Page 66 of Blood as Sweet as Roses

Cedric averts his gaze, lowering it to the floor. His voice comes out in a furious hiss. “Yes.”

“And her intentions?”

He grimaces. “You should bring her here, and ask her that, if you…”

“I’m askingyou.”

Despite the mounting pressure in my core, I wait, wanting to hear what he’ll say. Crimson slows, as if prolonging my pleasure along with the tense moment.

The other vampire’s voice is quiet, but clear. “She lusts after your throne.”

Crimson’s fingers caresses me with agonizing slowness. My chest heaves against her fist. Her voice booms, echoing through the stone room, like a rumble of thunder.

“Then she’s dug her own grave.”

Her thumb strokes me powerfully, and I come in a crashing orgasm, my entire body on fire. I can’t hold in the moan that follows, but it’s cut short by Crimson’s fingers in my mouth. My taste is exquisite, lustful and sweet, mingled with blood. Crimson lets go of my neck, and laps up the blood there, sealing the wound.

Then she turns back to the vampires before her. Cedric looksfurious, his hands balled into fists, his eyes like two glowing rubies.

“We’re done here,” Crimson says, curtly. “Sabina, show our guests out.”

Cedric and the vampires who accompanied him are ushered swiftly out of the room.

Crimson surveys the remaining crowd with a self-satisfied expression. “The rest of you are dismissed,” she says curtly.

The Night vampires begin to file out, moving like shadows flickering across the moon. One of them steps forward, clad in a deep red suit.

“I have to admit, it was an effective strategy,” Murad says with a chuckle. “When you first suggested it, I wasn’t sure if drinking openly would be sufficient to disarm an older vampire like Cedric.”

“He’s always struggled to control his bloodlust,” Crimson answers. She brushes back a strand of hair from my temple. It’s a disarmingly intimate gesture, and knocks me off guard. “And Paige’s blood is undeniably tantalizing.”

Satisfaction twists in my stomach at her words. I meet her eyes shyly, glad to have pleased her. My thighs are still quivering, and I hold on to her for support.

The other vampire raises his eyebrows in a knowing expression. “I’m glad it worked. And now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll take my leave.”

With a nod to both of us, he exits the war room, leaving Crimson and I alone.

She pulls my legs onto her, seating me more firmly in my lap. Her fangs are retracted again now, lined up properly with the rest of her teeth.

“I owe you a debt of gratitude,” she tells me. “Thank you for your help tonight. Did you enjoy our show?”

“I did,” I reply, earnestly. It seems to silly to feel shy, after what we’ve just done, but I do. “I never thought I’d like being watched so much, but…Ireallylike it.”

“I thought you would. I have to admit, my first priority tonight was your pleasure. But I’m glad we also got the information our clan needed.”

Does she really mean that? There’s a surprisingly genuine expression in her eyes. And a comfortable playfulness that’s…new. She looks pleased with herself, I’m sure because of what’s just transpired.

I didn’t think about it much before, but now I’m suddenly very curious about her world.

“Who was that vampire?” I ask. “Is he one of your enemies?”

She seems surprised at my question. “You…really want to know?”

I nod eagerly.

“That was Cedric Ducharme, a vampire from the northern region. Silverlake City, more specifically. His Creator was recently staked, and his sister - his Creator’s other progeny - became the ruler of the northern vampire alliance, and ousted him.”

“And now he’shere?” I reply, concerned. “Does he want your throne?”