Page 69 of The Vampire's Mercy

I kept my thoughts to myself, concentrating on feeding my grumbling belly and soothing my parched throat. A plethora ofdelicious scents wafted at me from four buffet tables over on the other side of the room.

The wolf left with the human, stepping back in position at the window to glare.

“Sorry about that,” Elio said. “No one wants an executioner here.”

“I gathered.”

“They want you dead.”

No shit.“I know.”

He sighed. “You won’t cause trouble, will you?”

“How can I? I’m a thrall now.”

“Do you promise?”

I wasn’t about to pinky swear with the elf. I wasn’t one for making promises to strangers I’d never keep anyway.

“Can we move on?” I responded.

My question hung in the air with the rest of the thick tension in the dining room. Man, what an atmosphere, my skin prickling, palms still itching.

I kept my head down. No eye contact meant no dragging my fellow thralls into arguments. Even if we couldn’t physically hurt each other, it seemed verbal spats might be on the table.

Or was that just for thrall guards? Pfft. I didn’t want to find out.

Yet.

“I’ll get you some food and coffee. Do you like coffee?”

“Yeah. Milk. No sugar. Thanks.”

“Toast? Cereal? Something else?”

I pushed myself up, spotting the cakes and pastries area. “Got any caramel shortbread?”

Fingers crossed.

“Yes.”

And just like that, the morning got better. To hell with the mean eyes around me. Aidan had smiled down on me with a sugary gift to help get me through these days.

I scoffed four slices of caramel shortbread, two bacon sandwiches, and guzzled four cups of coffee. By the end of it, I carried food baby twins in my belly, but was happily fed and watered.

“Satisfied?” Elio asked.

I leaned back in my chair, patting my swollen gut. “Happily.”

He laughed. “I’m glad.”

He still didn’t sound genuine. “So, how long have you been here?”

“Three years.” He sipped on a cup of lemon tea.

“Do you enjoy it?”

“Very much so. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”