Page 133 of Blood Lovers

Then she snaps out of it. “Yes, my lord. Right away.”

She leaves and I close the door, then change out of my wet clothes and put on a suit. An expensive, custom suit that I bought in London before I went underground this last time. This is a grand occasion so I feel the need to dress the part.

I go downstairs and find the house is full of halfbreeds. They are silent and looking at me like they expect an explanation. I, of course, ignore them. But for a brief moment, I register Lucia’s absence, then remember I left her with Syrsee.

God Himself only knows what debauchery she is planning up there with my feeder. But whatever it is, it’s not worth my concern. Syrsee is still here—I can feel her heartbeat. It’s an almost imperceptible low-level hum that reverberates through the lodge. In addition, I know she is weak, which means Lucia has followed my direction and bagged up her blood.

The stars have aligned tonight.

Nothing will stop me now.

The last piece of the puzzle is Ryet and he is waiting for me down the driveway.

“Get busy.” I bark this at the gaping halfbreeds. “Surely you all have somewhere to be and something to do.”

The all nod and then, like they are a collective organism, they disperse.

I walk through the foyer and out into the frigid night. Echo is waiting in the Hummer and when I get in, she’s even got the heat on.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, my lord.”

I really, really like her. And I’m looking forward to giving her some blood. I think she’s cute. I think I might fuck her. I think I might keep her by my side for a little while. Maybe even nurture her. Let her get strong and take some duties away from Lucia.

Lucia would hate that, but since when do I care what Lucia thinks?

Ryet’s truck is half on the road and half in the ditch. There are about a dozen halfbreeds already there —a good distance away from his limp body in the snow. They have even made a fire nearby, no doubt concerned that the freezing cold night might hurt him in some way.

The cold will not bother him. He is probably so hot with fever right now, I’m certain it feels good.

I get out of the Hummer and clap my hands. “Thank you all. Please go back to whatever it is you do. Echo and I will handle things from here.”

They nod, sound off a chorus of, “Yes, my lords,” and start walking back up the driveway in the direction of the lodge.

I turn back to Ryet and walk over to him, kneeling down in the snow, getting my suit pants all wet. But I don’t care. I would do anything for this man.

Anything.

I am leaning into his ear as I whisper his name. “Ryet.”

He turns his head, angling his mouth towards me. Seeking a drink. It’s not something he ever does, so this is a thrill in and of itself.

I cannot feed him. Not yet. Even though I want to. I want to take him in my arms and let him suck all the blood out of me right now.

But Josep and I have failed too many times before. There is a protocol that must be followed exactly. The chance of messing this up now is miniscule, but it is still there. And giving Ryet my blood, tainted with Josep’s, which is tainted with the Darkness, would certainly be a kink in the chain.

He must take Syrsee first. He must drain her dry. Only then can he have the gift inside me.

I pick him up in my arms and feel the heat burning him up from the inside out. Then I carry him to the Hummer and get in, keeping him in my lap. “Let’s go.”

Echo pulls out, does a u-turn, and then drives us back. I close my eyes, enjoying this moment to its fullest. He is mine now. And he will be mine forever.

We will be equals soon. And then… oh, I can’t wait for what happens then.

When we get to the lodge I get out with Ryet in my arms. Limp. Head hanging back, arms draping down. And there are a few gasps from the halfbreeds who are hanging about.

I don’t tell them to leave. It’s a big moment for them as well. They will never be like me. They will never be vampires. But they are good slaves and this is something they will remember for the rest of their short lives.