“No, but I’ve seen it happen,” I said. I’d seen more than one of my father’s conquests end in death. I’d seen his men and nobles do it for fun.
“You can’t hurt me like that,” she said.
“I won’t cross that line, so don’t push it.”
She threw the clothes in the floor. “Then, what was all of this Malik? I felt the seduction. You wanted this. I felt…” She waved her hand in the general direction of the blue balls forming in my jeans.
“You are a beautiful woman, but I needed to know what your angle was. Was it something other than just wanting to fuck the reject?” I made my way to the kitchen where I spied a decanter with brown liquid. I poured two glasses and returned to her, offering her one. She took and sipped it.
She sighed, then sat down in the white leather chair across from the couch. I sat back down on the couch staring at her beauty. Her pale pink skin contrasted with the seductive underwear. The rosy glow of arousal flushed her cheeks, and the wild confusion danced in her eyes.
“Richard and I had a plan to overthrow the old guard. Our parents have ruled for long enough. We need new blood. We need to change the way we conduct business for modern times,” she said.
“You and little Dick?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you with him?”
“We’ve messed around, but he doesn’t mean anything to me. I’m doing this to take over the Northeast,” she admitted. “This place is probably bugged, and I don’t fucking care anymore.”
I studied her. This could be a half-truth. Perhaps she was tired of the battle of being the heir. I knew the feeling of trying to step out of my father’s shadow. I’d managed it by stepping away. She was trying to step up.
“If I know Stanley, he turned everything off,” I said.
“For someone who hates his family, you sure seem to know all about them,” she said.
“I actually like some of my family. I just don’t want to be a part of their world,” I said. “Do you fear Richard?”
“Fear him. No.” She wouldn’t look at me when she said it. “He’s nothing.”
“Has he threatened you?” I asked.
“He doesn’t like the idea that I want to split the North and East up again. It’s too much for one person to handle. My father loves the power, but we aren’t doing right by the vamps in the East. They get treated like step-children.”
“Where did you grow up?” I asked.
“In my father’s house.”
“That’s a lie.”
She sighed, then took a long sip of her drink. “I grew up in North Carolina. My father took me from the Eastern realm when he saw me at a meeting of the Lords. He turned me, then began grooming me to be his obedient heir.” The main home of the Northern Realm sat in Chicago. I believed they also owned a house in the Hamptons by permission of the old eastern rule. The East had been the smallest realm covering from Maine down to North Carolina along the coast, but including Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. However, it was the most populated vampire realm, because of the heavy activity in New York City and Washington, D.C.
“Let’s try this once again. Are you afraid of Richard Blackburn?”
She closed her eyes. “Yes.”
I’d figured most of it out as Tierney spilled her guts. She’d met Little Dick in private after her father took over the Eastern States. She’d reached out to him to help separate them again. He agreed to push her agenda if she helped him take his father’s place. She didn’t know what he had on his father, but it was enough to convince him to step-down.
However, the change of power was much more than just a resignation. The heir had to kill the holder of the seat by beheading. Stakes to the heart wouldn’t hurt us, and while the sunlight sucked, it wouldn’t kill us unless we baked in it.
She thought the only way to split the realms again would be to kill her father and take his place. He’d gotten wind of it and warned her that her time as his heir would be ending soon. It didn’t explain how my father’s guards turned on us. It also didn’t give me any idea which of us was the target.
The new twist was two dead humans in my old apartment building. We didn’t get a look at Horace, but I was willing to bet he died the same way as Karen. Tierney had redressed and paced the room as she babbled about not wanting to die. I still smelled dishonesty from her. However, I hadn’t allowed myself to consider fucking for pleasure since Lydia. I’d definitely considered it. I had to admit that my father was right. I needed to guard myself with Tierney until I knew her full truth.
“Are you listening to me?” she asked. I had lost concentration, watching her ass sway as she walked.
“Absolutely,” I said.
“What did I just say?” She stood with her hands on her hips.
“You said that I’m the most handsome man you’ve ever seen and that you wanted to suck my dick,” I replied, hoping my crass flirt would ease her ire.
“No, you aren’t, and yes, I do. But that wasn’t what I said.”
“Refresh my memory.”
“I said maybe your father would help us. That is, if you trust him.”
“I don’t trust anyone. Not even you.”
“I think you do trust me.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t. You are a…”
“Vampire. Yadda, yadda. I get it, but you need to understand that I was 25 when my father turned me. I’ve lived out there like you did. I remember human life and what it was like not being a part of the status quo.”
“Why were you turned so late?” I asked.
“The East rules were different than yours. We were allowed to pick our day of transformation as long as it happened before thirty,” she said.
“So, you lived with an Eastern noble family, and the North Lord took you to be his daughter. Where are your Eastern parents?”
“They did not give me up willingly.” Her eyes darkened. MacFarlane had killed her parents. Perhaps she loved her father less than I loved mine.
“But you wanted to be turned?” I asked.
“Yes, of course,” she said. “No one wants to die.”
“We get to die twice,” I said.
“Your father has been alive for over 200 years,” she said.
“But one day, he will die,” I said.
The door to the apartment opened, and Stanley walked in without an invite. “Your father demands your presence.”
I jumped up, willing to go. I’d had enough of being locked in a small apartment with Tierney. “Is he in a bad mood?”
“Is he ever in a good mood?” Stanley asked.
“Good point. Are you ready to go back
, Tierney?” I asked.
She started to shake her head, but she walked across the room to me. “Promise me that you won’t let Richard touch me.”
“Perhaps he sent the squad of traitors,” I suggested.
“It’s very possible. It would make both of our families vulnerable.”
We followed Stanley down the hallway to the elevator. When the doors dinged, I immediately flinched. No one was in the car.
“What the fuck?” I asked, hearing a door open behind us. Spinning around, I saw two men step out of one of the condos with guns. Two others stepped out of the room closest to the elevator. These men did not belong to my father. Stanley reached for his gun, but I put my hand on it. “No.”
“You run with her,” he mumbled.
I shook my head and stepped toward the two at the elevator. “I’m Malik Demonbreun, son of the Lord of the Southern Realm. I demand that you explain yourself.”
“We don’t answer to you,” the taller one replied.
“This is my realm, and you are guests here. Explain,” I demanded.
“You will come with us,” he said as the smaller one approached me.
I heard two thuds behind me. Looking at my feet, Tierney’s hair spilled across the ivory carpet. Before I could defend myself, the smaller man smashed his rifle into my temple. I hit the floor, laying over Tierney. Her dark smell lingered as I drifted off.
I awoke with a slight headache. Vampires had natural healing abilities, but it wasn’t a fast process. I sat in a room made of concrete blocks. A bright light shined in my face as I sat tied by my ankles and wrists to a very uncomfortable chair. The light hindered me from being able to see if anyone else was in the room.
“It would be best if you sit still while we decide what to do with you,” a male voice said.
“You got any water? I’m a little parched,” I said, smacking my lips.
“You won’t die. Yet.”
I laughed. “Oh, you are a funny one. I love vampire humor. Tell me another one. Being a vampire sucks is my favorite. Vamps are such a pain in the neck.”
“Shut-up, you idiot.”
“I love jokes. Why don’t you?”
“You will get plenty of attention soon.”
“Suck my life.” I heard him snort. He liked that one. I’m not sure how long I sat in the chair, but when the light clicked off, I looked up to see Tierney standing with her arm through Little Dick’s.
“She tells me that you wouldn’t fuck her,” he said.
“I’m thrilled to know that the two of you discussed my sex life.”
“We talked about a lot of things. If you are willing to help us, I will spare your life.”
“I’ve been wanting to die for a while, so do your best, Dickey.”
Richard shook Tierney’s arm from his, and I saw her eyes drop to the floor. He strutted closer to me and looked down. “I’d rather you watch as I kill your father. Perhaps it’s stupid of me to prolong your misery, but I’m willing to bet that you’ve wanted him dead for a very long time. I wouldn’t have been able to live in my father’s house if he had taken my girl, turned her, married her, then fucked her whenever he wished. There have been many formal events, and I assure you that she loves it. You just weren’t good enough for her.”
“Yeah, there’s bad blood between Dad and me.”
“He’s an idiot,” Dick said to Tierney who shrugged.
“I told you he was different.”
Dick rubbed his forehead, then looked back at me. “She says you won’t kill him. Why?”
“He’s my father. Until he is ready to step down, I won’t. I don’t want his realm. I want my motorcycle, my quiet home away from this shit, and away from these suckthroat politics,” I said with a grin, but I was running out of puns.
“Too bad the police impounded your bike. Nasty kills there, Brother.”
“I didn’t kill them. Tierney was with me when we found them that way.”
“We don’t allow open kills like that. It’s against the laws.”
“You want to change the laws?”
“Not that one. That one needs to be enforced more often, not less.”
“Did you kill my neighbors?” I asked.
“I wouldn’t touch those filthy humans with gloves on. Much less suck them dry. I wouldn’t even ask my men to do it.”
“Someone did it.”
“No, shit. I had the impression they sucked their own blood.”
“That would be a cool trick.”
“He does this on purpose to deflect. He acts like he doesn’t care, but deep in that cold, dead heart, he does. It’s why he wouldn’t fuck you, my Dear.”
“I’m not your Dear,” Tierney said.
“She’s a good lay. You should have given it a go,” he teased me.
“You are disrespectful.”
“You are a hypocrite. How many times now have you pinned her to a wall with your cock pressing into her? Two? Three?”
He was right. I had used my prowess to get information from her. I’d tested her, and I still couldn’t figure out exactly why I didn’t take advantage of the situation.
“He didn’t do anything to me that I didn’t want him to do,” Tierney said. “If the two of you will quit swinging your tools around, we can decide what we are going to do. His father will come looking for us, and it will be our heads if he finds us with him tied up. They won’t ask questions. They will just take us out.”
“She has a point. There is a lot at stake. Get it, stake.” I made a stabbing motion with my hand. However, with my hand tied to the chair, it looked like I was making a jerk-off motion. Meh. Whatever works. Tierney giggled, but Dick rolled his eyes.
“You are making it worse,” he said to her.
“He’s cute. I can’t help it,” she replied.
“Fucking women,” he said to me.
“I love women. I love fucking women.”
“And we are back to dicks,” Tierney said.
“What do you expect? His name is Richard!” I exclaimed.
“You are an asshole,” Dick said.
“Sweet. We have a Dick, and I’m an asshole. What does that make you, Scarlett?” I asked.
She grinned. “Unsatisfied.”
“Hey, I’m all tied up. Kinda kinky, right? You could do whatever you needed to me in order to satisfy yourself,” I winked at her.
“Maybe next time, Romeo,” she said.
“Why do people keep calling me that? It’s not my name,” I protested.
“Scarlett isn’t my name,” she countered.
“Dick is definitely his name.”
Dick looked back at her. She drew his attention as I loosened the knots on my right hand. I’d already gotten my left loose while I made jokes.
“Would you let me tie you up, Richard?” she asked.
“Geez. Enough sex talk. Malik, I get it. You are a daddy’s boy even if you like to pretend that you aren’t.” I laughed because Dick had it so backward. “We want to make changes in the realms. I’m going to help Tierney split the East and North again. Distribute the power, and you can have a part in it. All these ceremonies and forced transformations can end. Those who want to join us can. Those who don’t can just go on with their lives.”
“Sounds like a pipe dream to me. You can’t let people walk around with the general knowledge of our existence,” I remarked.
“We are higher on the food chain. Besides, there are so many television shows and books that glorify our existence. I’m not talking about mass awareness. I’m just saying that if the humans in our care and even some vampires can choose to roam outside the limits of your realms. If there are a few leaks, it will be chalked up to fake news. Hell, even your little club to pick up snacks has a vampire night. Vamps are all the rage.”
“What do you know about my club?”
“I know your cousin sent his Becky in there to seduce you because you were starving yourself. Licking the blood off the seats of human cars. It’s sicke
ning. I wouldn’t even be dealing with you if you didn’t already have support within your father’s household,” Dick said.
“What?” I asked. I’d tuned out most of his rant, but that much caught my attention.
Trey, my cousin, walked through the door behind Tierney.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“Supporting this change,” he said.
“Did you turn my father’s men?” I asked.
“No, we didn’t have anything to do with that,” Trey said.
“We? Have you lost your mind? Father will disembowel you for this!”
“He will never find out,” Trey said. “Besides. I can’t tell him who the mole is, because he’s going to execute that person. And I can’t not tell him who it is, because he’s going to execute that person.”
“Seems like you are dead either way. Did you kill those people in my house?” I asked.
“No,” he replied.
“I’d prefer that Trey take your father’s spot in the South, and I believe you would prefer that too. But the more we talked about it we need to keep the line intact for the sake of your father’s people. They will see you as a new change and a hope for their lives. Trey would just look like a traitor.”
“He is a traitor. All of you are,” I snarled.
It was a shame that Tierney was hanging out with this cold and clammy man and my turncoat cousin. I didn’t hate her for being with him. She probably didn’t know any better. Perhaps, I should have shown her better. Maybe I’ll get another chance. She was still into me. I try not to be chauvinist, but I like a feisty woman. It has been forever since I’d seen one as vibrant as Tierney. “I told you he wouldn’t go for this,” Trey said to Dick.
“He will,” Dick said, turning back to me. I made my move, jerking myself to my feet even though the chair was still attached. When I took my swing at Dickey, my fist connected with his jaw, and we both tumbled to the ground in a heap of chair and limbs. I’d knocked him out cold, but I was stuck on the floor with the chair still tied to my ankles.
Tierney groaned, and my cousin shook his head. “He had it coming!” I protested.
“I don’t even want to help you up,” Trey said.
