AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Nikolaus lifted his head. “We black out the coach windows. Wrap you both from head to toe. I’ll be in charge of navigation.”
Istvan glanced at Severin. Severin had already poured over a map of Bohemia downstairs. He tossed it at Nikolaus. “I’ve marked the way. If you need to stop during the day, then you stop in shade and don’t expose us to sunlight.”
Nikolaus said nothing. Perhaps he thought Severin was treating him like a simpleton.
Istvan stood. “I’ll find someone to make alterations to the coach.” He pulled his cloak back on and left the room. Severin understood Istvan had gone out to feed. He felt his own belly growl and licked his lips as he caught Nikolaus’s scent.
“Sleep until dawn,” Severin said. “I’ll wake you.”
Nikolaus remained silent, watching Severin. There seemed no more words to say. Severin didn’t know what would happen between the two of them. He wasn’t even sure Nikolaus wanted him any longer now he had sated his lust in Emil’s bed. Those emotional words they had both spoken seemed like a distant dream. Perhaps Nikolaus regretted his candidness. Severin wished he knew the human’s mind.
“Goodnight,” he said, leaving Nikolaus sitting by the fire.
In his own chamber he found water waiting and washed quickly, easing the dressing back from his arm. The bullet wound was fresh and angry and sore. He rebandaged it and changed his clothes before he slipped out of the room and took the back stairs out of the inn.
He walked down by the silent, black banks of the river for a while, gathering his thoughts. It was bitterly cold and he always felt the temperature more when he was hungry. Sometimes he thought he hadn’t been warm in five hundred years. It was the early hours of the morning and decent folk were abed. He knew where he might find a candidate though.
A tavern was located close to the centre of the town and Severin saw a few patrons drinking inside when he looked through the window. This was problematic, however. Once again, he’d have to take a drink of toxic blood and feel the effects of alcohol second hand. On balance though, it was worth the risk just to feed. He’d still managed well enough after the guard at the castle.
Severin loitered outside in the shadows for a long while, growing progressively more chilled and ill-tempered. His arm ached fiercely and he knew only a steady supply of blood would heal the wound and relieve his pain. He thought of Nikolaus back at the inn and wondered if the human still dozed in the chair, his blood warm from the fire.
Severin ground his teeth. Yet again he’d tangled with Nikolaus and yet again he’d been denied his blood. Why exactly was he out here in the cold courting drunkards when he could be back in Nikolaus’s bed taking what he most desired? He shook his head in disgust. He was a sentimental fool, still clinging on to memories of the man he had once loved.
He snapped to attention as a figure exited the tavern. It was a man, swaying unsteadily into the road and heading for a nearby knot of houses. Severin’s fangs snapped out automatically at the scent of prey but he sighed, unwilling.
He stepped off the pavement and followed down the road silently. The man was oblivious to him, staggering, leaning on garden fences and giggling to himself. Severin caught up with him. He put a hand on the man’s shoulder and the man spun, a question on his face, smiling and unsuspecting.
Severin propelled him backwards against a tree and the man stumbled and didn’t fight. He was in his early thirties and red-headed, his eyes pale porcelain blue in the wan winter moonlight. Severin gripped his chin, forced the man’s head back, and swooped.
The man cried out and finally fought as Severin punctured his throat and took three long swallows, always careful, always maintaining iron control. He wanted so much more, but reluctantly he let go, allowing the man to slide down the base of the tree where he would awaken at dawn with a worse hangover than usual. Severin stepped away, wiping the back of his hand over his mouth.
The tainted blood had affected him. He weaved drunkenly down the road in the direction of the inn, stumbling over his own feet. He tried to focus his thoughts, aware of the short time until dawn and the just perceptible lightening of the sky in places to deep violet. He had to be ready, wrapped and protected, and in the carriage before the sun rose. But he could barely stand for the alcohol in his veins. He lurched through the door of the inn and charged headlong up the stairs, making for the nearest door.
Nikolaus jerked awake in bed, sitting up as Severin stumbled into the room. “What are you doing?”
Severin looked around him, took in the roaring fire and Nikolaus’s bare, creamy skin and sank onto the end of the bed. “Wrong room.”
“Are you drunk?” Nikolaus asked in disbelief.
“I might be.” Severin kicked his boots off.
“You’re not staying here. Get out.” Nikolaus shoved him by the shoulder.
Severin turned to look at him. The blood drinking had aroused him as it always did and the alcohol heightened the sensation. He crawled up the bed to Nikolaus.
“I said get out.” Nikolaus growled in fury as Severin pulled the bedclothes back. He was naked, his cock half-hard.
Severin laid a hand on Nikolaus’s inner thigh. “You always want it.”
Nikolaus pushed him away. “Not from you.”
“Really?” Severin fondled Nikolaus’s stiffening cock.
Nikolaus slapped his hand away. “I said...”
“I know what you said.” Severin pushed him flat and straddled his hips. He held Nikolaus down by his wrists. “And I know what you want.”
Nikolaus whimpered and turned his face away as Severin tried to kiss him. “Not like this. Not because you’re drunk.”
