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I’d never understood how she could sleep with the monsters until I’d met this particular monster.
Etta, the vampire most of Europe was terrified of, seemed more kindhearted than many humans I’d saved.
How could that be?
Chapter 5
Etta
Only Marco was alive when I rose, and it felt as if he’d only beat me by seconds. The clock told me it was a little after one, which meant I had a while until Venom rose.
I’d showered before bed, and had fixed my hair, but had run out of time before dressing. So, I texted Venom, rose, dressed, put makeup on, and stood in front of Leesa’s cage.
If I was going to keep her alive to power myself up, she’d need blood when she rose. Should I kill her, or play with her?
I decided to give her blood from a bag when she woke in case we needed more information about the kids still alive. Also, it wouldn’t hurt for me to show strength.
Marco had given me a laptop without a way to access the internet. No Wi-Fi hardware, no plug for a jack. It held personnel files for his coterie. I sat and studied the data while I waited for Venom’s return text.
I’d gone through two files when it occurred to me I should read through Venom’s. I returned to the main directory but didn’t see his name. Of course, his legal name would be different. Nothing jumped out at me as a name that would lend itself to Venom as a nickname.
So, I went back to reading them in the order Marco had provided. So far, everyone I’d read about was someone he’d made, and most of them carried his incubus talents.
Sex with Marco had been interesting, centuries earlier. He was with Cora now, but we all knew he’d never survive just having sex with one wolf. His powers were all drawn up with sex and lust.
But not love. Never love.
Most people didn’t understand how he could hold his territory. When he isn’t horny, his powers all seem about half what they actually are. When sexually aroused, though, he’s scary strong. No, that isn’t right. He’s always scary strong, but you only sense his strength when he’s aroused. It’s there all the time, just hidden.
Abbott and Kendra had been rumored to be able to feed from varying emotions for centuries, but I didn’t believe either could. I wasn’t so certain about Gavin, though. I’d spent some time with him in Europe — not much, only a few decades — and he seemed to thrive on pain. Not his own, but the pain of others. Or, perhaps he could feed on his own as well? I wasn’t certain he was aware of it, and if so, I felt it best not to explain it to him. Though, since he seemed to have survived his time with The Siabhra, Faerie’s worse nightmare, it made sense. No one retained their sanity after being given to the Siabhra, and yet, Gavin seemed perhaps more sane than when he’d been sent to him.
The Siabhra is considered the most fearsome creature in all the realms, so I’d read up on him. Most people refer to him as an it, but the few people who’d seen him were quite clear about his male form.
A text finally came through, and it was from Venom. I stood, went across the hall, and a lion opened the door as I neared. “Mistress Antoinette, Master Venom is expecting you.”
More formality? I followed the lion into a small sitting room. My suite included the seating area and bed in the same room, with a separate bathroom. Venom had a small living area, separate from the bedroom. He was so much more than a soldier, and he’d let me know by inviting me into his living quarters.
The rules of formality meant I couldn’t ask the lion a personal question, but I had to know before I took part in this feeding. Venom’s bite would be painful. The lion was strong enough to survive it, but the pain would be excruciating while he overcame the venom.
I touched his arm and turned him towards me. He didn’t look me in the eye, but he didn’t need to. I’d touched him, I knew his fears, and most of them involved lion and pride stuff. He’d have to leave the territory soon to form his own Pride. He’d only been allowed to stay near his mother this long because he lived in the coterie, and because he was going to college here.
“Do you enjoy pain, young lion?”
He looked to Venom, who observed us with cold, emotionless eyes. The lion looked back to me, but focused on my lips. “I do not, dark Mistress.”
“And is Venom your dark Master?”
He swallowed and a little fear escaped. He was terrified, but shielding it. Such strength in a lion so young.
I looked to Venom. “If he doesn’t enjoy pain, I’d rather not participate today. I thank you for the invitation. Your lion is exquisite.”
“Tell Etta what you remember of my bite, Andreas.”
“Venom clouds my mind. Most of the time, I have no memory of being bitten. The few times I remember, were magical.”
Had Venom given him false memories, or was there a way to bite him without hurting him? I wasn’t certain. I breathed in, and the scent confirmed what I’d picked up from the young lion’s fears. He lived here, with Venom. Homosexual lions are exceedingly rare, but it explained why he was terrified at the thoughts of having to form a pride.
“How old are you, young lion?” I kept hoping someone would introduce him to me, but for all of their formality, this had been skipped. I knew his name was Andreas, but custom dictated I didn’t use his name until a formal introduction was given.
