Page 32 of Bite The Power That Feeds

“I’m serious, Cobra.”

He gave a quiet sigh. “I’ve known Kingsnake a long time. He’s never been attached to his prey before. Their blood became stale, and then they were replaced. I’m talking weeks, at the most. And with Ellasara, that was a different kind of love. None of us ever really liked her.”

“Why?”

“She was arrogant.”

“And you aren’t?” I asked incredulously.

He grinned again. “That’s why I like you. You say how it is. Ellasara would have turned up her nose and walked away like she was too good to speak to us. That bitch was stiff. So stiff that I bet he couldn’t even tell when she climaxed—if she even could have an orgasm. That woman was made of stone.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “But with you, it feels right. You already feel like family. So don’t worry if that woman up there is the hottest bitch he’s ever seen, it’s not going to make a difference.”

At that moment, Kingsnake emerged in the clearing, regal in his uniform, with his eyes clear and focused. There was no sign that a feeding had taken place, no spots of blood on his clothing or at the corner of his mouth.

“He’s already done?”

Cobra turned to look at him. “See? All over.”

“But I…” I’d felt his presence as he’d made his way up the stairs. Felt his presence once he’d entered the tree house. It was a dull presence, the type of energy I felt when he was trying to fall asleep. There was no rush of excitement. No desire. Nothing at all.

Kingsnake walked up to us, his eyes on me.

“Did you feed…?”

“Yes.”

The second Elias had stepped into the room with the woman who would become his wife, searing heat flushed through his body. I’d dismissed it the first time because attraction couldn’t be overcome, but it happened every time he was around her…and around some of the maids. But with Kingsnake, I never felt those feelings, even when a woman asked for his bite alone in a bedroom up in the trees. He had no idea I could feel him across distances like that, and even if he did, he couldn’t block off his mind that well.

“Ready?” he asked.

I’d been so concerned with his feeding that I forgot about my own.

“Word of advice,” Cobra said as he placed his hand on my shoulder. “Just enjoy it.”

“You still want a woman?” Kingsnake asked.

I nodded, not wanting to put him through what I’d just gone through.

“Whoa…what?” Cobra asked. “Daaaammnn. Are you going to watch?”

“Yes,” Kingsnake said.

“Lucky son of a bitch.” Cobra dragged his hand down his face and across his jawline. “Maybe I can talk Clara into it someday.”

“You asked her to turn?” Kingsnake asked.

Cobra shrugged. “That’s the only way we can be together, and I know she’s crazy about me.” He smirked and clapped Kingsnake across the back. “Enjoy, asshole.”

* * *

The woman the Ethereal presented to me was beautiful, with glowing skin, long blond hair in loose curls around her shoulders. She’d volunteered for Kingsnake or Viper, but she agreed to feed me when Queen Clara asked. I saw the man who had volunteered for me. He served in the army, so he was strong and well-built like Kingsnake, and he was handsome too.

That made me want the woman more.

We were escorted into a private building on the forest floor, the sunshine suddenly absent inside the enclosure. I hadn’t said a word to the woman. What was I supposed to say? Thank you? Did the wolf speak to the lamb before he fed?

Kingsnake accompanied us and closed the door behind us.

Her eyes immediately went to him and stayed there, the vampire she originally wanted. My novice fangs were about to pierce her glowing flesh, but she seemed unperturbed by that. She was either a farm animal too stupid to see her imminent end, or she was brave enough to accept the inevitable.