Page 12 of Blood Day (Blood Alliance #7)

Cedric

I dabbed Lily’s chin with a wet washcloth, cleaning the blood off her skin.

My little flower had wilted so quickly on the drive, talking to me one moment and incoherent the next.

I’d worried I would have to force-feed her, which I’d done to an extent. But she’d returned long enough to swallow on her own. And now her body would take care of the rest.

She’d imbibed more than enough of my essence to thrive. It would have some residual effects for a few days, too.

So I’d need to find a reason to excuse her from her courses.

Otherwise, her enhancement would be obvious to those around her.

I also needed to ensure she understood the importance of what I’d done and why she couldn’t tell a soul. She’d already agreed to it in the car, but her response had felt more programmed than true. I would take the next few days to make sure she truly meant her compliance for the right reasons.

“There,” I murmured, studying her pretty face. “Good as new.”

I set the cloth to the side and focused on her arm again, straightening it once more to ensure the bones settled appropriately.

Sometimes enhanced healing caused the bones to set at an awkward angle, which resulted in having to break them again to mend them properly.

I also pulled her legs down and rolled her to her back, wanting her organs and insides to repair themselves without issue as well.

It shouldn’t take long.

Her injuries were substantial and would have been life-threatening if left unattended, but my blood would cure her in a few hours.

Still, I remained beside her in the bed while she healed, just in case something went wrong. She rested beautifully on her back, her pretty blonde hair fanned out around her head.

I let her steady pulse soothe my nerves while I worked on my tablet. I had several messages to reply to, including one from Silvano.

It ended in the same way all his messages did. When will you be back?

“Never, if I can help it,” I muttered out loud. But I couldn’t reply that way.

Fortunately, there weren’t cameras in this house—something I’d checked upon moving in and regularly scanned for while living here.

Lilith favored technology, using it as a way to keep not only humans in line, but her lycans and her own kind as well.

I would never understand how the royals decided on her leadership. She wasn’t even the oldest vampire among us. Kylan owned that role, followed closely by Jace.

Well, technically, Cam was the oldest.

But he was presumed dead.

So that left Kylan.

Even Silvano was older than Lilith.

Not that he should ever lead. He was a sadist with a power complex, hence the reason I chose to hide in the middle of the fucking desert.

Many assumed we shared similar proclivities since he’d sired me, but I preferred consenting prey. I glanced down at the blonde behind me. “Hmm, maybe I like wilting flowers, too,” I mused aloud.

Wilting flowers with spirit.

When Lily had questioned me in the car, I’d been thrilled. That was why I’d divulged so much information to her afterward. It had taken courage on her part to ask such a question. And it was a simple one, too. The kind of question a human would have asked with ease two centuries ago.

But not now.

Now they barely even looked at supernaturals, let alone spoke freely to them.

But my Lily had shown a hint of strength beneath all those submissive layers, and I intended to start coaxing that part of her out to play.

A dangerous desire, considering her future. Alas, that was a problem we’d address in time.

For now, I’d help her blossom and enjoy the short time she had left on this earth.

I ran my fingers through her silky blonde hair, then worked on my reply to Silvano.

I suggested we meet at the next Blood Day to discuss it, which was a little under nine months away.

That would give me time to finish out my course regimen for the year and also create a new excuse for avoiding his request.

His increased pestering of late told me I was running out of time. He’d want a formal response to his political request soon.

Which meant I’d probably end up a sovereign in the next few years.

Because no one denied Silvano and survived it.

I didn’t mind the position or the responsibility that came with it, but I didn’t want to be under my Sire’s thumb more than I already was. He’d turned me over three thousand years ago, and we’d ventured in separate directions ever since.

We both adored blood and violence.

But I preferred a physical fight, while he enjoyed torture. It had allowed us to be a powerful duo once. However, his sanity of late felt a bit lacking.

He loved this new world order, enjoyed taking out his superiority on the humans and forcing them to bow at his feet.

I found it all a bit droll.

There were benefits.

And there were negatives.

Such as the beauty lying beside me.

She should be in a field somewhere, picking flowers and lazing in the sun. Not attending a university meant to indoctrinate mortal slaves.

“You definitely shouldn’t be in my class,” I added aloud, my fingers returning to her hair. “My course is all about murder and darkness, and you’re life and light personified.” I studied her delicate features once more, then checked on her arm again.

The Blood University had practically starved her, which was part of what made her so fragile .

I had no doubt she could be a fighter, if that was what she truly desired in life. But not under these circumstances.

Harming her in class tonight had been more difficult than I’d anticipated. I’d nearly killed her partner for laying a hand on her. Which was partly why I’d allowed the female to be so badly injured in the next round—I’d been distracted by my own murderous rage.

Then I’d chastised myself for setting up the failure.

But she needed to understand that perfect form meant nothing against someone twice her size.

“Maybe I’ll show you how to use other means to your advantage,” I told her as I drew my touch up her sternum to her neck. “I bet you would be handy with a blade.”

Although, Vigils weren’t given weapons often. Only the most trusted among them were given machine guns.

Which required muscle and size.

And at least a decade of training within the Vigil unit.

She’d never survive that. Not with the way this world had stacked its cards against her.

“I should have let you die tonight,” I confided out loud.

“Expedited the process by drinking you dry.” It was a notion that had crossed my mind.

But I’d killed it almost immediately. “I’m not ready for you to wilt yet.

Which I suppose makes me a selfish bastard, but it’s been a long time since something has intrigued me like you do, Lily. ”

It was probably just a result of boredom.

This new world took the surprise and excitement out of every situation.

“I didn’t understand why you enrolled in my course,” I continued, aware that she couldn’t hear me at all.

But I felt like talking to her, so I did.

“I immediately pulled up your records and saw they were almost flawless, so it became apparent to me that you were one of the many humans attempting to qualify for the Immortal Cup. ”

I checked my email once more, noted that I’d gone through enough for the day, and set the tablet aside so I could lie down beside her in the bed.

I’d already lost my shirt and shoes when I’d grabbed the washcloth earlier, and I’d swapped my dress pants for a pair of sweats. But I’d left Lily in her clothes, unsure of how she preferred to sleep.

She was still on her back, her beautiful body healing.

I went to my side, propping my head up on my hand and placing my opposite palm on her stomach. Then I pulled up her shirt to study her creamy skin. The initial signs of bruising had disappeared, confirming my blood was doing its job.

I drew my thumb around her belly button, sighing.

“It’s true that scores can help you qualify for the Immortal Cup.

But genetics play a large part in it as well.

And your genetics mark you as ideal for a harem.

You’re beautiful and petite, and I imagine your advisor—if that term is even accurate—is pushing you toward sexual arts classes.

That’s likely why you’ve taken two in the last year. ”

It would also have something to do with her age.

But the powers that be would want to know how she performed sexually to confirm their harem assessment.

“Prospects are preselected for the Immortal Cup. Sometimes a prospect with insanely high scores can qualify as a replacement, but it’s not what you think.

None of it is. They choose nearly three dozen, then immediately cut the numbers by allowing each royal and each alpha to pick one candidate for their harem. Then only twelve go on to compete.”

That competition was then televised for all the mortals to see.

Giving them all a false hope of a future they could attain if they just worked harder .

And it seduced humans like my Lily to kill herself trying to become an immortal.

“It’s a sadistic system meant to break the spirits of your kind,” I added softly, my knuckles brushing her flat abdomen. “I’m sorry, Lily. If I could help you pursue this path, I would. But you were destined to fail before you even began.”

I leaned down to brush a kiss against her forehead.

Then I sighed again—a sound I seemed to make a lot in her presence—and settled into my pillow. “We’ll discuss more when you wake,” I said, my palm flattening against her abdomen.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had another person in my bed.

A century or two ago, maybe?

Silvano often gifted me his used-up harem members, but I didn’t fuck them. I fed them and left them to heal in a guest room instead.

It just wasn’t all that appealing to me to have his leftovers.

There were only two that I’d killed just to put them out of their misery. They were going to die anyway, and their lifeless eyes had seemed to beg me to do it.

Unlike Lily.

She was so full of life and determination, even when she’d started to fall asleep in my arms tonight. I’d felt her desire to live like a push against my conscience.

It’d been refreshing and made my gift to her all the more worth it.

Maybe I could find a way to keep her.

Of course, that would set her in Silvano’s sights.

So perhaps not.

However, she was mine for the moment.

That would just have to be long enough .

I ran my hands over her one more time, checking her injuries and noting the healing marks on her body. Her arm was almost fully mended, thus allowing me to move her again.

I curled her into a similar position as before, with her back to my front, but I didn’t press my wrist to her lips. Instead, I wrapped myself around her and guided her head to my upper arm to use as a pillow while my opposite arm went around her stomach.

Mine , I thought, using my body to shield her from the world.

I pressed my nose to her hair and inhaled her floral scent.

My sweet flower.

My Lily.

For tonight, you are simply mine.