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I’m still shaking my head and replaying the way his mouth seemed to caress my name. Phoenix. For the first time in a long time, I feel born anew, and I wonder, is this what hope feels like?
Chapter Five
LAYDEN
Present Day
Breakfast at Vlad’s compound means breakfast with my whole family, who are still gathered here. We all came for sanctuary, and they stayed on once Vlad tricked my brother into the blood oath and I had to get married. Might as well stay for the wedding since everyone was already here.
Any time my whole family gathers, it means chaos. We can’t help it. We carry it with us, and being at Vlad’s compound has everyone more on edge than usual.
A bigger breakfast table had to be brought in, considering usually it’s only Phoenix that eats, well, food. As soon as the nuptials were announced—or should I say, decreed—Vlad was suddenly more than happy to make accommodations for the rest of us. He had his minions clear out a storage room, one of the few rooms in the compound with rows of windows, as a dining room.
It’s not that Vlad and his family can’t go out in sunlight like all the legends say; they just greatly prefer not to. Something about how it pains their eyes and gives them headaches. They see much better at night, like most nocturnal creatures.
Vlad insists on joining us for breakfast every morning and sits at the head of the table, but he keeps the two windows nearest to him heavily shaded so he can stay comfortable.
He claps his hands together as soon as Phoenix and I appear, standing up with a smile on his face. It is not a pleasant sight when Vlad Tepes smiles. The few times I’ve seen him flash his teeth at me, his fangs only slightly more apparent than the rest, I always got the impression that he’s about a millisecond from attacking and ripping my throat out. A.k.a., I know a savage predator when I see one.
Ksenia and Kharon’s baby starts to cry at the other end of the table. Smart kid. I look away from Vlad toward the rest of my family. Apparently, we’re late to the show. Everyone else is already seated. Abaddon and his wife, Hannah, sit nearest Vlad with their toddler, Raven, between them. Her black wings flutter behind her, but she remains seated for now as she plays with the silverware in front of her. Then there’s Ksenia and Kharon and their baby, Luna.
And finally, my conjoined twin brothers Remus and Romulus—it appears Romulus is awake and in control of their shared head at the moment—with their consort Lauren.
The two seats beside Vlad and across the table from Abaddon remain open. How nice. He’s given us pride of place. Or no one else wanted to sit beside him. Likely the latter.
I also don’t miss that Vlad has several of my so-called “uncles” stationed around the shadowed corners of the room. He never enters a room without them. They’re ostensibly his guards, but he just likes to keep them around as creepy reminders that he’s always in control.
Phoenix takes her chair first, closest to Vlad, and I sit between her and my brother Kharon.
Vlad lifts his hand and makes a gesture with his wrist. Women dressed in barely decent thigh-high red robes come in, each carrying a steaming breakfast plate for all the “eaters” at the table and, in a synchronized motion, set them in front of us. I cover my distaste and nod my thanks to the woman who delivered mine. Her eyes are distant, almost void, and she doesn’t respond. I wonder if she can even see us.
I feel Hannah’s discomfort and anger from across the table. This has been a point of contention since my family arrived and discovered that these women are Vlad’s family’s blood slaves, which means they’re just kept around as regular drinking sources whenever Vlad or his sons need feeding or, I suspect, other comforts.
It’s distasteful and occasionally puts me off my dinner. Or breakfast, as it were. The food in front of me looks amazing. I suppose one of the women must be a chef? My plate has a fluffy omelet, strawberry crepes dusted with sugar, and strips of thick-cut bacon. I eat in spite of my churning stomach because I heard Vlad yelling at them one night when we didn’t eat enough. It won’t really satisfy my hunger, but nothing ever does. Doesn’t matter if I stuff myself with a feast or just drink broth. I don’t mind it, not when it means I can control whether or not I inflict it on others.
I’m glad my brothers and their families will be getting out of here today. I’m just sorry Phoenix had to grow up in this toxic environment. It’s only more of a testament to the strong person she is.
I take a bite of my food as Phoenix politely asks her grandfather how his business dealings are going. Likely to fill the awkward silence that has fallen over the table.
Vlad waves a hand impatiently. “The only business I care about at the moment is you. Tell me he rode you thoroughly enough to breed you last night.”
Gasps come from the women around the table.
Vlad ignores them, staring pointedly at Phoenix.
She glares back. “Don’t be vile. There are children at the table.”
Vlad sniffs the air and narrows his eyes. “I don’t smell the scent of fucking on you.”
Abaddon jams his chair back, standing in fury, but I take my cues from Phoenix. She’s quietly furious, and I know she wouldn’t want me making a display on her behalf.
“Not that it’s any of your business how I conduct myself in my marriage, but I showered this morning.”
Vlad leans in, face hard. “You should have been fucking this morning.”
All right, I’ve had enough. But before I can say anything, Phoenix is already there, slamming her knife into the table between her and Vlad.
“You might get to say who and when I marry, but the biology of when I conceive is something beyond either of our control. You will stay the hell out of my sex life.” Venom drips from her voice. “Don’t push me.”
