Page 6 of Taste of Death (Vampires of Sanguine #2)

Chapter 5

Amy

T his Novak guy seemed to have a limitless supply of hot water. I wanted to soak under it forever, and had to constantly remind myself that I was a guest, and not a particularly welcome one. He couldn’t have been thrilled at having to scrape my dying form off the cobblestones, cut himself to feed me, and then provide me with a bed and shower.

I had either run into the kindest, most patient wealthy vampire in existence, or one with ulterior motives trying to lull me into a false sense of security. But so far, he hadn’t seemed creepy at all.

Eventually I forced myself to shut the water off, and the chill that crept in was not entirely unwelcome. It crept along my skin like a physical touch, alerting all my senses.

I felt better, mentally and physically, than I had in weeks. The crushing sense of despair over my turning wasn’t entirely gone, but it felt lifted away slightly. Removed from me, so that I at least had space to breathe, to just be.

The aches and pains of my hunger were gone, and I actually felt sated. Comfortable, satisfied even. I felt… good.

As long as I didn’t look in the mirror.

Seeing fangs in my mouth and my blue irises surrounded by black always came as a shock. A slap in the face to remind me that I was neither human nor vampire. At least vampires had power and status, but my black eyes set me apart as something other. I was too human to fit in with those with red eyes and that dangerous allure. And now too strange and inhuman to ever be accepted by the people of Sapien.

But what really sent me spiraling wasn’t on my face, but on my abdomen.

Yes, my skin was now airbrush-smooth and any wounds would heal without a single scar, but the scars from my human life were frozen in time. Including the ones from the attack that killed me.

The massive bathroom was full of mirrors, so it was hard to avoid looking at myself as I grabbed a towel, but I managed it. I didn’t want to look down at my body either, so I closed my eyes as I dried off. Novak’s impossibly soft, luxurious bath towel trailed over the jagged scars running from my navel to my sternum.

I only opened my eyes after securing the towel around me, and let out a shaky, relieved breath. Depression spiral avoided, for now.

Still avoiding contact with any mirrors, I slipped into a pair of dark pants and a cream-colored sweater I found in the guest room’s dresser, then went off to find Novak.

I stuck my head out in the hallway and looked both ways before stepping out cautiously. The decor out here was just as dark and luxurious as the two other rooms I’d been in. The far side of the hallway was a balustrade creating a waist-high border on this entire level of the house. Stretching on tiptoes, I leaned over the barrier to see the main floor below.

There was the room where Novak had first put me, right off the intricately carved front door and a foyer with some kind of mosaic tile pattern in the floor.

I kept one hand on the railing as I walked slowly toward the glow of an open door, which I assumed was where Novak waited for me. My gaze could barely soak in every detail before being pulled to admire something else. A massive chandelier hung in the center of the ceiling, directly above where the staircase ended on the first floor.

I had seen old movies on the random TV channels we’d pick up from the human world, and of course I’d read romance novels about dukes and princes of faraway lands, but never in my life had I ever known such wealth was actually possible.

Hesitating at the entrance to Novak’s office, I studied him from where he sat behind the massive wooden desk. His brow furrowed as he examined some papers, one elbow propped up on the desk’s surface while that hand rubbed his temple. Was he that tired while talking to me in the guest room? Did he even sleep at all while the sun was up?

He looked up after a moment, and I didn’t know which exactly caused my breath to catch in my chest—the striking red color of his eyes or the way his handsome features lit up at the sight of me.

“You look refreshed.” He leaned back in his chair, rolling his shoulders. “Feel better?”

I nodded. “You look… busy.”

Novak chuckled and lifted his hands in a sheepish gesture. “The work never stops, I suppose. Shall we go downstairs?”

“Can I ask what you do? It seems you’re very uh,” I glanced around the lavish room, “important.”

He gave a slight smile as he stood and rounded the desk. “How important I am varies depending on who you ask.”

“I’m asking you.”

Novak paused several feet away from me, a respectful distance, but still close enough for me to pick up his scent. I almost found myself leaning forward for a closer appreciation of whatever that delicious cologne was.

“I am unfortunately more important than I ever would have preferred to be,” he sighed.

“That tells me absolutely nothing.”

“You should probably get the hang of being a brusang before finding out what my role in Sanguine is.” The smile he gave was tight, more like a grimace. “As with all vampire clans, there are a few centuries of history to take into account.” He gestured toward the open doorway. “After you.”

I turned, heading for the stair landing. “Which clan are you part of?”

Novak inhaled sharply, his strides slightly ahead of mine as we took the stairs together. “My clan is called Rathka’s Order.”

“Does your whole clan live here? And who’s Rathka, an ancestor, I take it?” My fresh burst of energy seemed to have dialed up my burning curiosity as well.

“No. Aside from my household staff, I live alone. And Rathka is a deity, the younger brother of Temkra, our goddess. Some say Rathka’s our first ancestor, but that’s where history and legend sort of bleed into each other to where you don’t know which is truth or myth. But my clan and family line have embodied his ideals going back many generations.”

“Oh, wow. So everyone in your clan has their own place? Are they all like this?” I gestured toward the chandelier above us.

Novak chuckled. “We have a few homes like this but no, not exactly. My clan’s situation is… complicated.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” We made it to the bottom of the stairs and I gave him a rueful look. “I didn’t mean to ask personal questions, that was rude of me.”

“It’s all right.” Novak headed across the foyer and I followed him dutifully. “It’s refreshing to hear a lot of direct questions, actually. As vampires get older, we tend to assume and infer a lot. Once you reach a certain age, you think you know everything.”

He led us to an open-concept kitchen with a huge, dark marbled island and matching cabinetry.

“There’s a human saying about assuming.”

“And that is?” Novak opened two large doors that I realized was a refrigerator designed to look like the rest of the cabinetry.

“When you assume, you make an ass out of you and me.”

Novak laughed so suddenly that he nearly dropped the wooden tray covered with foil. He recovered quickly though, and placed the tray on the island. “That’s clever. I like it.”

All kinds of tantalizing smells hit my nose as he peeled back the foil. Vinegar, salt, spices, plus traces of blood and muscle.

“Help yourself.” Novak pushed the tray toward me. “My chef made it for you.”

My mouth watered. “All this for me?”

It was an assortment of bite-sized meats, all beautifully arranged and prepared in different ways. Marinated, smoked, seared, and even some pieces that looked raw with just a touch of seasoning.

“I’m not too familiar with human food,” Novak said. “But she said this is all suitable for humans if you’re not fully adjusted to eating like a brusang yet.”

“It looks too pretty to eat,” I admitted, eyes roaming over the display.

“Oh, don’t worry about that.” Novak scoffed. “When Jo wants to put on a presentation, you’ll know.” He pointed to the red cubes of raw meat. “I know that one. This is mukrot.”

“Oh yeah, muck-rot. I totally know what that is.”

His smile was roguish, but not cruel. “A mukrot is a livestock animal that can drop limbs and regenerate them. Kind of how lizards can grow their tails back.”

I stared at him. “Are you pranking me? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“They’re kept by Marrowers underground, who harvest bone marrow and meat from the discarded limbs. It’s a very popular food among vampires, and can substitute for blood in a pinch.”

“Uh-huh,” I said, still skeptical.

“You can dip it in this.” Novak’s finger moved over a small condiment bowl that looked like applesauce. “It’s a bone marrow mash from the same animal. I eat it at least once a week. It’s my favorite.”

“So you do eat things besides blood?” Feeling brave, I picked up one of the red meat cubes and swiped it through the mash.

“For pleasure, not necessity.” He grinned at me from across the island. “Otherwise I’d have no need for a chef at all, would I?”

“I guess not.” I popped the morsel into my mouth and my eyes went wide at the rich flavors that exploded on my tongue. A little spicy like ginger, with a buttery consistency that melted in my mouth. “Holy shit, that is really good!”

“Told you.” Novak took one for himself before pressing away from the counter. “Try everything, don’t hold back.”

Everything on the board was delicious in its own unique way. It made me wonder if my taste buds had become enhanced along with my other senses, because I couldn’t remember human food being half as flavorful as everything here.

And yet none of it compared to Novak’s blood.

The cut inside of his forearm was a barely noticeable pale scar now. I noticed it anyway because Novak had pushed his sleeves up past his elbows. The fabric creased and wrinkled just below his biceps, and it added a roughness to his aristocratic look.

A roughness that was very appealing, I realized. He had good blood vessels in his forearms too, surrounded by corded muscle.

While my hunger was sated, my fangs tingled at the thought of the blood coursing under his skin. Blood that was refreshing as water from a wild spring, and more delicious than Tavi’s homemade wine.

The sound of metallic clanking startled me, jerking my gaze away from Novak’s forearms as I searched for the source of the noise.

“It’s the automatic shutter system,” he explained. “When all sunlight is gone, the windows open up.”

“Oh, right. Most of your house isn’t underground.”

“I do have a basement for emergencies, but no.” He gave me a wry look. “How could my ancestors show off our wealth and prestige if we didn’t build upward so everyone could see?”

“You know, I keep wondering if you’re vampire royalty.” I popped another flavorful meat cube in my mouth. “And you’re not exactly disproving my theory.”

“We’ve had our go of that in the past.” Novak rested his forearm on the counter, leaning against the edge. “It never lasted, though. My family’s never been, let’s say, diplomatic enough, to be the ruling clan for any amount of time.”

“You seem very diplomatic,” I observed. “Philanthropic, even, with the way you take in ragged, starving brusang off the streets.”

“Don’t give me too much credit. You were the first.” He took another bite from my tray, slicing it deftly with his fang. “And probably the last.”

“Am I that horrible of a houseguest?” I said it as a joke, bringing a hand to my chest in fake shock. But I cringed while waiting for the answer. Novak had been more than hospitable to me, while I must have been a major inconvenience to him. Now with the sun down after I’d been here all day, he had to be dying to kick me out of his house.

“Not at all,” he said lightly. “You’ve made my day far more interesting. But,” his smile bared the tip of one fang, “I can only handle one insatiably curious brusang at a time. So don’t go telling your friends about how philanthropic I am.”

“And share these snacks?” I held my hand out over the tray. “Share your blood? Hell no.”

Novak laughed, but it sounded forced and I wondered if I overstepped. The truth had slipped out before I’d fully realized it.

I felt possessive over Novak’s blood. The thought of anyone else taking from him sent a twist of discomfort in my gut. And not only that, I felt possessive of this. The time we were spending together, just eating and bantering in his glorious kitchen.

He was probably hundreds of years older than me, and wealthier than I ever thought possible. Someone like him should have made me feel smaller, less than. But being with him like this felt so casual, even comfortable. He leaned against the counter lazily, with his sleeves rolled up, getting creases in his shirt, while he grabbed snacks with his fingers and patiently entertained my stupid questions without any ridicule.

Whatever this was, it was nice. It reminded me of when Tavi and I stayed up all night talking about anything and everything. Those moments were the most special ones. There was something about talking until dawn about the dumbest topics that made a friendship feel unbreakable.

But with how things were between me and her now, I questioned how true that really was.

All I knew right then was that I liked talking to Novak, and in my short time of knowing him, I felt like I could be myself with him.

Even while I was in the process of figuring out who “myself” was.

Novak rapped his knuckles on the marble counter, angling his head so that his gaze shifted to the now-open windows. “I suppose we should get you back home.”

“Oh, yeah.” While I was romanticizing our one conversation, he’d probably been hoping I’d take the initiative to leave myself. So much for not being a shitty guest. “Of course.” I pushed away from the counter, resisting the urge to grab one last bite from the tray. “I’ll just grab my clothes from the room upstairs.”

The grand staircase was an easy climb. So easy that I pushed myself to go faster, enjoying the speed and power that could have only come from Novak’s blood. I kept up my pace once I hit the landing, jogging to the guest room to collect my clothes. It felt good to move, good to push myself even slightly.

On my way back down the stairs, I wondered what I’d do for my next serving of blood. Was there any chance Novak would let me come back? Or would I have to force myself back to the blood bank?

He waited in the foyer, wearing a long coat that matched his waistcoat and trousers, his hands encased in black leather gloves.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Oh, you don’t have to come with me. I’ll find my way back.” My smile came nervously. I wanted nothing more than to stop being an inconvenience to him. “You’ve done too much for me already.”

“Nonsense. I’ll see you home safely.” His look was impish as he gave a final tug on his gloves. “Besides, we both know there’s a chance you’ll end up in my courtyard again.”

I forced out a laugh. Oh, he definitely doesn’t want me here. “That’s true. Your guest room is too nice and your snacks too tasty. Work on making those shittier if you want to be left in peace.”

Novak bared a fang in a slight smile but didn’t respond. “Where are you staying?” He opened the front door and gestured for me to go first.

“With Blood ‘til Dawn.” I walked through and waited for him to close up. “Do you know?—”

He didn’t move from his spot next to the open door, but it was his expression that cut my words short. His lips curled into a snarl, and his eyes were alight with shock and something else. Anger, or maybe even malice.

“What did you say?” he hissed.

“Uh, Blood ‘til Dawn?” I swallowed.

“Are you serious?” Novak snapped out of his frozen state, closing the door behind him as he joined me outside. “Or are you joking?”

“Serious.” Although I started to wish I wasn’t.

“You’re staying with the ruling clan of Sanguine?” Novak’s gaze narrowed, his eyes like two red lanterns in the dim light of dusk. “How did that happen? Did one of them turn you?”

“Yes,” I sighed. “My best friend’s mate did.”

“Mate?” he repeated. “Like a blood mate?”

“Um, yes?” I frowned. “I don’t entirely know what that is, but they’re having this big ceremony in two weeks.”

Understanding dawned on Novak’s face. “That’s right. I’ve heard that’s happening.” He glanced at me again, his expression cool and remote. “That’s your friend you’re having trouble with? She’s having a mating ceremony with Cyan of Blood ‘til Dawn?”

“Yup, that’s her.”

“I see.”

I’m glad you see because I am in the fucking dark, buddy.

The kind, casual Novak I’d been speaking to was gone. This vampire was closed off, a cold and stiff aristocrat. He didn’t even meet my eyes as he started down the cobblestone street. “Let’s get you back before they send out a search party.”

I hurried to match his stride. “Let me guess. There's a long and complicated history between your clan and Blood ‘til Dawn?”

He huffed out a mirthless laugh. “More than you can imagine, little brusang. And none of it is good.”