I sit ramrod straight in my chair, refusing to eat a thing placed in front of me, even when my stomach gurgles in hunger.
“Eat, Marina. You need your strength,” Julian demands.
“How do I know this isn’t laced with something?”
I’m starving. The truth is, I need the food. I haven’t touched it because I don’t trust them and I don’t want to give in. I won’t show them weakness.
“There’s no weakness in taking care of yourself.”
My head turns to Julian’s. Eyes narrowing, I question just what other things Julian is able to do. He’s read my mind too many times this evening for it to be coincidence.
“Are you reading my mind?” I say through gritted teeth.
Law’s head snaps to Julian. “That’s impossible, unless you are his familiar, and that’s just a silly legend, right Julian?”
Julian doesn’t answer him. Instead, he lowers his eyes to his bowl of lobster bisque and raises his spoon, taking a small sip, completely ignoring my question as well. Law’s mention of a legend swims around in my head. What legend is he talking about?
Clanking trays have me forgetting all about legends, as servers covered in head-to-toe black place plates of steak, potatoes, and green beans in front of us. My stomach growls and I know I won’t be able to resist. I can’t hold out any longer. Hunger demanding, I feed myself.
Like a ravenous beast, completely lacking manners, I begin shoving pieces of potato and bread into my mouth. Calm down. You just ate recently.
Julian’s brows raise as he watches me eat. He smothers a triumphant grin and stabs his fork into a piece of potato, bringing it to his mouth. I watch as his tongue darts out, licking his bottom lip and giving me a peek at his elongated canine. I shiver a bit at the sight of it, but that reaction is quickly replaced with something else. Something unwanted. As he opens his mouth and allows the fork to enter, his lips wrap around the morsel in the most arousing way. There is something so sensual about the way he chews, swallows . . . everything about him. He’s an enigma, and I’m trying so desperately not to be fascinated.
He’s shown me no signs of hostility. In fact, he’s been charming all evening, and Law is, dare I say, funny. My mind is split in two. One side is screaming for me to wake up and recognize I’m amongst monsters. The other is whispering to give them a chance. Charming or not, he’s still a vampire. I’d best remember that.
“I’m sorry to intrude on your family dinner.”
My blood runs cold at the shrill voice of Julian’s other brother.
“Marcellus,” Julian grates, rising to his feet.
“Please, don’t stand for me. Isn’t it I who should bow to you?”
A creepy-crawly feeling descends over the room at the emergence of Marcellus. He’s just as handsome as his brothers, but something sinister lies just under the surface of his soulless black eyes and expertly crafted sneer. Disdain is oozing from him, and it’s directed at Julian. There’s a story here, but I couldn’t care less what it is. I want the hell out of this house and away from the battle royale that’s about to go down.
“What do you want, Marc?”
“So now the donors eat with you?” He laughs, but it’s completely lacking humor. He looks disgusted by the very thought. “My, how far you’ve fallen, brother.”
“What I do with my donors is my business,” Julian says with an edge. My eyes volley back and forth, though my head is screaming at me to lower my eyes and try to disappear.
“The Council sent me to check in, and it appears they weren’t wrong to worry.” Marcellus grins.
“Worry about what?” Law says, sounding bored and a bit annoyed.
“It appears that not all of the elders are comfortable with your reign. They’re certain you’re against our ways and looking to change things. From what I see here, they might not be far off.”
“Since when are you part of the Council?”
“Since I too question your loyalties. My God, Julian. You actually have that thing sitting at your table?”
My back stiffens at his obvious hatred of me. There’s no doubt in my mind that he sees us as being below the vampire race. What does that mean for Stacey? Is she still alive?
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because you’re family, I won’t end you, Marcellus,” Julian’s tone is lethal, but the raven-haired devil doesn’t seem at all fazed. “Leave. You have no business here.”
“This is my father’s house,” Marcellus hisses. “I have just as much right to be here as you.”
Julian stands, stalking toward Marcellus, murder in his eyes. The rift between brothers seems to widen by the second. As they stand toe to toe, I note that Julian is an inch or two taller than Marcellus. Julian looks down at his brother, his tone deadly.
“This is my house,” Julian bellows, causing the chandelier above to tremble.
“It won’t be for long. I’m going to help the Council dethrone you.”
“You’d turn your back on family for power?” Julian roars, causing me to slink back in terror. “I am your king.”
“You are no king,” Marcellus jeers, the words laced in venom and speared in Julian’s direction.
Julian’s face reddens to inhuman levels and, baring his teeth, he grabs his brother by the lapel and throws him across the room.
I gasp at the force of the throw. Marcellus is on his feet in an instant, stalking toward Julian, ready to fight.
“You really want to challenge me, Marcellus?”
Julian’s voice is stone cold and his gaze cuts like knives. To be on the other side of that glare would have me peeing my pants, but Marcellus isn’t deterred.
“Stop,” Law yells, stopping Marcellus’s advance. “Your words are treasonous, Marc. Stop.”
Marcellus considers Lawrence.
“What do you care, Law? You’ve only ever bothered yourself with females and liquor. Am I to believe you care about the state of this kingdom?”
“Aw, come now, brother, surely I’m not without booze.” Law raises his goblet in proof.
Marcellus sneers, clearly not impressed with Law.
“You’re worthless.”
Law laughs at his brother, not seeming to care at all how serious the situation is.
“I have a kingdom to rule, Marcellus. Show yourself out so I can get back to it.” Julian says, sounding more in control than he was moments ago.
“You’ve never shown an interest in ruling this kingdom. That’s the entire reason the Council doubts you.”
“I don’t have a choice,” Julian’s voice booms, bouncing off the walls and echoing so loudly I have to cover my ears.
Nope. He’s definitely not in control.
Julian’s fists are clenched at his sides. “Our father’s death was no accident and I will get to the bottom of it, Marcellus. If you were involved, I promise you’ll suffer greatly.”
His father died. So vampires can die. Another piece of information for me to hold on to.
“Now you care about our father? Funny, you never did before,” Marcellus’s voice slithers like a snake in the grass, his lip quirked into an evil grin. If guilty had a name, it’d be Marcellus.
“No matter how I felt about him, I would never have conspired with the Council to kill him. If you did, you’re the worst kind of traitor.”
“You can’t rule, Julian. You don’t agree with our ways,” Marcellus doesn’t even bother denying the Council—with his help—killed their father. Why doesn’t Julian end things now? He is weak.
Julian’s eyes fly to mine, and I have the better sense to lower my gaze to my shoes.
“I’ll decide what’s best for our kind,” Julian says, lacking conviction. Marcellus’s cackle tells me he realized the same thing I did.
I’m on nobody’s team here, but it’s become obvious that one is worse than the other and the title of worst of all goes to the dark vamp. Julian needs to play this differently, because right now, he’s giving this Council they speak of
ammunition to overturn his rule. And that would not be in the human race’s favor, if I had to guess.
“We need blood to survive and we take it. What better way is there?”
Definitely not in our favor.
Julian levels Marcellus with a glare that could burn villages. The animosity in the room is stifling and confusing all at once. Why the pissing match? Is it all about who was appointed king upon their father’s death? Jealousy, greed, power, money—those things have caused more than a few family feuds throughout the years.
“There are numerous ways to get blood, Marcellus. If you think the auction is the best way, then you’re a fool. All you’re doing is playing into the Council’s hand. They’ll throw you aside as soon as you finish their dirty work.” He sighs. “I’m doing my job in finding the best option for the kingdom.” Julian looks tired, this physical and verbal fight catching up to him.
“You dare to undo centuries’ worth of work for what? Humans?” Marcellus jabs a finger in my direction. “They’re expendable. There is nothing special about them.”
“There is a big difference between sustainability and greed, Marcellus.” His brow pinches. “You never understood the difference.”
A growl breaks through Marcellus’s throat.
“You may be the oldest, Julian, and our laws might dictate you’re the next to rule, but it’s by a mere three minutes. That hardly makes you the best option,” he spits. “You don’t have it in you.”
“Enough,” Julian yells. “Get out or I’ll throw you out.”
Julian gets back into Marcellus’s face. The only similarity is the matching glowers that could turn the world to ashes in seconds.
“I will rule, Marcellus, and if you keep getting in my way, I’ll remove you permanently. Brother or not.” Julian’s tone leaves no room for argument.
“We’ll see. The Council will be here soon. We’ll allow them to decide what’s best for the kingdom,” he hisses. Turning on his heels, he stalks out of the room.
Julian’s face goes ashen at the mention of the Council coming. Could they actually hold the power to dethrone Julian? Would they put Marcellus in his place? The thought makes me sick.
“Bash,” Julian calls out.
A large man with a tree trunk for a neck comes walking through the same door that Marcellus just exited.
“Yes, sir.”
“Please make sure my brother finds his way out.”
Bash nods and exits.
“You sure know how to throw a dinner, Jude,” Law snickers, but there is a hint of something else there. Law seems shaken by the whole thing, but he masks it under sarcasm and wit.
Standing, Law comes around to my side of the table. Despite the pleasant enough evening before Marcellus’s arrival, I stiffen, shaken by the events that just transpired.
“No need to tense, my dear. I won’t harm you,” Law promises. “I’ve simply had enough fun for one night.”
He grabs my hand, bringing it to his lips. I watch as he places a kiss on the top, smirking at my wide-eyed expression, no doubt.
“Until next time.” He drops my hand and walks to Jude, pulling him into a brotherly shoulder bump. “I’ll be in touch.”
Julian nods and we both watch as Law leaves.
When it’s just the two of us, the air thickens, and the silence is deafening. What’s next? Is my false sense of security about to end? Will he harm me now that we’re alone and he’s angry? Will he drain me just to prove his awful brother wrong?
“Relax, Marina,” he coos soothingly. “I can smell your fear. It’s radiating off you.”
“What do you expect, after that?” I motion toward the door Marcellus left through. “This whole world isn’t possible.”
He sighs heavily.
“I’m sorry you had to witness that. Marcellus and I have a . . . troubled past.”
He doesn’t seem angry anymore. If anything, he appears sad.
“I need to get you back to your room and check in with my guards to make sure the situation with Marcellus is handled.”
I huff in frustration. The last thing I want is to be caged in another room.
He walks closer to me.
“Give me time, Marina. I want you to get to know me, but right now there are more pressing issues.”
I blow out a breath, “Answer one question for me.”
He raises his brow, signaling for me to continue.
“Why did you come to the auction if you hadn’t been there for years, like Marcellus said?”
“Centuries. I haven’t been there for centuries,” he says, running his hand through his hair. “I came because Law insisted I needed to.” He sighs. “There are obligations that come with being king, and he felt that the Council would descend and appeal my rule if I didn’t start acting like I planned to uphold my father’s doctrines.”
“Why haven’t you drunk my blood?”
“That’s two questions,” he says wearily, but I don’t crack so much as a smile. I want to know. I want to hear him say he doesn’t like blood.
“Do you not like human blood?”
He shakes his head. “It’s not that. Human blood is an elixir, an aphrodisiac. It warms a vampire from the inside, fuels our power, builds our vitality, and gives us our youth. Without it, we’re practically corpses. We don’t die, but we don’t live.”
“You do drink blood, then?”
“Yes, I drink blood. I was drinking it all night.” I cringe at the mental picture.
Knowing he didn’t drink it from a person tonight doesn’t help. The thought of ingesting blood turns my stomach.
“Why then haven’t you drunk mine?”
He inhales and exhales a harsh breath.
“I fear it would change everything.”
I don’t have a chance to ask what he means because he calls out for Katina and she enters. “Take her to her room.”
With that, he turns and walks out.
Katina walks me to my room, neither of us saying a word. I quickly change into pajamas from the stocked closet and climb into bed. There is so much to process, but for the first time since my abduction, I don’t want to think about any of it. He said he’d keep me safe, and for now that’s the only thing I do believe. For how long, I don’t know, and tonight I won’t worry about things I can’t change.
For the first time in a long time, I sleep soundly. Perhaps it’s his promise of safety or the sheer exhaustion that’s plaguing me, but whatever it is, I’m thankful.
Chapter Eleven
Julian
“Bash, I need you to keep an eye on Marcellus’s estate. I want to know who comes and who goes. Take as many men as you need, but I want someone on detail at all times.” I rub my temples, trying desperately to stave off the pounding. “Nobody can know,” I stress, with a warning look that should say you’ll die if you’re discovered.
“On it,” Bash says before leaving me alone for the first time since the auction.
I take another swig of whisky, relishing the burn as it coats my throat. I need the buzz that comes from a ten-thousand-dollar bottle of Macallan that’s been aged for forty years. Like humans, vampires aren’t immune to drunkenness, and tonight I’m embracing it.
Law hung around like a damn dog, all but humping my leg. He didn’t leave my side once we were home from the auction. For days I’ve been subjected to his inquisition about Marina and what my plans were, and for days I’ve told him to fuck off. Law did what Law does—disregard orders. What the hell’s come over him I’ll have to try to figure out another day.
Tonight, my mind is solely focused on Marcellus’s threats and the fact that Marina Drake is sleeping one floor above me and I don’t know why I give a damn. Yes, she’s beautiful and yes, her fiery attitude is intriguing, but she’s a mere human. I’ve never been attracted to a human, and whatever this is goes well beyond attraction.
I can read her mind.
That’s not a typical power vampires wield. In fact, no known living vampire h
as the power. It’s the stuff of legends. Familiar.
The thought is ridiculous. It’s impossible. Yet, the moment I drank from that cup, my abilities changed. They’ve sharpened. That knowledge would be enough for the Council to back off, but it would also start the beginning of the end for the human race. If vampires thought that familiars were more than legend, they’d scour the earth trying to find theirs. The number of innocent people who would die in the process would be catastrophic. Not only would it be the end of their race, but it would likely lead to the end of ours.
Which is the entire reason I can’t give up my throne. Laws need to be upheld. Order must prevail. Otherwise, chaos would reign.
Maybe I should kill Marcellus and prove to the Council I’m not weak. Surely killing one’s family would show how ruthless I’m capable of being? I sigh, knowing that no matter how easy it would be, I couldn’t. Ever. That’s my weakness—loyalty.
A knock sounds and I call out, “Come in.”
Katina leans around the door, “Marina is sound asleep. I gave her the sleeping pills you recommended.”
“Thank you, Katina,” I say, growing more tired by the second. “She needs to sleep.”
“She does, sir.” She nods her head a little too enthusiastically, and my brow quirks.
Katina has always been strange even by vampire standards, but she’s loyal and she shares my beliefs about the auction. Two traits that mean everything to me in this world where I can hardly trust anyone.
“That’ll be all, Katina. Enjoy your evening.”
“Thank you, Sir Crown,” she says, bowing, and I can’t help but roll my eyes. I’ve asked her repeatedly to call me Julian and to stop the damn bowing, but she can’t help it. She insists on being over the top. I should be a harsher ruler, but it’s not who I am. If the Council wants my father, they’ll never find that in me.
On the way to my quarters, I find myself veering down another hall and up a flight of stairs I have no business ascending. Katina told me she was asleep, and I should leave well enough alone. But I can’t. I’m inexplicably drawn to her. Her blood calls to me like no other’s ever has. It’s dangerous. I’m not even sure whom it’s more dangerous for at this point. Her or me.
Blood That Binds: A Vampire Romance (Blood Legends Duet) Page 11