Page 18

Instead of focusing on shifting his body gingerly so that he didn’t awaken Michaela with his movements, he became black smoke and teleported himself from the bed to the bottom of the dais.

With a thought, his vampiric phantom form became corporeal in a step as he strutted without pause toward the door.

“The Fae Queen radioed back. She has received your request and will get the word for the council to meet in a few days.” Marceline stood in the hallway with her long, black hair bundled up high at her crown in a bun so tight it would make a Prima ballerina jealous.

Already dressed for the evening meal, his Vice wore a gossamer amaranth gown that hung to the floor with over half of the material trailing along the polished floor behind her, hiding her shoes.

The material was sheer and left not only her breasts but revealed her bare crotch on display through the fabric for everyone to see.

Marceline was an attractive female, skin as youthful and smooth as porcelain, but seeing her lightly covered nude body now that his mate was within reach in his arms, Amaros no longer felt even a spark of desire.

Not even with his dick still attempting to snap apart the metal teeth of his zipper to free itself.

Don’t make an about-face and go back into the room to Michaela . He inhaled to calm his body the fuck down and focus his mind on what needed to be done now.

“Perfect,” he grumbled. He reached back, grabbed the handle briefly, and pulled the door firmly. It wouldn’t do to have his mate running amok. “And is everyone gathered?”

Moving in stride beside him, they started down the hall toward the stairs.

“Set. In the solarium. I know you love to watch the sunset through the windows on the west side of the mansion.”

“Good.” He led them down and around the wide, winding staircase to the second floor.

“Sire, are you sure you want to do this?” When he glanced at her, Marceline paused and added, “What I mean is that it has been almost a hundred years since the last human mate was discovered.”

“That may be true, Marceline. However, if I do not present Michaela to the council as soon as possible, I am no better than Aodh withholding the Lupine’s female in his territory or even his mate.”

“Now, I can understand why the Drahk leader hesitated. The transition of a human mate can be unpredictable.” At the bottom landing, they turned right to get to the corridor leading to their destination.

“Be that as it may, it must be done.” Amaros closed the few buttons of his shirt he had undone while holding up in his room.

He wished he’d thought to get his suit jacket and a tie.

It didn’t sit well with him not being put together outside his suites, especially knowing that most would be dressed elegantly, even provocatively, for the Coven’s final meal of the night.

“Will she be ready? Already, it has taken her longer to transition for you to complete the claiming than if she were Vampire-born—”

“Enough!” he thundered, his voice reverberating down the halls as he halted before the door leading to his favorite room.

He could hear dishes rattling across the mansion where servants set the dining room table.

Amaros slid a hand over his hair, slicking back the disobedient strands that had always fallen to his temple since he was a callow youth. In all things, he liked order.

He shifted so he faced his Coven’s Vice, who pressed her lips together, forcing herself to remain silent even though he could see the multitude of questions shadowing her eyes.

“I’m fully aware of my mate’s limitations and complications,” he stated, referring to the young ones she carried.

If it weren’t for them feeding from Michaela, Amaros could have sped her process along faster and awakened her sooner in a controlled environment simply by bringing in a few humans and letting her feed and feed and feed until her bloodlust was sated, and the transition was complete.

That way would run the risk of human sacrifices being mutilated.

But he wasn’t as cruel a Sire as those who reigned at different times in the past.

“However, it is vital that all members of the preternatural council play by the same rules if this relationship will work long term. Especially if the human government is being deceptive shits.”

Marceline frowned and stepped closer to him. She lowered her voice so that her lips did not even move. “Have you learned something new, Sire?”

Amaros knew she did it not because of the Prime, who had good hearing because of the light traces of serum in their blood, but mainly because of the Vampires within. They could hear a mouse expel gas five miles away.

Like him, his Vice knew it took all of Amaros's control and diplomacy to keep vamps in his Coven outside the human-walled territory. All they needed was a reason, and pillars of black smoke would creep over the high walls, set on a feeding frenzy and devastation.

But he could trust his Vice to have his back, and now, with his mate's life. “Yes,” he answered in kind, then mouthed. ‘She carries.’

Marceline gasped.

He knew his Vice was unaware of his mate's condition because when Marceline had entered the room, Michaela had been in the stage between life and death, and so had the little ones.

“Yet, she is untouched,” he continued in her same low tones.

The furrowed brow was set so deep it marred Marceline’s beautiful features. “What...? How?”

“I will discover this soon.” With that, Amaros reached for the doorknob and entered the room alone.

Marceline retreated in the opposite direction toward the formal dining room.

Waning sunlight poured into the room, painting the sky above in shades of violet and orange. Amaros could find beauty in the colors even as he missed the true-blue hue of the sky and longed for the day when the wartime chemicals no longer tainted the atmosphere and marred the ozone layer.

The heat from the sun filling the glass room enhanced the scent of the humans gathered within the space.

He could smell their perspiration, bottled fragrances, styling products, and even the cleaning solutions clinging to a couple of them that they used to keep the converted cathedral gleaming and in order.

However, the sweet, warm scent of their blood drew him in, and for this reason, he enjoyed feeding in this space.

He slid his hands into his pockets as he stood still in the center of the room, closed his eyes briefly, and inhaled.

Breathing in the delicious aroma caused his gums to tingle, and a shiver of anticipation danced along his spine like a connoisseur of select wines, fine bourbons, or culinary cuisines would lust for the first taste.

Even after centuries, the raw, unmitigated desire for blood never vanished. He was a Vampire.

Shifting his gaze to the four gathered, he smiled to calm them. He’d drunk from a frightened source before, too many times to count when he was young and hasty, but the delicate yield of a willing vein was almost more pleasurable than the tight pinch around his fangs of a terrified provider.

When he entered, they stood around the table where they had been seated waiting for him—three women and two men.

Amaros gestured for one of them to step forth. He didn’t want the process to take too long because he wanted to get back to Michaela. He reached out mentally as one wide-eyed girl took the initiative and moved expeditiously toward him.

When she paused before him with a smile brighter than the sun that would set soon, he arched a brow at her expression.

When a servant was too eager, he felt the need to set them straight and caution them if they believed somehow they had an opportunity to become Prime, those who had been carefully selected.

The other volunteers in the room with her were individuals he or others had fed from. However, he’d never seen this young lady provide blood before, so he asked, “What’s your name?”

“Zita,” came her eager answer as she bounced once, then on the balls of her feet a second time.

Amaros speared a look at her periwinkle flats.

Catching the hint, the girl settled.

“How old are you?” He lifted his gaze but made no move to touch her.

“Eighteen as of yesterday, Sire.”

Well, she was of age. He had a hard rule that none of the servants could be supped from until they were eighteen.

The Vampire would be banished from his Coven if the rule was broken.

Early on, after the catastrophes, and they had to come together from all parts of Earth, Amaros was aware that certain individuals of his kind had strange habits and customs, but feeding on children under his rule would never be allowed.

“You volunteered tonight?”

“Yes, Sire.” She twisted her fingers at her waist. He could tell it wasn’t because of nerves but just Zita's way of attempting to control her excitement.

“What expectations do you have as reciprocation for your service?” He waited.

“None, Sire. Only to serve you and the other leaders in residence as thanks for providing a safe place for us here.” Her dark, round eyes revealed the honesty of her words.

“This is always by your will. You have a say. If you’re violated in any way, you come directly to Vice Marceline or me. Understand?”

Zita exhaled. “Yes, I understand.”

He nodded. “Come forth.”

She stepped close and tilted her head to the side. Clearly, Marceline must have directed them about where he enjoyed biting. Since the beginning, he’d always relished the intimacy of the act and the closeness of contact.

Amaros felt her body heat and smelled her light scent that reminded him of gardenias and aloe vera, and he knew she worked in the property gardens.

The rapid beat of her heart rate was proof of Zita’s innocent joy, a perfect specimen.

However, when he cupped the back of her neck and prepared to lean down and sink his teeth into her carotid artery, his body froze, and a wave of what he could only describe as nausea swept through him.