Page 12 of Caller of Crows

Sven glared at him, but he was sure that the effect of it was lost on the vampire.

"Get up," Altair commanded.

"Why?"

"I'm moving you to a different room." He paused. "Unless you'd prefer to stay here with a stack of adult diapers."

Sven scowled at that suggestion, but he still got up from the bed, covered himself with his blanket as best he could, and followed Altair out of the room.

The hallway was dimly lit, but brighter than his cell had been, allowing him to study the vampire lord as they walked. Altair moved with a predatory grace that Sven couldn't help but find captivating—and the black coat he wore only added to the effect.

He might be a bloodthirsty killer and a creep, but there was no denying that the vampire was handsome. A fact that Sven hated, because he found it difficult to tear his eyes away, and even more difficult not to think about how their last encounter had ended.

That damned kiss…

For a fraction of a second, the corner of Altair's lips twitched, as if he'd caught on to Sven's thoughts and Sven immediately looked away, heat creeping up his neck.

He really needed to get a better grip on his thoughts.

Finally, Altair stopped in front of a large wooden door and pushed it open. The room beyond was spacious and surprisingly well-lit, with a large four-poster bed dominating the center of the room.

"Here we are," Altair announced, gesturing for Sven to go inside.

Sven hesitated, but his curiosity got the better of him. He stepped inside, taking a closer look at the room.

It was decorated in dark colors with black and deep red dominating the scheme. The bed was covered in silk sheets, and there was a small seating area with two armchairs and a table nearby, flanked by a bookshelf. To the side, a door led to a small ensuite. There was a wardrobe too, and when Sven checked it, he found his old clothes. Naturally, the pockets of his pants had been emptied.

"We keep this room for special guests," Altair explained, closing the door behind himself.

"Special guests or special prisoners?" Sven shot back.

"You're not a prisoner." Altair moved so fast, Sven didn't even see him move, but from one moment to the next, the vampire was right next to him, fangs glinting. "You're a valuable blood source."

Sven's heart race accelerated as he felt Altair's breath on his neck. He tried to step away, but Altair gripped his arm to keep him in place.

"I heard that you tried to offer your blood to Marla," Altair said in a cold tone of voice. "Don't expect that you can get my own vampires to betray me, and especially don't expect that I won't learn."

Sven's heart was pounding in his chest, a mixture of excitement and adrenaline pumping through his veins as he tried to pull away from Altair's grip. He knew he had made a mistake, but he'd never even considered what Altair might do to him if he found out.

"I don't want your coven to betray you," Sven said through gritted teeth. "I just want to be turned."

Altair gave him a long hard stare. Then, he leaned in closer, his lips barely brushing against Sven's ear, voice pitched low as he spoke. "Don't ever offer your blood to another vampire."

Sven shivered at the sensation of Altair's lips on his ear, his body betraying him as a surge of desire shot through him. He tried to push the feeling down, but it was difficult when Altair was so close, exuding an aura of danger that should not have been as intoxicating as it was.

Fuck, what was wrong with him?

"Do you know," Altair leaned back only slightly to look at Sven's face, "what it is that makes mortal blood so special to vampires?"

Sven swallowed, trying to ignore the heat that was slowly spreading through his body. "No."

"We can drink from other creatures," Altair explained. "Mages, shifters, even Fae… but their blood has its own magic that rejects ours. We survive on their blood, but we never feelalive."

He paused, locking gazes with Sven. "You strive to give up your mortality," he continued, voice soft now, "while my kind is willing to pay ungodly sums to feel mortal again."

He brought up a hand to rest the back of his fingers against Sven's cheek. "Feel how cold I am?"

Sven nodded, unable to speak as he felt Altair's icy touch against his skin.