Page 30 of A Vow for the Vamp

“It’s not a competition, Mildred.”

She scrunches up her nose at me using her full name. “Fine, you brat.”

Does she realize how adorable she is when her button nose does that? Like an adorable little bunny. Probably not the best way to describe a dangerous vampire, but sheiscute.

Gorgeous.

Stunning.

“Yes. Those men you saw are my guards. They go where I go but when we met tonight, I had snuck out because sometimes I want to be alone. As for how I became queen? I told you about the council, right?”

I nod.

“Well, they needed a leader, and they all nominated me because of my ruthless reputation. Over the years, the vampires in this city and all the other supernatural beings started calling me the vampire queen. Therefore, I am. Now, every major city has a king or queen.”

“Wait, wait, wait… there are other supernatural beings? What do you mean? Like, werewolves and shit?”

“Yes.”

“What else?”

“Your pizza is getting cold.”

“What else, Millie?”

She sighs. “Gargoyles, demons, angels, sirens, shifters, mothmen—”

“No fucking way.”

She pushes my plate closer to me, and I finally pick up a slice and take a bite.

I groan because this is damn good pizza.

“Your turn,” Millie says, taking advantage of me with my mouth full to play our little game. “Tell me about yourchildhood. Anything unusual happen to you? Your parents… are you sure they’re human and not, say, witches?”

“Witches?!” I ask around the food.

“Yes, they’re real too.”

I shake my head and swallow my bite. “No. My dad is an accountant, and my mom is a teacher. Not exactly magical career paths.”

“You’d be surprised.”

“No. Nothing unusual. I promise. Why are you asking though? Is it because you can’t hypnotize me?”

“It’s called compelling and yes.”

I wonder if that has anything to do with my…

I shake the thought from my head. It won’t matter unless I can convince her to—

“I want you to bite me.”

She nearly spits out the mouthful of wine she just drank.

“I want to know what it feels like.”

Millie smirks and gently places the wineglass down on the marble countertop.