Total pages in book: 55
Estimated words: 52247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 261(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
“Too many too count.”
“Are they all here? In Tucson?”
“Yes. They follow me. In the beginning they are dependant on my blood to survive. I wean them, but old habits die hard.”
“Wow. I didn’t know there were that many vampires here.” Tucson’s big, but not that big. If he’s turned countless vampires and they’re all here... How many square miles does each vampire need to hunt? Do they divide territory by distance or population and potential victims? Either way, it’s a wonder the human news hasn’t gotten wind of them. Strange disappearances, blooded corpses...
“You misunderstand, pet. There aren’t that many of my sired left.”
“Why not?”
I told you, pet, they turn on me. I don’t allow insubordination. Traitors don’t live long.”
“Oh,” I say weakly. “Of course not.”
Lucius keeps playing with my hair like we’re talking about the weather. He takes a strand and brushes it against my cheek, murmuring, “How do you think my maker died?”
I can’t believe I’m lying here, next to the Vampire King, talking death and politics. “I guess you didn’t become king by mandate of the masses,” I mumble.
He chuckles, and keeps tickling my face with my hair.
“What happened to Georgianna? Is she still alive?”
“No,” Lucius says, and pulls his hand away. I press my lips together, keeping my questions in, and after a few moments he resumes stroking my brow.
I stare at the ceiling. Outside, the sky lightens to a rich navy blue. The high windows frame one bright star. Venus. The morningstar. Dawn’s coming, and any second Lucius will leave me.
For now, he seems content to lie beside me and watch me. Is this normal? Am I so fascinating? Two thousand years, and his maker and his lover both died at his hands, along with countless vampires he sired.
“So, over the years, one way or another, everyone close to you has died?”
The heavy silence is my answer.
“Sounds lonely,” I tell the ceiling.
“Pet,” his sigh creaks in my ear. “you have no idea.”
Selene
Over the next few days, I fall into a dream. Lucius must have shut down Club Toxic for the whole week, because he takes me there again and again to train me.
“I’m going to break you in, pet. Bring you to heel…”
Maybe it’s what he told me of Georgianna, or how much I look like her, but I find myself striving for Lucius’ approval as if I’m competing with his first submissive.
I’m not jealous of his first love. I’m not. I just want to entice Lucius as he entices me.
I tell myself I’m being smart, gathering intelligence. But I haven’t made any inroads to finding a way to get his guard down. The only time he lets his guard down is after a scene, and I can’t exactly stake him during aftercare. He wouldn’t expect it, but I’m in no position to outmaneuver him, not while I’m recovering from the ecstasy he unleashes.
There are stretches when Lucius leaves me to run his empire, but he works me over beforehand. I sleep while he’s gone, and when I wake, he’s with me, ready to play again.
One night, after a heady session, I wake to him leaning over me.
“What--?” I croak and he shushes me.
“It’s all right, my pet. It’s just a nightmare.” The question must show on my face because he explains. “You were crying out in your sleep.”
“I…” I swallow to wet my throat. “I was?”
“Here.” He hands me a glass of water. I often wake to find water and chocolate on my bedside table. His way of caring for me if he can’t be here when I wake.
I drink and rub my face, clearing the cobwebs out of the corners of my mind. I’ve had nightmares since my family was killed, but no one, not even my foster mother, ever entered my room to comfort me. I’ve always been alone.
The bed dips and he surrounds me, his large body curling around mine. He’s so big, I’m swallowed up in his embrace. My feet only reach his calves. I crane my head to look back at him. “What are you doing?”
“Can’t I spend the night with my sub?” He brushes the hair off my bare shoulder and kisses my neck. His left arm snakes around my middle, gathering me against him when I would tighten into a ball. This is nuts.
The Vampire King wants to cuddle? What planet am I on?
“Time to sleep.” he whispers. “No more monsters under your bed. I’m the only monster here.” There’s a self mocking twist to his voice. “And you don’t have to be afraid of me. Not tonight.”
I close my eyes, willing myself to ignore his presence. It doesn’t work. Head to toe, his body touches me, and even if he leaves my bed later, he’ll be the first thing on my mind when I rise. The last thing I think of when I fall asleep.