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I heard a woman’s scream as I flew over a street near the new breeding farm. At the same time, the wind brought a whiff of lilac.
I dove in that direction and found Esmeralda lying on the stone. A blond vampire stood over her with a knife pressed against her throat. He had torn the top of her dress to reveal her breasts. A deep gash crossed her arm, and dark blood oozed out. The vampire’s fangs were lowered over her in preparation to feed.
“Get off her!” I barked. I hurled a wave of my vampiric powers at the assailant, startling and throwing him off balance.
“Who are you?” he growled. “You’re disturbing me while I’m with my prey.”
“This prey you speak of is my pet. If you touch her, I will rip you apart.”
He scoffed. “Then what’s your precious little pet doing out here alone?”
“None of your business,” I snarled.
The vampire straightened and stepped over Esmeralda. I kicked him in the stomach, pushing him backward. He growled and lunged for me, knife in hand. Pain radiated across my shoulder as the blade sunk deep, and I let out a muffled scream. I latched a hand over his before he could yank the weapon free. Keeping him close, I ignored the fiery assault that seeped through my chest and delivered a series of blows to his face. He would pay for this.
Nobody touches what’s mine.
Blow after blow, the vampire stilled. His eyes swelled, and blood poured from his mouth. When the adrenaline rush wore off, I stopped striking momentarily, catching my breath.
The vampire staggered, face unrecognizable. His gaze went from me to Esmeralda a few times. I hissed and flashed my fangs, elongating my nails to show I would continue if needed.
“Ready for round two?” I taunted.
“This is not worth it. I’m out of here!” said the coward before he fled. Because that’s what he was—a coward.
I hurried over to Esmeralda. She had moved closer to the wall, head swiveling to find the assailant while her breaths came out ragged. She tried to hide her breasts with her arm. “Please, I’m sorry,” she pleaded.
I was furious at her disobedience—she could have died. Would have, if Judith hadn’t alerted in time. “We’ll sort it out later.”
I grabbed her arm, assessing the wound. The gash was superficial. She would heal quickly with proper care.
At the motion, pain radiated through my shoulder, reminding me that I had to deal with the knife still stuck in it. I gritted my teeth and pulled hard, finally dislodging the blade from my shoulder. Esmeralda flinched at the sight of blood, eyes fixed on me.
We weren’t far from the mansion, and I could fly there despite my injury. I took the woman in my arms without saying a word. She clung tightly to me, the tempting smell of her blood filling my nose as she did. My fangs grew instinctively, and I hissed through clenched teeth, resisting my desire—it was more urgent to get back. I took flight, eager to return my pet to safety and tend to our wounds.
Judith and a few other servants were waiting for us at the entrance.
“Esmeralda! Aleksander! Oh my!” Judith rushed forward, hands reaching for the woman I set down.
“Tend to her. See that she gets changed, and make sure she doesn’t leave her room,” I demanded.
Esmeralda didn’t dare say anything and followed.
“And put her collar back on,” I added as the two women walked away.
“You’re hurt,” said my butler.
“It’s nothing. My healing powers will have restored me by tomorrow evening,” I mentioned.
As a vampire, he knew this power, which we all had to varying degrees. “Let me bandage the wound,” he offered.
I nodded and followed him. Once the wound was covered, I returned to the living room but couldn’t get back into my book. The thoughts of what could have happened if I didn’t get there in time to save Esmeralda haunted me. She’d only been here a day, but I’d already become attached to her. I wanted her to get used to the manor, to feel at home here, and let me drink her blood. What a loss if she got killed.
I poured myself a glass of whiskey on the rocks, staring at the flames in the fireplace. A drink or two would hopefully chase the demons away.
But the fire in my throat from the drink gave way to a sudden fatigue. I set down the finished glass and sighed. Exhausted, I gave in and returned to my bedroom to rest.
Chapter 3
