Thrall (Supernaturals of Las Vegas Book 1)

by Carina Cook

  “There are sights!” he replied with mock indignation. “Lots of sights.”

  “Can you see them, or do your eyes freeze shut the minute you cross the state line?” she teased.

  He threw up his hands. “I can see there’s no reasoning with you.”

  “You should know this by now.”

  “Yeah, well…” He locked eyes with hers. “Just remember that we owe you. And even if we didn’t, if you needed me, I’d come. So you don’t hesitate to call if you need anything, okay, queenie?”

  She made a big show of getting offended by the nickname, but underneath, she was really touched. There was no need to say it, though. Oliver knew without being told. They chatted a while longer, and then the baby woke up and needed a bottle, and soon enough it was time for them to leave. Liss gave Oliver a long hug and wished them well, then piled back into the limo for the ride back to the casino. She had some thinking to do, but first, she needed sleep.

  CHAPTER 10

  Consciousness came quickly as the sun sank beneath the horizon. One moment, Gregor was aware of nothing. The next, he became instantly alert. He vaguely remembered what it was like to slowly wake up, groggy from a good night’s sleep, dreaming of concertos and adoring audiences who applauded his virtuoso music. But that life had been a long time ago, and he hadn’t played a violin in years. Viktor had wanted him to, but he’d claimed to have lost his muse. It was the one small rebellion he’d been able to get away with. Viktor might have been a brutal dictator, but he’d had an unexpected respect for the arts.

  Maybe he’d have someone on his staff find him a violin. Now that he thought about it, his fingers itched to play, like they’d been set free after years of restraint. Which wasn’t all that far from the truth when Gregor thought about it.

  He’d definitely get a violin. By the time he made it to the sink to brush his teeth, he’d decided. And perhaps he’d redecorate his rooms. His bedroom sat in what amounted to a bank vault, with walls of reinforced steel that would keep out the sun even if the building around him collapsed. He didn’t want to lose his unlife to an earthquake, not now when it felt like it was just starting. But he had to admit that his room felt like a bank vault. It was furnished luxuriously, but in a spartan, cold sort of way. No color. No decoration. Everything in shades of grey or black, with the exception of the plain white walls. It felt like a tomb, like no one lived there. For years, that was how he’d felt. But now, things had changed in so many ways, thanks to Liss.

  Perhaps she’d like to help him decorate. He didn’t know what her style of choice was, but he felt secure in the assumption that it would be impeccable. He’d seen new thralls come to court in fluffy monstrosities of bridal gowns, running under the assumption that opulence would make them look sophisticated when it fact it only made them look silly. But Liss had chosen the understated elegance of silk. She didn’t need to put on a front, piling on frippery to hide behind. Surely, she’d bring that sense of restraint to their rooms.

  There, he paused, tapping his toothbrush on the black marble bathroom countertop. He needed to remember that, although he might dream about them sharing rooms one day as equals, Liss had some say in the matter. He had chosen not to take advantage on the balcony, and it was a decision he would stick with. He wanted her to want him as much as he was growing to want her. Otherwise, their relationship would be empty. So, if Liss chose not to share his rooms, he wouldn’t push it. But still, he would enlist her help, and maybe that would help make his case, that he wanted her in a relationship of equals. Her intelligence, power, and beauty demanded no less.

  Plus, he was hoping that the offer would make her happy. She’d clearly been upset last night, although he hadn’t been able to manage a private moment to talk it over. He couldn’t blame her for that, but maybe with some help, she’d see that she’d done them all a service by making Viktor kill himself. Or at least quit feeling quite so guilty about it.

  That would be his first stop, then. He needed to see Liss first. Then, he’d confer with Tait and Konstantine about the casino and the status of his gift of shares to the vampire nobles. He would eventually have to face Chandra. Perhaps he’d fire her and give her position to Isabeau. Dagmar had phoned him after they’d spoken to the Archambaults and reported that they were leaving, but the promise of that kind of position might be enough to make them stay. Liss would like that.

  His plans made, he dropped his silk pajamas on the floor, ran a hand through his tousled hair, and turned on the shower. Some day, Liss would stand here with him. She would get into the shower alongside him and press her lithe body to his hard one as the water ran over them. She would complain that the water was too cold or too hot.

  A man could dream.

  As the patron of the Lorensson family, Gregor had every right to enter their penthouse apartment whenever he pleased. If that wasn’t enough of a reason, they were living in his building, which technically made him their landlord. Their apartment sat in the bowels of the casino, far from the noise and smoke of the main floor. And if those two reasons weren’t sufficient, he was also their king. He could enter any of his subjects’ homes and demand that they bow to him if he really felt like it. Not that he’d ever dream of doing such a thing. It had seemed unspeakably rude when he’d seen Viktor do it, and he’d always felt the urge to apologize on his sire’s behalf. No, he would retain some measure of civility, and hope to rule with a light touch except when necessary. If some rogue vampire decided to run rampant through the streets of Las Vegas, he would crush them. But otherwise, he’d prefer not to use force unless all other options were exhausted.

  So he rang their bell and waited politely.

  Tait answered the door, already dressed in suit and tie, his hair perfectly arranged in the kind of tousled style that looks effortless but probably took a good ten minutes to achieve. He gave Gregor an uncertain smile.

  “Majesty,” he said. “I didn’t expect to see you here. Are we still meeting on the floor in an hour? I imagine you have a lot to do.”

  “We’re still meeting. And please, call me Gregor. At least outside of court.”

  Tait thought this over. “That makes sense. I wouldn’t want to get into the habit and slip in front of the human staff. Of course. Gregor it is, from now on. Thank you, sir. What can I do for you?”

  “I was hoping to have a word with your sister.”

  Gregor clasped his hands behind his back, trying to project an image of self-confidence and ease. But inside, he felt a little more like an eager schoolboy waiting to get a glimpse of his schoolyard crush. What would she say? How would she look? Did she feel this strange attraction too, or was he finally going senile after all of these long years? Vampires weren’t usually subject to senility, but there was a first time for everything.

  “She’s in her room,” said Tait. “Shall I get her for you?”

  “If you don’t mind, I’ll go visit her there. I wouldn’t want to interrupt whatever she’s doing.”

  Tait gave him a strange look, as if he was taken aback by Gregor’s deference. But all he said was, “Of course, sir.”

  Gregor had been in this apartment many times, so he knew where Liss’s room was. He’d never been inside, of course. That seemed like a gross invasion of the privacy of a girl he’d never met, and to be honest, he hadn’t really been interested before now. He’d known of her achievements, of course, and had been looking forward to the day when she returned from her schooling and could take her place in his household. But he hadn’t in a million years expected her to become more to him than just another thrall in such a short amount of time. He didn’t take his thralls for granted—they were people rather than tools, as some vampires saw them—but he didn’t expect to become infatuated with them either. If someone had brought up the possibility before he met her last night, he would have said it was preposterous.

  But now, he found himself stilling his nerves before rapping on the closed door to Liss’s room.

  “Come in,” she
called from inside.

  He opened the door to find exactly the kind of room he would have expected from Liss, if a bit messier than anticipated. The large bed was neatly made with pristine, ice blue sheets and hung around with gauzy white curtains. The open closet was perfectly arranged, an effect that was only slightly marred by the stack of suitcases and boxes in front of it. A plum colored fainting couch added color to the room and served as a home for a stack of textbooks. The desk was a pale wood, polished to a bright shine, and Liss sat there with an open book before her. She looked at him with her mouth open in surprise for a moment before shutting the book and rising abruptly.

  “Majesty,” she said. “I’m so sorry. I thought you were my mother.”

  He stopped cold. Had he offended her by coming here like this? He certainly hadn’t meant to.

  “I beg your pardon,” he replied. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I just didn’t want to take you from whatever you’re doing, and I wanted to…” But now that he was here, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do. He wanted to put her at ease, but the problem was that he didn’t know how.

  After a moment of awkward silence, she took pity on him and filled it. But her voice was formal and stilted, the kind of polite one that you use with a boss rather than a fiancé. His heart sank.

  “You’re not interrupting anything. I’m just reading more about blood magic. I’d be happy to stop,” she said.

  “It isn’t going well?” he asked.

  She met his eyes squarely with her pale ones. He was struck by how closely they matched the sheets on her bed and wondered if she’d planned it that way or if it was just a happy accident.

  “I’m afraid not. I haven’t been able to do any more,” she said.

  “Why do you think that is?”

  “I’m afraid of it,” she replied simply. “I don’t want to do it again, but I know that I have to.”

  The coldness of her demeanor stabbed at his heart. Obviously, she didn’t feel the same pull between them that he did. Maybe she even resented his proposal of marriage. At the time, he’d been thinking of nothing but saving her. But no, that wasn’t true either. He’d been assuming that she instantly wanted him, the way he’d wanted her. But it wasn’t true. Her attraction was just a matter of biology, brought on by the pheromones in his saliva. This was no different than any thrall relationship after all.

  He squashed his feelings of disappointment. It had been a silly fantasy, anyway, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t have a positive relationship. It would simply be a political marriage of convenience for now. Perhaps, over time, he could prove to her that he was worth opening up to. Maybe she would grow to love him.

  Now he really looked at her and saw the dark circles under her eyes. She’d made a valiant effort at hiding them, but his eyes were too keen. She looked tired and afraid. How could he expect her to contemplate romance under such a situation? He could imagine her, sitting here all night, trying and trying to get the magic to work, terrified of what would happen if she couldn’t. She didn’t know what he would do, but she was confessing her failure to him anyway. That was a gesture of trust that he barely felt he’d earned. But now, he would start to rectify that. He would take care of her and show her firsthand that she would be safe under his protection, whatever that took.

  “You don’t need to push so hard. I imagine I’d be afraid in your position. Feeling like I had to produce something right away to justify my continued existence. But you have much more to offer than blood magic. You needn’t feel so pressured.”

  Spots of color bloomed in her pale cheeks, and a weight seemed to lift from her shoulders. “Thank you,” she said. “I…”

  He cut her off in excitement.

  “Come with me. Close the book and take a break. It will do you good. I promise,” he said.

  “Come where?” she asked, looking startled.

  “I go to the casino floor every night and watch people. Sometimes, I make up stories to explain their ridiculous behavior. It’s… it’s stupid. Never mind.”

  He couldn’t believe he’d just confessed that. It was the kind of thing he’d never said to anyone. They’d all thought he was out there searching for thieves or making some kind of occupancy estimate or some other important business activity. But now, the truth was out, and he felt foolish for admitting it.

  “That…sounds fun,” Liss said hesitantly. “I’ll come, if you want me to.”

  He relaxed instantly. As long as she didn’t think him an idiot, he didn’t much care what anyone else thought.

  “Only if you want to. I won’t be offended if you don’t.” She shot him a look of exasperation, and he held up his hands disarmingly. “Never mind. Why would you agree to go if you didn’t want to? I’m sorry. I’m not very good with people. I’m used to Viktor filling up all the air while I hide in the corner.”

  She tilted her head, looking at him oddly. “I wouldn’t say that at all. You’re very good with people.”

  “Since yesterday, maybe. But a lot of things changed yesterday. Viktor’s death was only one of them.”

  The moment the words came out of his mouth, he regretted them. Sure enough, all of the animation drained from Liss’s face as she thought again about what she’d done. Her eyes went to the book on the table again, and he could see the uncertainty as she weighed her options.

  “I should stay here and study,” she said. “The court won’t just roll over and accept me, no matter what you do to protect me. I have to be able to prove my usefulness. To them and to you.”

  “You don’t have to prove anything to me,” he said.

  But now she didn’t seem so sure. She looked uncertainly between him and the book on her table.

  “Perhaps…” Now an idea occurred to him. “Perhaps I could help you study instead.”

  Her face crinkled thoughtfully as she mulled this over.

  “I don’t study well in groups. And there’s only one book. It’s a kind offer, but I don’t think it would work.”

  He shook his head, gripped with a growing excitement. “No, that’s not what I mean at all. I’m wondering. What blood are you using to practice with? Yours, I assume.” He scented the air. “Yes, I can smell it. In the garbage bin next to the desk.”

  She nodded slowly. “I pricked my finger and tried an opening glyph. It won’t even unlock my jewelry box. It should work, though. I used my own blood when I… with Viktor.”

  “But I’d fed on you. Directly. My saliva still ran through your bloodstream. Maybe that makes a difference. Try it with my blood and see if that works. Or we’ll take a drop of your blood and add a drop of my saliva and try that. We’ll experiment, you and I.”

  “You’d do that for me?”

  Her voice sounded astonished and vulnerable on a level that he’d never heard from her, and it took every ounce of self-restraint he had not to fold her in his arms and claim her for his own. He wanted to protect her against everything, but he’d been in that position before—kept safe from everything, including himself. Viktor had started out that way, and look at where it had taken him. He’d turned into a monster.

  “I would do anything to make you happy, Liss,” he said gravely. “Even drool.”

  A surprised laugh burst out of her. Their eyes met, and now she didn’t look so tired.

  “Thank you,” she whispered, opening the book again. “Where would you like to start?”

  “It’s your magic. You tell me,” he said, sitting down on the fainting couch.

  CHAPTER 11

  “Thank you again, Gregor,” said Liss. They’d been studying for over an hour, and she couldn’t stop thanking him. Again, he waved it away.

  “No more thanks. I’m happy to do it. You’ll promise to ask if you could use me again, yes?” he said in his quiet way.

  Liss knew it would take quite a lot of courage to ask such a thing, but she would do it. He’d invited her to do so, and she knew how much rode on her ability to master her magic. She’d made some progre
ss once Gregor’s blood entered the picture. She made a drop of it move around and even shaped it into a tiny little pin a couple of times. She’d struggled to make even that simple shape, but still. It was progress. She’d done blood magic, and no one had died. While she’d worked, Gregor had spent his time pouring through the spell book, marking pages that seemed like good ones to start with. Based on his comments, she thought he hadn’t seen much blood magic firsthand—and what he had seen was of the violent type that Liss wasn’t entirely comfortable with—so they were both learning.

  It was an interesting process, she had to admit. She was used to studying logical things like financial charts and international policies. While those waters could get muddy, she’d found that she could always make sense out of them if she dug deeply enough. At the end of the day, there was always a reason things were the way they were. From what she’d seen, the glyphs weren’t like that. She still didn’t understand how they worked, or why they worked sometimes and not others. Sometimes, she could almost feel the blood after it had left her body, and other times it was like grasping at air. Practice seemed to help, but if today’s session was any indication, this was going to take a lot of practice to master.

  “I’ll ask,” she said. “Or maybe we could schedule a time? I expect you’ll be busy with running the court as well as the casino.”

  “Thank you. That’s very considerate. How about tomorrow night? I could have the librarian fetch a few more books from the archives. They might be helpful in understanding how all of this works. I admit that I’m not quite certain what the library contains on this subject. It hadn’t really interested me before the past few days, I confess.”

  She blinked. “I didn’t mean it had to be so soon. Of course it’s urgent, but is it that urgent?”

  “Maybe. I don’t really know. But I’d rather be cautious where your safety is concerned.”

  Liss almost commented that she’d like to have some say in the decisions made about her safety. She’d been so angry about this very topic the night before, thinking he was insulting her intelligence, but his behavior today threw that opinion into question. In fact, he’d almost refused to make any decisions today and instead repeatedly stepped aside to allow her to take the lead. He might have suggested a few things here and there, but he’d ultimately left the decisions up to her. Maybe he was just panicked last night, and that fear had led him to hasty action without thought about how that action might come across. She couldn’t exactly blame him for that. Her hasty actions borne out of fear were what had started this whole thing in the first place.