by R. J. Lloyd
I wiped the remnants of the drink from my upper lip, not sure if I should be amused or mortified. “Hungry, huh? And these people don’t scatter at your very presence? They actually let themselves be slaughtered?”
"I am not sure why they aren't running out. Maybe they just don't want to show fear because then I might want to eat them." He leaned toward me and bared his fangs. “Like prey trying to hide from their predator.
I was about to take another drink when he commented. My reaction? I laughed. but not just laughed. I laughed into my drink, sending some of the liquid spraying out of the glass. Quickly, I grabbed up a napkin and dabbed my mouth then started to clean up the table. "What? Are you a lion or an alligator? I mean, we're all animals, sure. But you're..." I looked at him and shrugged. "Well yeah. Okay. Fair. You're a predator." I wasn't paying attention to those that were closely watching us. My attention was fully on Kane, amused by him.
He reached out and finished cleaning up the spray, tossing the napkin and wrapping his arm around my shoulders. "I'll hunt you right to bed, love."
I blushed, shaking my head. "Predator." I dropped my napkin and stood. "If you'll excuse me, I need to go to the restroom and wash up now."
Kane stood up with me and bowed his head. “Yes. Shall I order anything more while you’re gone?”
“No, thank you.” I eyed the approaching server carrying my food. “That looks like plenty.”
Leaving the table, I disappeared into the restroom after asking a server for direction, who glanced back at Kane before giving me directions, as if they needed permission. It didn’t take me long to clean up, and I found myself wanting to get back to Kane. A couple minutes later, I was on my way back to the table when I was stopped by a hand on my arm.
An older, weathered man, who didn't look at me, spoke, his eyes cast down at his table, "You're in grave danger being with that one. You'd best find your way to the door before you find your way to his."
I glanced at Kane, who watched as the man put a hand on me. He slowly stood and glared at the man. Kane made no move at that point, but I could see that he was tense. I assumed he was going to wait and see how things played out.
The man, however, hadn't seen Kane make a move. He hadn't even looked at me. His eyes were on his own drink; an obvious attempt at being clandestine. “You hear me, girl?”
With a friendly grin, I patted his hand and smiled at the others at his table, all of whom looked fearful of the interaction. "I assure you; I am in no danger from him. But I appreciate and respect your concern. It is with good cause, I am sure."
I went to step away, but the man gripped my arm tighter, this time looking up into my eyes. "He will kill you without regard. Just like he does with whoever he pleases."
A thud sounded from across the room as Kane shoved a chair out of his way, making his way over to my side. Without hesitation, he grabbed the man’s arm. "Lose the grip or lose your arm.” His voice was low and cold.
I moved to calm Kane, but as I looked around, I thought better of it. Torn, appreciating the man's concern as well as not wanting to make Kane look weak, I knew the situation was precarious. My newfound loyalty to Kane won out, and I stopped myself. If the man pressed the issue, it would be on him.
“Thank you for your concern, sir. But as I said, I am fine,” I said my thanks. "I am not his dinner."
The man? He didn't move. I wasn't sure if he was being defiant or was frozen. Starting to not care and not wanting to be that close if Kane decided to react further, I tried to free my arm again. But again, it was a fruitless attempt. Those that had been seated at the table with him started to scatter.
"I'm only going to ask you once more. Let her go. She is my guest here. Your white knight sentiment is noted. Do not press your luck any further." He tightened his own grip on the man’s arm, a low growl coming from his chest.
Finally, the man snapped around, his eyes wide. I realized he was, in fact, gripped with fear. Every eye in the room was on us. But his hold on me didn't lessen. It got worse. "Sir, he's not going to hurt you if you just let go."
But the man didn't. He just stared at Kane, even despite the others nearby whispering warnings and backing away further.
And then, I winced. My breath sucking in through my teeth. "Ouch." I yanked my arm harder to try to free myself. “Sir. Let go!”
But it was too late. Kane’s patience had worn out. He took his right hand and hit the afeared man in the face so hard it knocked him off his chair. The man fell, hitting his head against the table.
His hand had still been on my arm, yanking me roughly as he went down, which made Kane move to scoot me out of the way. He attempted to bring me just off to the side, behind him. But the man’s hold was tight, and the whole thing was jarring. I toppled to the floor with a thud and a whimper.
People scattered to the walls and some out the doors. A couple, of course, were paralyzed by fear, just as the man had been. No longer gripped by his fear but bleeding from the head, he lay on the floor at Kane's feet.
A deep growl emanated from Kane’s chest. He leaned forward and dispatched the man's arm from his shoulder with ease. My eyes went wide, and I felt myself pale at the savagery.
In shock, the injured man’s face contorts from fear to shock and then finally, as his body started to realize what had happened… pain. He lets out a gut-wrenching scream that filled the room.
Kane didn’t even pause; he simply pried the detached limb off my arm. Looking me over, he tossed the disembodied appendage onto the table.
Those left in the room scattered to whatever recesses were left, trying to get as much distance between them and us. Doors were flung open, and some people pushed through, trying to get outside as fast as possible. Yelling and screams bounced off the walls, mixing with the sounds of chairs and tables being knocked over as others ducked behind them, trying desperately to stay silent.
I rubbed my arm where the man's hand had been, but my eyes were stuck going between the injured man, folding his shoulder, and on the ground to his arm that was dripping blood. Surprised Kane hadn’t taken advantage of the meal opportunity, I blinked. "How are you not diving for the blood? Does its presence not bother you?"
One could see his hunger in his eyes, but he fought it. "I have centuries of control to draw on." His nails grew long, and his expression showed exactly how much he wanted the blood. With a hoarseness in his voice, he waved over a couple vampires from behind the bar. “Clean this up. Now.”
I shook my head. "You'll let it go to waste? Feed if you need to. You warned him. Fear or not, he didn't comply. There’s no sense in not enjoying a meal,” I stated simply.
He tilted his head. “You are handling this rather well.”
“Like I said, he was warned. I have been exposed to violence.” I waved it off, not wanting him to know how much this could have or even possibly did affect me. “But why not feed? Are you trying not to scare them? Will that not make them see you as weak?”
"No. I am showing exactly how much power I have by not looking like nothing more than a hungry animal. I can feed anytime on any of them that step out of line. The others will make sure it doesn't go to waste." He led me back to our table, looking over my arm again to be sure I was fine.
"If that is what you wish." I rubbed where I had been gripped. The spot throbbed. "You make a valid point."
"Are you sure you are okay? I should have just ripped it off from the start. I shouldn’t have given him time to hurt you." His brows were furrowed.
I looked down and slid up the sleeve of my gown to my elbow, revealing a slight bruise. "It's fine. Just a bruise. I'm sure it's nothing worse. It'll heal in few days." I watched as the others cleaned up the man, who was still alive. Barely but alive. The gurgled sounds of his breathing echoed quietly through the nearly silenced room. "Will they kill him or let him go?"
"He's too far gone. He will be dispatched here quickly," he explained, his attentions clearly more focused on me. "He made his choice. Would you like some of my
blood to heal quickly?"
I sighed, a little sad over the man's fate. But Kane was right. He had chosen. Not that I didn't appreciate the man's intent. But his execution of his intent was poor. I figured that if he was going to be brave enough to take action like he did, he should have been brave enough to at least let go when faced with those he accused.
To his question, I blinked. "Here? Have your blood here?"
His eyes flicked to mine. "Yes of course. If that is something you are okay with." Biting his thumb, he offered it to me.
Looking at him a moment, I didn’t respond. Instead, I looked around the room. Those who were left were practically buzzing with tension and curiosity. But I didn't know what they were saying. My mind was clouded with my own mental buzz.
I wanted to address them. Or at least for Kane to. To let them know it was all over, and they could relax. But could they? Kane said they knew why they were allowed to live in his city, and they were there voluntarily. But how could someone live happily when they knew this could be their fate at any moment.
But then again, I knew the man tried to poison me against Kane. Why? Now that I had no clue. I doubt anyone else would be so bold. Especially not now.
"Is it common for humans to drink from vampires?" I took his hand with both of mine and wrapped my lips around his wounded thumb, not waiting for his reply.
"No. It is not common." He ran his free hand through my hair. “But you look so amazing doing it.”
I pulled back, a chuckle escaping soft from my throat. Licking my lips, I looked up at him through my eyelashes. "You sure are all about the sex." I smirked.
I was leaning forward again to take more when the doors burst open. Wulfgar stormed in dragging a woman by her arm. He shoved her forward just inside, and she fell to her knees. “You wanted to see your king. Here he is.” His gravelly voice boomed through the room as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Tears stained her cheeks, and her hair was in tangles. She rested her hands on the wood floor in front of her a moment before lifting her head. She went to stand, but the raider held her.
She glared at Kane. "Monster! You monster! How could you kill him over trying to help save a life? A life you will just treat like a toy before you take for a meal and cast aside?"
Kane growled and leaned forward to kiss my cheek. He got up and walked to the woman who was sobbing before him. He tilted his chin at Wulfgar. “A gift?”
Wulfgar smirked with a huff, lifting the woman up onto her knees by the arm. “I found her rushing this way with a stake, cursing your name. I thought you may want to hear her out.” He chuckled and released the woman, taking a step back as she dropped back down to the floor.
Kneeling in front of her, Kane spoke with a low growl. "Maybe your man should have known his place. Maybe I can end your suffering for you as well. Would you like that? No? To cruel?" He smiled evilly, running a hand over the woman’s matted hair. She flinched as he went on, "Fine. Congratulations. I'll make a real example out of him."
Kane stood and walked back into the kitchen behind the bar and returns, dragging the almost dead man out, before throwing him onto a table in front of the woman. He didn’t even try to conceal all of the bites that speckled his skin from the ones that had cleaned up after Kane removed him from me.
He grabbed the mans severed arm and pushed it close to where it would have been. Then, he takes a dagger, cutting open his hand and pouring his own blood all over the two parts, fusing them back together. He drops some blood into the nearly dead man’s mouth and promptly snaps his neck.
There was a sickening crack that was all but covered up by the devastated wife’s screams. She fell all the way to the floor wailing before rising up and rushing over to her brutalized, dead husband.
Before she could scream at him further, he sighed. "There. He will live... As a vampire. You can gaze upon him for the rest of your mortal life knowing you saved him and damned him." He tossed a bloody napkin at the woman after wiping his hand off.
It all happened so fast; I hadn’t even had time to react. I just sat, watching the events unfold. When I finally could move, I went to go to Kane. However, as she turned, one of the bartenders caught my eye and shook his head, indicating for me to stay there.
The woman pointed at me. "Who are you? Why are you so special that you cost me my husband's life?"
In a blink of an eye, Kane was nose to nose with the woman. “You would be wise to not address her unless it is with respect for her station in this city. You have been allowed to live in my kingdom, a fact that seems to have escaped you.” He looked back at me, his expression softening before he turned back to her. “I can forgive it this once since I am beginning to see that it would be devastating to lose someone you love. No, go.”
She glanced over at the table where her husband lay, dead. “But I did lose him.”
“Oh yes. Here.” Kane smacked the man awake and watched as he wakes up, shocked. Kane pulled him to his feet and pushed him toward his wife. "You’re welcome. Now, get the fuck out of my kingdom by sundown. Or you both will be hunted down for sport. I give you a gift of freedom and him the curse of eternity." He turned away from the couple and returned to my side. “Wulfgar will escort you.”
I looked to the woman. "Drink his blood before you leave so when he kills you later for yours. You'll be able to join him in eternity." I entwined my fingers with Kane's, looking up at him with a smile that asked if he approved. "Can I eat now?" I was ignoring the others in the room for the moment. A side of me, one that spoke of an emotional distance, came through as I inquired.
He smiled back with a nod that showed he did, in fact, approve. "Yes. Before it gets cold." He looked to the people that are supposed to be working in the kitchen but were by the bar, gawking. "The Queen wants her food. Warm. If any of this is no longer satisfactory for her, remake it."
They scramble, not wanting to take his wrath next.
Kane, still standing, once again tilted his head to Wulfgar. The raider returned the gesture. “I will be by the castle in the morning.”
He helped the devastated couple out through the doors. Several others rushed out into the dining area from the kitchen and started upturning tables and chairs, sweeping up broken glass and ushering the scared humans to seats.
Kane slid in next to me and waved his hand. “Drinks are still free for anyone brave enough to have stayed through that.”
A man called out from the bar with a chuckle. “Or too scared to run?”
Amusement pulled a corner of Kane’s mouth up. “Yes. That as well.”
Chapter
Eight
Discoveries
Once the carnage cleanup was under way, I relaxed again and took a bite of one of the dishes, dabbing my lips clean as Kane settled in next to me. When he kissed my temple, I looked up at him. "Did you just call me queen to everyone?"
He didn’t bat an eye. "If the title fits, it fits." His hand found mine, fingers brushing over my wrist, checking my bruise the dark bruise still on my arm. I had barely gotten a sip of his blood, let alone a drink before we were interrupted, so I was not healing much faster than I normally would. "How is your food?"
I reached up with my other hand, caressing his cheek. "Kane?"
He leaned back in his seat and watched the room coming back together. "Yes, my love?"
I ate a bite from the second plate, my face distorting, revealing how much I disliked it. After a gulp up some water, I ate a bite from the first to cleanse my pallet. Deciding not to press the issue, I grinned and tried the third plate, devouring it before asking, “What is this? It’s amazing!”
He eyed the dish and back to me. "I believe it's most like the poached salmon filet you have at home, with a bed of what you would consider pasta with a…” he thinks for a moment, “The dish is called Bregdaet. Do you like it?”
“Can you have the cooks in the castle prepare this sometime? Or if it’s this good because of the chef here, can I come get it or they brin
g it to me when I crave it?” I finished the last bite, moving on to the next dish, my metabolism still ramped up, higher than normal since I’d had some of his blood, even if it was wearing off
He looks at me oddly for a second. "When you crave it? Are you with child?" the words left his mouth before he could stop himself.
I almost choked on my bite. “With child? Me? Why?” I used my napkin to dab my lips. “Do you think I am? Could I be? Why would you even think that?” I rambled, knowing he was my only partner in months. “No. There’s no way. What are the odds, right? Slim! No. I can’t be…” I trailed off from my rambling questions.
He looked surprised. "I am sorry. I shouldn't have asked just because you had a craving." He leaned in, kissing me.
I was sure my eyes were as big as saucers. “I mean, did we even discuss if you could make me pregnant?” I dropped my utensil. “Can vampires impregnate humans?
"Humans, doshanesh, wornoichen, among others. But it's an extremely rare event," he replied. "I feel different with you, so who knows." He lifted a shoulder casually, a grin growing, pulling the corners of his mouth up as if he was enjoying the thought.
Panic rolled through my stomach, threatening to stir the meal I’d been eating. “Different? Different how? Do you feel that I may be?” I put a hand over my tummy. Part of me expected to feel something move, and a mixture of fear and excitement churned under my palm.
“I just feel like we have had plenty of passion, little one. And my body, with yours, just seems right. So, who knows? I don't smell you any differently or anything, but you glow beautifully." His grin turned to a sweet smile as he pulled me in closer.
I pulled back but not away. Studying him, I considered the weight of that being possible… of being pregnant. We aren’t even a couple. Are we? I’ve only been here several days. We don’t even know what we are doing! I wanted to run and scramble to find a way back to Earth; to my home, my bed, my world. But at the same time, I found my hand going to my stomach, longing to let myself curl into him.
