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My breathing slowed as the vampire uttered words that I hadn’t anticipated a man of his age even bothering with. I threw a quick peek at my quiet pet only to find her entire expression had changed. Hell, even her energy had ceased to be so nervous. Now she was humming with curiosity. It was certainly far better than to have her on edge. I remained silent, focusing on pouring us both a glass of wine.
Although Quinn broke eye contact long enough to acknowledge the glass being placed in front of her, she didn’t keep it away from Ashivanx for long. “Why are you telling me this?” Her voice was soft.
I curled my fingers around the stem of the glass while I shifted my other onto her upper thigh, using the physical contact to help ensure her nerves didn’t get the best of her again.
Ashivanx’s lips curled into a wide grin. “Precious, I can sense that bundle of nerves just waiting to break free again.” That smirk grew even more as I released another low-warning growl. He didn’t even stop his gaze from straying toward me. “Do you know why they attempted to eliminate my entire bloodline, Asher?”
“I’m sure you’ll enlighten me.” My voice was low, barely concealing the rising irritation swirling within me.
He spread his hands, that grin still remaining dominant despite feeling the increasing weight of my own temper brushing against his aura. “I am a pureblood vampire, just one of seven sons of Cassian. Just because I choose to lay with a human doesn’t mean that every single offspring from that point on will be nothing more than a hybrid. Every seven centuries, one is born that can be changed by another and essentially become a pureblood.”
I tapped a finger against the side of the wine glass while I maintained eye contact with the cocky bastard. “Is that why you’ve chosen to surface now? The descendent you’ve been waiting for has been born?”
“Perhaps.” Ashivanx cocked his head slightly. “That is not the entire reason, however. I chose to come to Vegas and ensure our paths crossed because rumor has it that you’re gearing up for war. From what I hear, there might be an angel prince falling before long.”
Narrowing my eyes, I allowed for a moment of silence to pass while I chose to use that moment to take in a slow breath. The irritation was still swirling within me with enough strength that I knew it wouldn’t take much to cause it to flare up again. If it was anyone other than Ashivanx Alexei seeking an audience with me, the meeting would already have been put to an end. “You’ve come to me with an offer of an alliance?”
“Not just an alliance with me, Asher.” He lifted his jaw slightly. “My bloodline isn’t the only one the Morialti family tried to remove from the history books. Come to find out, Neixis and his descendants attempted to do the same with the Azerro bloodline.”
That was enough to make me straighten. All of my attention was now fixated upon the ancient vampire. While that seemed to please him, I found myself struggling to process that information. “You found a survivor, didn’t you?”
Quinn threw a quizzical glance over at me.
“I did.” Ashivanx raised his wine glass with a silent toast. “So this is my proposition to you, Asher Aeternus…Allow me to establish a meeting between you and Avion. Not only could he benefit from an alliance with you, an established prince who has helped expand the family empire beyond the borders of Europe…but you could also help him solidify his standing amongst his own people. You know as well as I that Zane Morialti will not accept bowing to another.”
Scoffing softly, I eyed him through narrowed eyes. “I very much doubt you have revealed yourself to the new king.” I was fully prepared to take a sip of the wine when a soft snicker from the vampire had me choking on it. Shifting forward to avoid getting any more of it on myself, I glared at him. “You did. That is not quite what I expected from someone who enjoys maintaining secrecy like you have been.”
Ashivanx released an amused snort. “What better way to fight fire than with fire? The boy is aware enough to maintain his hold on the throne. Both of you will benefit greatly from the other.”
I nudged the wine glass away to avoid the temptation of taking another drink. “You say this as if Avion Azerro will offer me valuable strength that I won’t find elsewhere, Ashivanx. What army could he possibly have behind him after his bloodline was almost erased?”
For a moment, it seemed like the ancient vampire couldn’t quite decide how he wanted to react. There was a hint of annoyance that leaked into those piercing pale eyes, quickly followed by a hint of amusement. Still, all of it disappeared as a set of footsteps came up the steps. He gestured at the chessboard with his hand, causing it to dissipate with a slight shimmer.
Dario drifted into my eyesight, barking out orders to the three women that had followed him.
Both the brunette and the redhead leading the way each carried two plates, to which three of them ended up in front of each of us with the final one set in the middle. The last woman, a weary blonde, scurried up long enough to add two wine bottles that bore a label with the restaurant's name.
Clasping his hand behind his back, my uncle surveyed each one of us. “The chefs have chosen to make you a prawn risotto with zucchini, as well as some of our freshly baked bread that just came out of the stone ovens within the last hour. The wine…” He gestured at the bottles. “I’m sure you’ll recognize the flavor choices.”
Even with Ashivanx sitting across the table, there was no way I could miss the slight twinkle in his eyes. That was all I needed to realize that my uncle had used some of his own magic to speed up the wine-making process and ensure Quinn’s own creation ended up on the table in time for dinner. I didn’t make an attempt to silence the pleased noise clawing its way up my throat as I immediately leaned forward to pop the cork on one of them.
My pet’s attention shifted toward my direction as soon as I got the bottle open. Her gray eyes widened slightly at the familiar peach smell.
Dario bowed his head slightly, his gaze shifting between Ashivanx and me. “I do hope you enjoy your meal.” He shooed the waitresses away, bringing up the rear down the stairway while I filled both of the wine glasses.
Although I did pull both of the glasses together so I could fill them both, I didn’t expect for Quinn to reach past her own and bring mine to her lips. It had my mind flashing back to the final dinner I had shared with my father where she willingly took a sip of the wine tainted with angel blood. It certainly had my movements slowing as I watched her swallow. There was only a small part of me that was concerned that maybe I was putting too much trust into my mother’s family and I despised the idea of how her life would be at risk just to ensure mine wasn’t.
The blood of a Jinn would certainly tear through a demon’s body fast, yet she wasn’t entirely demonic yet. It would shred her apart from the inside out in record time. So when she simply hummed with contentment and set the glass back down in front of me, I couldn’t argue with the surge of relief tearing through my veins.
Ashivanx watched the scene unfold before him with a mixture of amusement as well as a sense of understanding. “Strange, isn’t it?”
I waited until Quinn retrieved her own glass before I grabbed mine and drew it close. “Just what do you consider to be strange, Ashivanx?”
“We come from two different sides of the world and yet many of our customs are the same.” He relaxed in his chair. “Those of us that are graced with the right to rule must depend on our queens to help protect us from our enemies. Even if we aren’t fond of the idea that they must risk their own lives to do so.”
Pressing my lips together, I gestured at the open bottle in case the ancient vampire had the slightest desire to taste my pet’s creation. When he responded with a shake of his head, I settled for a quick sip. As the liquid washed over my tongue, I was slammed with the peach first until the grape flavoring took over. There was absolutely no sign of the familiar burning sensation that would often accompany the alcohol, although I didn’t find myself mourning over that loss. The sweet flavors merged well together.
Perhaps I could use this combination to help Quinn prepare herself for various blood of the paranormal races that might be used against us. The better her chances were that she could adapt and merely end up buzzed instead of dead on the floor, I’d take it.
