by K. F. Breene
“I usually go first. Unless I offer Charles to go. He accepts because he’s a child with no manners.”
“I accept because you are a woman; I hear you roar. I want to treat you equally.” Charles pushed me toward the line. “Also, you take too long and I’m usually hungry. Let’s get crackin’. I could eat this whole place.”
Remembering my own manners, I stuck out my hand to the man. “Sasha.”
He shook it, letting me enter the line first. “Harry. So, yes, let’s get you caught up. It’s always nice to meet someone of my own speed. I will absolutely have to introduce you to my mistress. She’ll be thrilled a human has been able to breach the negative stereotype.”
“Right, so let’s just get something out of the way. You’re totally fine being a pet? That doesn’t bother you at all?”
He laughed, apparently tickled by this question. “The title is derogatory, yes. But that’s the title these people know. Most don’t mean it that way. I am basically a boyfriend with an open relationship. I am a trophy wife to a billionaire. I am a lover to a beautiful woman. The term used to describe all these things could be derogatory. But we have an understanding, and we share mutual respect.”
“But… you would let her kind go first?”
He picked up a shiny, white plate. “In this place, absolutely. Not to defer would cause offense, and I would receive challenges. At home… it depends. Generally I let ladies go first, and some of the more alpha males. After that, it’s just good manners—either I gesture someone on, or they do likewise to me.”
“Next question: were you lured with pheromones?”
“The mistress—Tessa—doesn’t condone that practice. Humans wandering around without memories, their personalities changing—it just calls too much attention.”
“But nothing about it being unethical.”
Harry shrugged. “That’s a nonissue since they don’t use the pheromones sexually, or in any way not specifically to protect the homestead. They try not to interact with humans when at all possible.”
I picked up my own white plate, and then handed it to Charles so he wouldn’t reach over me with his big arm and knock me to the side. It wouldn’t be the first time. “So how’d you get hooked up with her?”
Harry smiled. “I approached her.” Seeing my shocked look, he continued as he scooped a steak onto his plate. “You’re wondering how I could see them. Well, I had researched their kind pretty fully by that point. Follow the vampire myth thoroughly enough, and deep enough, and you find trails. Spend three years hunting trails, and eventually you find what you’re looking for. I’d approached her a few times, and woke up with no memory of it after. But when I went back to my research, the block they put in my head winked out. Finally she let me talk to her.”
“So you’re chasing the myth and fell in love?”
He led me to a table after we had full plates. “I haven’t fallen in love. This is a mutual respect situation where we both benefit. I get my life prolonged, I get to learn a little magic—though I’m not picking it up that well—and she gets a blood source at her beck and call. I only take from her once in a selected number of months, so we don’t have a blood link. My blood has lots of power, so she says, but I just can’t access it. Since she doesn’t need me to, it’s a partnership until one of us grows tired of it and moves on.”
“What do you mean, it prolongs your life?”
His eyes widened in shock. “Did you not know? Wow, what a rare find. You are truly new to this whole scene, hmm?”
“Very, yes. As in, half a year or something.”
“Oh my, well, yes. Heavens.” He chuckled as he cut into an egg. “Well, yes, accessing magic and ingesting their blood prolongs life. It’s probably why this group of people last so long. Share blood with someone of high power ranking and it’s that much longer still.”
“Did you know that?” Charles asked Jessie. Jessie ignored him.
“Do you share blood with any of these males?” Harry continued.
“My, um, yes. I do. I’m not his pet—we have a mutual, um, thing.”
“They’ll be mated as soon as my clan accepts her as leader,” Charles butted in, a thick chunk of meat rolling around in his mouth.
“Oh, wow. Love, then. Wonderful.” Harry smiled at me in congratulations. “A very loyal people. Very good to the females—much better than humans. If you can stand all the dominance games, they are a treat.”
“Hell yeah, we are.” Charles pointed at Harry with his fork as he said to me, “Keep listening to this guy. He knows.”
“Did they take you from a play pen? Are you old enough to be out of the nursery unsupervised?” Jessie didn’t bother glancing at Charles, but it was obvious who he was talking to.
“Really, bro? And what’s your ranking again? Watch Guard, right? Instead of Captain, like me…”
“Right, okay. So here, though, they have blood circles? What is that?” I asked, getting back on track. Charles gave Jessie a dirty look.
“Basically, it’s an orgy where humans open their veins. They’re drained nearly dry, all in hopes that someone will give blood to them to prolong their life. It amazes me what humans will do for a fountain of youth. But then, I call myself a pet, so I guess I’m not one to talk.”
“That’s what all this is for? They endure all of this for a few more years?”
“For a hundred or more years, but… yes and no. Some are here to legitimately learn magic. Those who have a gift can learn from the best teachers.”
“Even though our magic is inverted.”
“Some people can learn from an instruction manual, unlike you.” Charles gave me a knowing look. I wanted to punch that knowing look.
I went back to Harry. “This all sounds like some freaky club. Like, a sex club or something.”
Harry shrugged. “Those exist in the human world, so maybe it is similar to that, yes. Like I said, I’m more interested in the mutual sharing of benefits. The second the balance is lost I’ll get back to my life.”
“And no one’s worried you’ll tell?”
His brow furrowed. “What would I say? I found what goes bump in the night? Who would believe me?”
Charles huffed out a laugh, spraying eggs all over his plate. I glared at him for a moment, trying to impress upon him that he was embarrassing me, before turning back to Harry. It took me a second to realize Harry’s whole bearing had changed, though. His back bowed and his face pointed downwards, like he was bending before a queen hoping not to get noticed.
Confused, I glanced up, and felt the breath being ripped from my lungs. An extremely attractive man stood in front of me with sparkling green eyes. Large-chested and muscular, like this whole species, his face could’ve been in a magazine. High cheekbones and a square jaw offset his perfectly white smile. He was really, really hot.
The eating area hushed as people noticed the man standing in front of me. No matter their race or sex, many hunched just like Harry had. I could tell by their bearing that they beheld someone high in status.
“Hello,” he purred with a medium-level tone. A perfect set of dimples enhanced his gorgeous face. “I don’t believe I’ve met you.”
“Sasha.” I half-stood to shake his hand. “Black mage.”
“Yes, of course.” His green eyes sparkled. “The one that helped capture Trek and Andris, is that right?”
“Something like that.” I cleared my throat, wishing it would also clear the red from my cheeks. Charles wasn’t helping by staring at me.
“I’m Rudy.” He pointedly looked at Harry.
When his focused stare was returned, Harry immediately stood with his plate half-full. “Excuse me. I must see to my mistress.”
Rudy stared at Charles next, arrogance and self-importance taking over the gaze. It wasn’t strength and power, though, like Charles was used to seeing. Rudy might’ve had status, but he didn’t get there through life trials and a commanding presence. Compared to Stefan, this guy was left wanting.
<
br /> Something Charles made obvious as he leaned his elbows on the table. “I know you’re hinting at something, bro, and I get that you’re trying to push your weight around, but I don’t answer to you. I answer to the Boss. You have a problem, just shout that right out. Otherwise, I have some food to finish, and after that I might get seconds, so I’d appreciate if you’d stop staring.”
Charles had been spending too much time with Jonas.
“Interesting.” The light in Rudy’s eyes shifted. One second, charmer who owned the room. The next, snake that was coiled and ready.
My stomach flipped over. This guy was cunning, and because of that, dangerous. Charles didn’t need a knife in his back.
“Charles, Jessie, can you please give us a little space?” I asked, a command riding the request.
Charles gave me an assessing stare. Jessie stared at Charles. With a warning glance at Rudy, Charles nodded to Jessie and they both stood. “One table away, that’s it.”
“It appears you also answer to a human,” Rudy taunted in a knowing tone.
I couldn’t help my eyebrows rising. That was a quick way to not make a friend. The human is sitting right here, by the way…
“What can I help you with, Rudy?” I asked pleasantly, trying to control my features.
His dazzling smile seemed practiced. “I’ve heard so much about you. And, as it turns out, I am without mage. Kismet.”
“Except—and tell me if you’ve already heard this because I don’t want to be redundant—I am already paired with someone.”
He leaned in, cutting the distance between us. “I had heard, yes. Even still, a boy can dream. You are a beautiful woman. Beautiful, headstrong, and powerful. Perfection.”
The blood link muffled. I was cut off from Stefan.
I glanced at Charles, trying to hide the worry in my eyes. He caught the look, and knew by now what it meant. His mouth closed down into a grim line. His shoulders hunched over his plate. He couldn’t help Stefan any more than I could, and it killed him equally.
When I turned back to Sir Lancelot, his smile sparkled. “I know this is awkward for you. And I am sorry. I know the effect I have on women—especially human women—and yet, I forget to give them time to adjust when I shower them with attention.” He laughed, easy and light.
My stomach was knotting for what I knew Stefan and Jonas were going through. I wanted to rush out and help them. I could level their opponents. I hadn’t used some of the truly gruesome things Toa had taught me, but I would if it spared Stefan’s life. I would right now.
I took a deep breath.
“Anyway, please come see me with questions,” Rudy continued, leaning in slightly. He laid a warm hand on mine. “I have the ear of the most powerful, most important male in the Council. I am a valuable ally, and I daresay, a better man for your pair…”
Wrong thing to say at the moment.
I leaned forward into that implied intimacy. In a silky voice I whispered, “Did they tell you that I’m one of those humans that emits a scent when aroused?”
Rudy’s focused on my lips. His gaze sparked. “I hadn’t heard. Delightful. I do so enjoy those humans.”
“Yes. Well. Do you smell anything?”
His mouth leaned in a little more before what I said dawned. His pupils contracted, internalizing that thought. To help him out, I let a pure zing of fire surge through my body.
“Ah!” Rudy’s hand flinched away from mine. A shadow passed over his features. His look turned sharp, bringing out my warning tingle before his smile wiped it all away. He stood smoothly with a quick glance around the room—probably making sure no one saw what had just happened. “I do not. Pity. Well, I’ll just have to work on my charm.”
Oh super. I do so love being hit on.
“I’ll see you soon.” And with that he was striding away.
“Not wise, Sasha,” Charles muttered. “That male probably makes a bad enemy.”
“He probably makes a worse friend. At least now we’re on the same page.”
Jessie sat down with a cup of coffee. “I would try to steer clear altogether.”
“I don’t think there was ever a chance of that. I’m in his sights and Stefan is in the way.”
“Your mood is rainbows and unicorns, as always.” Charles stuffed another hunk of meat into his trap. “This place sucks. The Boss just needs to find the most powerful male and cave his head in so we can all go home.”
Truer words had never been uttered.
Chapter 6
Rudy waved away his crew as he descended the stairs into the lower levels of the building. The dank air reached out to greet him, misery and filth lining the floors and huddled in the cells. He stopped in front of one of the guards, not bothering to state his name or his intentions. As expected, the lock clinked as it flipped over, the door opening in a rusty slide of metal.
He stayed to the center of the aisle, not impressed that the filth was reaching out into the walkway. He stopped in front of the cell holding a man seated in the corner on the disgusting floor, his hands folded in his lap peacefully, eyes closed. The male could be sitting on a beach somewhere, taking a moment for quiet contemplation, rather than this rank hellhole awaiting the torture that would surely come.
“Andris.”
The man’s hazel eyes opened slowly. A sardonic smile crossed his lips. “I’d heard you were here. Holding a high position. Leading around an old male by his nose. You’ve done well for yourself.”
Rudy glanced at the empty cells to the right and left. “They’ve put you on your own, I see. Afraid you would bring more people to your cause?”
Andris huffed out a laugh, not bothering to look at the objects of speculation. “I have plenty of people loyal to my cause. And plenty more desperate to join.”
“And you hope to lead from an iron cell, is that correct?”
Andris didn’t take the bait. Instead, he closed his eyes again, waiting patiently for whatever would come. Rudy took three steps to the side, needing action to worry away the frustration.
“You are overly confident, that’s the problem.” Rudy walked back the three paces. “You pushed too hard, too fast. Demons, Andris? That was your great plan?”
Hazel eyes opened again, the smile now condescending. “I’ve come further than you. I have all the tools I need. All the tools I need. I just need one more element, and I will be unstoppable.”
“What makes you think you’ll get her?”
“Her?” Andris laughed. “I don’t need a her. No, the last element is maintaining control of a demon powerful enough to wreak havoc.”
“You have come further than me, but you are here. In a cell.”
“For now.”
“Is that right?” Rudy paced three more steps. “You can get out at any time, then. Is that it? Your escape is guaranteed? This whole endeavor is planned.”
“I need that fool Trek. I also need revenge on a thorn in my side. Both of those elements are here. When have you known me to be impatient?”
Rudy dipped a hand into the pocket of his slacks to hide balling it into a fist. Andris’ cool gold eyes held confidence. Knowledge. What does he have that I don’t? “Wait… you have all the tools? Presently?”
The smile soaked up Andris’ face. “Yes. Accounted for and ready to go.”
Rudy shifted his stance in disbelief. “Why haven’t you used it before now, then?”
“Because that is a secret worth keeping until the last possible second. Not even that fool Trek knows. Secrets are only safe on the lips of the dead.”
Rudy’s finger scratched at the copper coin in his pocket. “But now I know.”
Andris closed his eyes peacefully. “You are talking to a dangerous man, Rudy. Some might wonder why.”
“For the good of the Council, of course.”
“True. Well, then. Run along and let everyone know my grand plans. And when they say I must be lying, you can say you know me personally—that we went through magic classes toge
ther. You can say you helped me set up my current empire. You can say you came here to try and corrupt from the inside, where I chose organizing an army to take power by force. They would surely believe you then. The problem there is, I know my enemies… you do not. We probably have the same number, but yours hate you more. Traitors are dealt with harsher than villains.”
Rudy dug his fingers into his palm within his pocket. Outwardly, he developed a little smile of his own. “That is dangerous information you have, Andris.”
“Yes. It is.”
“You might not live long enough to make your escape. I, too, have everything I need. Plans are already in place to capture a black.”
Andris laughed heartily. “Sasha, you mean? You’ll have an easier time saddling up a cat. Besides, her magic doesn’t function normally. She has a hard time linking—did they tell you that? As soon as I kill her beloved, she won’t be able to link at all.”
“She has a blood link with the male. That is what enables her linking.”
Andris shook his head in delight. “No, Rudy. Once again, you didn’t get all the facts. He has a special trait that levels out links and magic. She is useless in any capacity other than strictly a mage. And what’s more, she can’t learn in a classroom setting. She can’t be told how to do something—she has to do it. You might have noticed that human teachers aren’t in large supply. And no, I will not lend out mine, Rudy.”
“I can work a deal with the male, then. If they can link, I can use them both.”
Andris leaned his head against the grimy wall with a blissful expression. “You never were the thinker in the pair. Stefan cannot be manipulated or dominated. He does the manipulating and dominating. He is a quintessential alpha male who has been nothing but a continuous roadblock to me. He will make a splendid demon.”
“Pain has a way of calming people down, Andris. You have not won. Your plans are still in the air, while mine are rolling into effect.”
“Go away, Rudy. You’re making my head hurt.”
Rudy stared at the smug, overconfident male. His ire rose as quickly as his uncertainty. “You die, Andris, and your merry plans die with you.”
