Page 49 of The Duke’s Bloody Bargain

“What were you thinking?” Darius and I chorused, but he was talking to me, and I was talking to Irene because she’d followed me.

“I’m not going to leave you alone.” She shivered at the sight of the dead men.

“I told you no reckless things until my magic was back. Instead, you darted away without waiting for us.” Darius glowered at me. “Shall we go home? I think we’ve had enough for one evening.”

A soft swoosh came, and Bethlen swept into view as quickly as he’d left. Both Darius and Irene leapt back in shock. I shielded them although I was aware there wasn’t much I could do if Bethlen attacked. Even though he was faster and stronger than I was, I would do my best to protect them.

The count held a squirming man tightly. His face was scrunched up in disgust. “Do you know who this is?”

I swallowed hard. “I do.”

The man was Tanner, one of Rothbart’s minions. He’d escaped from Raven Hall twice, right under my nose, thanks to the fact he could turn into a sparrow.

“My goodness.” Irene pressed a trembling hand to her chest. “It’s him.”

“I see Mr. Tanner needs no introduction.” Bethlen pulled Tanner’s hair back with a hard yank, exposing the thug’s neck. “You know what he did.”

I nodded, my fangs coming out of their own accord.

“Do it, Alexander.” Bethlen offered Tanner’s exposed neck to me. “You’ll understand me. There’s nothing sweeter than justice.”

Rage rushed through me. My senses heightened. Tanner had been with Rothbart when he’d attacked Irene, beaten her, killed her father, and set fire to her house. But aside from that, I wanted to drain him, feel his miserable life leave his body, and make sure he wouldn’t hurt anyone.

“Alex, don’t.” Irene’s voice was a light whisper. “You don’t kill. You don’t drain people.”

But this one deserved it.

Darius said something, but his words formed a jumble of noises. The fast drumming of Tanner’s heart was the only thing I heard. The air became thick with the acrid smell of his fear.

Why shouldn’t I kill him? Why shouldn’t I satisfy my thirst and desire for vengeance at the same time? I was a vampire. That was what vampires did, and Tanner was a murderer.

The jugular vein in his neck beat a fast tempo that allured me. He muttered something that sounded like a plea, but he hadn’t listened to Irene’s and her father’s pleas when he’d killed them. Why should I grant him compassion?

“If you don’t do it, I will.” Bethlen took a sniff at Tanner. “I’ve been searching for him for nights, tracing his revolting smell. Drain him, Alexander.”

An ache pounded in my temples and filled my ears with a buzzing noise. I didn’t need to think. I sank my teeth into Tanner’s neck and sucked. His warm blood flooded my mouth.

He sagged against Bethlen and groaned as the bite affected him. But the pleasure wasn’t going to last. He lost consciousness quickly, and I kept drinking.

I was barely aware of Irene tugging at my arm, but I didn’t care.

“Good.” Bethlen’s voice was the only neat and clear one I heard.

The dark part of me rejoiced. The sensation of draining a body was intoxicating, even though Tanner’s blood wasn’t particularly tasty. It was stale and thick with a bitter aftertaste that stung my tongue. When the flow stopped, I reluctantly lifted my head and met Bethlen’s obsidian eyes.

“How does it feel?” His voice sounded like an echo in a dark cavern.

“Grand.” I grinned and licked the last drops of blood from my lips.

Bethlen dropped Tanner’s body. It ended up piling over the other two, and I felt nothing but pride.

“What have you done?” Irene sobbed next to me.

“Did you care about him?” I angled towards her, savouring her delicate scent.

“No, I didn’t. I hated him. But I care about you, and you’ve just destroyed yourself.” She clenched her gold cross, and the sight disturbed me.

“Alexander has embraced his true nature.” The count observed the corpses with an air of triumph. “Why can’t we use our powers to deliver justice?”