Page 31 of The Vampire Curse

“Oh yes,” she says. “But I can spare a little time for you, my Lord. An hour or two if need be.”

This woman expects far more than a simple feeding. However, other than her blood, I have no interest in anything she has to offer.

I stop her and press her back against the stone facade of a building. Her gaze goes from questioning to excited. She tilts her head, her hands roaming across my chest to grip at my shoulders as she presses her body into mine.

I despise those who wish to use me as their fantasy. Unfortunately, I need to feed. I am too close to losing my control of my bloodlust.

I sink my teeth into her neck and drink, thinking about Clara.

She writhes and moans. Her hands roam, reaching between us. Disengaging, I back out of her reach and give her a halfhearted bow. “Thank you, lady,” I say and turn away.

Otherworld damn Clara, she is like a demon with their claws latched deep into my brain. I feed on others as I would feed on her.

“But… I thought…” the woman says.

I stop but don’t face her. “I don’t know what you’ve heard, but I do not bed my meals.”

Before she can say another word, I hurry away. I have never been so cold toward a donor before. I have no doubt she's pouting, but nothing more than her pride has been injured this night.

A long time ago, I would have given in to such baser urges and combined the two. I didn’t care if humans used me to fulfill their fantasies. I didn’t care about anything. As long as I didn’t kill them for Rosalie’s sake, I thought nothing more of them.

Now the thought of doing more than feeding is unappealing.

I shake off the unwanted thoughts and focus on finding the others.

Lawrence and Della walk together down the main street toward the edge of town. I appear at their side.

“Done already?” Lawrence asks in a way that makes me wonder if he saw the woman I fed on. Della’s smirk only confirms that suspicion.

“Have you seen Cassius or Victor?” I ask, pointedly ignoring their insinuation.

Lawrence nods toward a street several blocks back.

“Meet me at the edge of town,” I say.

I waste no time seeking the other two out. It is them I cannot trust.

Moans echo from the darkened street. The gas lamp on the corner has been snuffed.

I turn the corner in time to witness Cassius straightening his trousers. He gives me a fiendish grin as he pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and dabs the corner of his mouth.

The woman with him has her back to me as she scrambles to straighten her dress. Her wild, red hair is a waterfall of messy curls. I narrow my eyes. There is something…

Cassius grips her arms from behind and leans down to whisper something in her ear I cannot make out. She nods then hurries away.

I don’t care what he said to her, I am only relieved she lives. His reputation for killing during feeding has followed him for decades. I’d expected I would have to watch Cassius closely during his visit, but thus far, he has surprised me. No doubt an attempt to get on Elizabeth’s good side. There is nothing he doesn’t do that is not an attempt to please her.

“Wait with the others, your demon is expecting you,” I say.

Then I turn my back on him and hurry through the streets of Windbury to find Victor.

I scour every dark corner and alley. Worry eats at me as I venture farther and farther into town.

Nearing the southern edge of the city, where the buildings give way to small farms, a soft whimper comes from the tree lined side of a field. I follow the sound.

On the other side of a small copse of trees, Victor is with a girl under him, writhing on the ground. Her hands swat weakly at his shoulders.

“Enough… that’s enough… I’m not… not feeling well,” her voice is a hoarse whisper.