Grand Master (Demons, #3)

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Grand Master (Demons, #3) Page 10

by Simcoe, Marina


  Again, he didn’t seem to acknowledge my statement, continuing with his story, instead. “The process of Source acquisition was set up by the Priory at the time we signed the treaty with them six centuries ago, and had been executed with little change ever since. Taken from their lives and everyone they knew, human women were held at the Base with no contact with the outside world, their mental health slowly deteriorating. Sooner or later all of them had to be drained, one by one.”

  “Oh God, Vadim. What are you saying . . .?” My hands shook so much, I placed my glass down, lest I spill wine everywhere.

  The aura of danger and mystery surrounding that concrete building I had visited to live out my fantasy, turned out to be more real than I could have ever imagined. People had been kept in captivity there. And murdered.

  “Are women still held there?” The very memory of my entering that place was forever tainted by this discovery now.

  “No.” His voice was hard as steel. “Haven’t been for months.”

  “But there were? When I first came . . .”

  “Yes. However, we were already working on the process of changing that, searching for other ways.”

  “Like hiring prostitutes?”

  “At first. Yes. And inviting women like yourself, who came for the thrill of the mysterious and exciting—”

  “There are more like me?” That was surprising. All my life I felt different from the norm. Apparently, not as much as I had thought.

  “Ever since the night I killed her,” Vadim went on, “I have been searching for ways to stop the murder of our Sources. The enforcement of these rules fell on the Council, and I spent centuries on the campaign to become the Grand Master of the Eastern Council. I finally earned this position a year ago, and none of the women held at the Base were killed after that.” His voice held grave determination. “I delayed many new acquisitions, too. We needed to feed in order to function, but I refused to keep following the murderous path laid out by the Priory for us. I knew some of the Incubi started to furtively skim emotions off humans in public places, coming closer than the treaty allowed, but I let it happen as long as there was no physical contact—for our touch kills.”

  “Does it always, though?”

  My mind strayed to the kisses I witnessed between Andras and Natasha. He might have worn gloves during our whole conversation, but their lips definitely touched when she greeted him in the car, and he kissed her face again a little later. I did not recall sensing any fear on her part or any restraint on his. It happened easily, casually, as if it had occurred many times before.

  “In my case, I believe it does.” The grim certainty in Vadim’s voice made my heart ache. “The others also had to work to control their hunger enough for a human to sustain their intimate touch. I didn’t know it was possible to achieve at all until a woman proved me wrong.”

  “Alyssa?”

  “Yes.”

  “Not only her, though. Natasha, too. Andras’s girlfriend. I met her today.”

  “There are a few more now, I’ve heard. Having a permanent source of energy at his side sates a demon’s hunger, eliminating the need for further kidnappings. This was exactly the solution I hoped for. Only it turned out to be so much more than that. The union between a human and a demon enriches the lives of them both.”

  “Why has it taken this long for Incubi to realise this?”

  He glanced at me over his shoulder.

  “You have to know, Jade, that all of the changes I’ve been allowing to happen here are done without the prior approval of the Priory.”

  “The organization that allowed all this cruelty to happen in the first place? They’ve basically legalized kidnappings.”

  “Don’t ever forget that we are the real source of the cruelty, Jade. The chaotic feedings were stopped by the treaty, allowing humans to control what we took. Back then, the rules were considered to be a progressive solution to the situation.”

  “Why haven’t the Priory been looking for a better solution since? What are they saying about all of this now?” It was a no-brainer for me—Alyssa and Sytrius had found the perfect way to end it all.

  “Until the events of this year, the only consequence of people and demons coming together was devastation and death. No one knew for sure that loving relationships were even possible between us. For centuries, Incubi have been kept at limited mental capacity.

  “As a member of the Council, I have been better fed than most. That was meant to ensure that the thirteen of us on the Council remained capable of supervising the execution of the rules, strategizing on the behalf of our kind, and negotiating with humans. I have managed to keep most of my memories as well. However, the fresh, creative thinking that requires significantly deviating from the rules and creating anything entirely new is still hard to attain for unmated Incubi. Only now, watching how quickly Andras comes up with new ideas, have I become aware of my own limitations.”

  “Why didn’t people think about a better way then, instead of you? I would think humans, first and foremost, should have the women’s interests at heart”

  “I don’t know. Incubi are excluded from the inner dealings at the Priory, or from anything at all that doesn’t concern us directly. We stopped all kidnappings on our own, finding alternative ways to feed, without any further input from the Priory. They did, however, take it upon themselves to help integrate the released women back into society.”

  “How can a relatively small group of people represent all humanity in their talks with Incubi?” I wondered out loud. “Don’t you think the Priory has lost its usefulness? Wouldn’t it be more prudent at this point for you to come out to governments and deal with them on a global scale?”

  He shook his head slowly.

  “Earth’s governments are varied, their interests are largely limited to their own countries, and the speed with which they change is impossible for us to keep up with. The Priory has been the one stable partner for us. Their last Elder was in his position for fifty years. The current one is going into his third decade now.”

  The wine must have begun its work, filling my veins with warmth and making me reckless.

  “You know what, who cares about the Elders and their stupid Priory? Why don’t you just do what you know is right?”

  “I am very tempted to do just that.” I heard a smile in his voice.

  “What’s stopping you?” I got off the bed.

  “Caution. I wonder what is there that allowed them to hold power over us all this time.”

  “Well, since they’re not fighting what you have been proposing, their attitude and mentality must be changing, too.”

  “Must be. The lack of proper communication still bothers me, though. They have called face-to-face meetings for far less significant reasons in the past, but have been avoiding it lately.”

  “Just keep doing what you’re doing, I’d say. And if it bothers them, I’m sure they’ll let you know.” I stepped around him, crossing the threshold of the bedroom.

  The barrier must have vanished as soon as I was in the hallway with him. Vadim lost its support at his back and would have fallen backwards if he hadn’t quickly propped himself with his hands on the floor.

  “So, what now?” I asked, sitting down next to him.

  “That was what I was going to ask you.” He glanced at me.

  The way he lifted his eyebrow gave him an almost playful expression, despite the serious tone of his voice, and I smiled.

  Our honest conversation—no doubt, combined with the wine I’d had—eased my concerns and melted away any lingering fears about him. I felt comfortable sitting next to him, as if we’d known each other for years. The same sense of connection I’d had at the restaurant during our dinner together took over me . . . then sadness filtered in.

  “Vadim, I’m moving early next year.”

  “Where?” His brows furrowed, forming that crease again.

  “To Moscow, it looks like. My company is closing their office here, for go
od.”

  “Really?”

  “I’m afraid so. You know I do like you, very much,” I confessed to him and, finally, to myself.

  “I can see it.” He nodded, confidently.

  “You can, huh?” My smile grew wider as I thought about Andras describing human emotions to me. “What colour is it? Pink?”

  “Coral, with a hint of orange and sunshine.”

  “Is it?” At that moment, I believed I could really feel the warmth of sunshine inside me while gazing into his jade-coloured eyes.

  “But that bright red streak in it is what I find particularly intriguing.” Something very much like hope tinted his voice.

  Hope for what? Lust? Or love—like the other Incubi had managed to evoke in their women? Did Vadim hope I would fall in love with him?

  ‘When an Incubus loves, he gives you his heart and his soul. You have to be careful not to damage that gift.’ Natasha’s words came to mind once again.

  “I tend to outgrow all my relationships, Vadim,” I warned, deciding to be brutally honest and possibly save him from a huge disappointment in the future. “It applies to everything—things and people. What seems new and exciting at first loses its appeal as soon as it becomes old and familiar. I’ve never been able to change this for anyone. If I try forcing myself into a routine—a stable life with someone—it only gets worse, inevitably ending in a nightmare for both of us.”

  “How long until you have to leave, Jade?” he asked, his expression pensive, but not devastated, I noted with relief.

  “Um, about three and a half months.”

  “Will you give this time to me?”

  “What do you mean by that, exactly?” I shifted on the floor, hands clasped in my lap.

  “Be with me.” He shifted to face me. “Let me see you whenever I want.”

  “Just for three months?” Surprisingly, I found myself disappointed that he seemed to accept my impending departure that easily. Still, three months of having Vadim all to myself was too tempting not to accept. “But you refuse to touch me.”

  “Not because I don’t want to.” He heaved a sigh.

  “Do you think you could learn?” I tilted my head, taking in his face—the absolute perfection of his features that seemed to be permanently moulded into a stern expression with an ever-present hint of grief. “With time and patience, could you learn to control your appetite like the others have?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Would you like to try?” I offered, catching a flash of something bright and beautiful light up his face at my words.

  “Only if there was a way to keep you safe,” he said resolutely, the thoughtful frown back almost immediately.

  I considered that for a moment then lifted my leg over both of his on the floor, straddling his thighs to get closer.

  “Well, you have your gloves on. Would that be enough?” Slowly, I slid my hands under his jacket and hoodie, feeling his muscles flex under his shirt. “I’ll touch you through your clothes only. Would that be okay?”

  His gaze slid from my eyes to my lips.

  Quickly, I shrugged out of my jacket then pushed his off his shoulders too.

  “We’ll keep your shirt on,” I murmured, getting him out of his hoodie. “Just like this.” I lifted the collar of his shirt up, the way I saw him do. “See? To avoid any accidental touches.”

  Carefully, he circled my waist with his arms, and I leaned in closer, drawn in by his scent and warmth.

  The desire to feel his bare skin under my palms grew stronger the closer I got, but I focused on what I could have instead of what I could not, welcoming the opportunity to explore his body thoroughly and unhurriedly, even if through the material of his shirt.

  He slid his hands up my back, prompting me to arch closer to him. The heat of his breath fanned across the sensitive skin of my neck then spread lower through my body in a wave of hot ripples.

  Suddenly my blouse was in the way.

  “Since you’re wearing the gloves,” I whispered, “I don’t think I need this.” I tugged at the blouse, sliding it over my head, not even bothering to open the tiny pearl buttons in the front.

  His breath hitched, but he didn’t waste any time, sliding his hands along my torso, up my back, down my sides, then up again to cup my breasts through my bra.

  The feeling of his leather gloves was eerily familiar, bringing to mind the hands of the two men at the Base. The way he moved his hands, however, with a frantic, hungry urgency, as if I were about to disappear from his grasp, was all his own. No one had ever touched me with this much hunger and passion before.

  Spreading my legs wider, my skirt hiked all the way to my waist, I slid along his thighs. Closer.

  My hands on his shoulders, his face was right in front of mine, his parted lips just a breath away. Closing my eyes, I savoured him with all my other senses. The growing bulge in his pants, pressing between my thighs, the hardness of his muscles under his shirt, his fresh scent wrapped all around me, luring me in.

  Forgetting all about caution for a moment, I leaned in for a kiss . . .

  My lips pressed into the leather of his glove instead, as he quickly placed two fingers between his mouth and mine to prevent me from kissing him.

  “Vadim . . .” I leaned back, accidentally brushing the side of his nose with mine.

  A surge of electricity seemed to pass between us when our skin touched. A freezing sensation spread from the tip of my nose through my face.

  My lust instantly evaporating with a jolt of fear, I jerked back, sitting upright.

  “Jade!” His voice sounded strangled, he grabbed me by my upper arms. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.” I brought my hand up to my nose and rubbed some feeling back into it. The crestfallen expression on his face prompted me to add with a smile, “All good, see?” I wrinkled my nose, moving my mouth side to side. “Everything is working.”

  “I’m so sorry,” he said somewhat mechanically, as if still frozen in horror.

  “Don’t, please.” I patted his chest soothingly. “It’s all my fault anyway. You’re just so, um . . .” I wrapped my arms around his neck, making sure not to stray past the edge of his collar.

  So irresistible, I wanted to say, but that would be putting the blame on him for my indiscretion.

  “You’re too tense,” I said instead, rubbing his shoulders. “Tell me what do you normally do to relax?”

  “I’m afraid I wouldn’t know.” His brows were still knitted together, but the rest of his features had eased a bit. “I don’t recall being this on edge before.”

  “So, is it because of me? Do I make you anxious?”

  “It seems that way. Although, it doesn’t mean I don’t want your company.” He tightened his arms around my waist.

  “What do you do when you’re alone then? Do you get to be alone?”

  “Often. Most of the time between the Feedings and the occasional Council sessions I am on my own.”

  “Right. You don’t even have to sleep.” I remembered from my conversation with Andras. “So, how do you spend all your time?”

  My hands linked behind his neck again, I remained sitting in his lap. With my arousal gone, however, it felt simply nice and comfortable to be close to him. The fact that we were still on the floor hardly even registered with me at all.

  “I read. A lot.”

  “Do you have a library at that place? What do you call it, the base?

  “Yes, something like a library. Archives. They hold records of our history, but also a large number of books written by humans.”

  “Which ones are your favourite?”

  “I would read anything, to be honest.” The smile with which he said this seemed almost shy, as if he was a bit self-conscious talking about his personal tastes. “But I think I like to read novels the most. Historical fiction—what you would call ‘classics’ now. I’m still catching up.” His smile grew a little wider, sweeping me in with its out-of-this-world gorgeousness.
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  “Like Alexandre Dumas?”

  “Him, yes. Victor Hugo, too. And Leo Tolstoy, Stendhal, Thomas Hardy. Emile Zola, as well . . . Well, everything and anything, really.”

  “You’ve lived through the times they wrote about.”

  “That’s what I find the most fascinating about their work—the human account of what I’ve watched happening from a distance. I didn’t get to leave the Base often, but when I did, I paid attention to the things around me. Then when I read their books, I compared the ways in which humans and I saw the world.”

  “What are the differences?”

  “That’s the thing, Jade. There aren’t that many. At the end of the day, we seem to like the same things and often find the same things appalling. I have no trouble following the human emotions in books or movies. I understand the heroes’ pain, their happiness, too.”

  “You watch movies?”

  “Yes. For the past few decades.” With his thumbs, Vadim was drawing slow circles on the bare skin of my back, his arms still around my waist.

  “What would you like to do now?” I asked. “Andras said some of you eat or drink occasionally. I can make us some tea if you want. It’s a bit too early for dinner, but if you’re hungry, for food I mean—”

  “I am hungry,” he said, his gaze firmly on me. Something in his eyes and his voice made me squirm in his lap. “But not for human food.”

  His hands under my backside, he rose to his feet smoothly, holding me to him.

  “Well, that’s all I have to offer,” I teased. “Since you gobbled up my arousal way too fast, I’m not that horny anymore.”

  “I can change that.” He carried me to the bedroom. “Just give me a minute.”

  Carefully, he laid me down on the mattress then climbed on top of me. One knee on each side of my thighs, he straightened, unbuckling his belt.

  “No more touching, my precious Jade.” His voice low, he looped the belt around both of my wrists, then stretched over me to tie the other end to the metal bar of my bed frame, bringing my arms over my head. “Much better. Now, stay still,” he commanded and pulled his gloves off, tucking them in the back pocket of his jeans.

 

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