I leaned over and tried to ascertain if something did indeed perk up. The beautiful bulge in his trousers made my day. Heh. Reverse stripteases rock.
"Need a hand with that?" I inquired, as I sashayed towards him. Before he had a chance to respond or shift to hide the evidence, I straddled his lap and settled myself against that impressive and beautiful reaction to my striptease. I rubbed myself against him, watching amethyst seep into his eyes.
"You are determined to make me crazy, are you not?" he said, his hands already on my hips and kneading gently. He roughly pulled me closer and ground himself back against my crotch. I moaned, unable to stop my response. "You are a minx," Michel whispered, licking across my collar bone and suckling the skin on the side of my neck. His hand came up and fisted my hair, pulling my head back and exposing more of my neck. "You really do feel all right?" he confirmed, nuzzling my throat and following that up with another hot lick.
"Fine," I breathed out, rocking my hips again, needing that friction.
"Then, allow me to help you with this unquenchable desire you seem to have tonight." His fangs slid into the skin beneath his lips. The sting quickly being replaced with his lust. I groaned against him, feeling his arm wrap around my back and settle above my hips.
He then began a seductive rock of his pelvis, a tempting thrust of his erection against my increasingly sensitive centre. I moaned with every change of position. He growled with each swallow of my blood. We soon found a rhythm; suck, grind, moan. Mix and repeat. I was coming before I even realised it, my breaths uneven, my cries pleas for more.
His bite drew my orgasm out longer than it should have been. He gave me everything my body needed, while my blood fuelled his. We were perfect together. There was no doubt.
Eventually the orgasm waned and he withdrew his fangs and sealed the bite wound.
"You are a right tinderbox this evening," Michel commented against my skin, his voice rasping with his own unspent release. I slipped my hand down between us and cupped his erection, stroking the length of it with my palm. He threw his head back and closed his eyes.
"Let me help you," I whispered, and reached for his belt.
His hand wrapped around my wrist and returned my palm to his erection.
"No, like this. It is... naughty. Illicit. I like it."
Oh, Goddess this man did things to me. I returned to my ministrations, feeling his shaft throb beneath the fabric of his pants. It didn't take long. My reverse striptease, the blood, just witnessing me come on his lap, all of it coupled with my firm hold of him through his trousers, brought him the release his body craved in a matter of mere minutes.
He cried out my name, his face wanton with ecstasy, hips rocking up to my touch, head thrown back and mouth open. He was the most beautiful sight I had ever laid eyes on and I was stunned immobile for a moment as I watched.
Finally he opened his eyes again and stared at me. For several seconds neither of us said a thing. What was there to say? We both knew how special this was. How special we were.
"We could stay here all night," I suggested, breaking the silence and thinking to hell with wars.
"I couldn't think of anything better," he replied. But we both knew responsibility called. No doubt he'd already been fielding telepathic inquiries into where he was. He'd never let me know, but he was the Champion and the Iunctio was at war. He didn't need to say the words for me to know his time was not his own.
"Come on," I said, slipping off him and offering my hand for him to stand. "I'll help you clean up in the shower."
He laughed out loud. "And take another hour to leave this room? I'll change into something clean, but no shower. I want everyone to smell what I do to you and what you do to me."
Naughty man, I sent the thought at him.
You have no idea, he threw back.
I watched as he flashed to the dresser and redressed in less than ten seconds flat. Then he was beside me, hand out, palm up. I clasped his hand and walked with him onto the landing. Our bedroom had been recently refurbished. Soundproofed from the rest of the house. It was now officially the only room in the Victorian mansion that was modern. The rest was vampire chic; dark and dreary and entirely clichéd. As soon as we stepped foot on the landing I heard the cacophony of noise.
The house was full to brimming. I'd sensed them all, couldn't help it. It's what I am. But to hear the varied conversations, rumbles of voices, from different locations throughout the building was surreal. This house had never been so full of life. Even undead life.
"Who's here?" I asked, as we began the descent from the upper most floor. Our floor.
"Alain and my shadows. As well as some additional guards of my line. Your guards; all four, as well as Amisi and Sophie. The Enforcer, the Ambrosia, the Keeper and the Scribe, with their various guards and entourages."
"So, basically those on our side."
"Yes, although with so many Councillors here, stay on guard. Vampyres are fickle and although we all have one aligned goal right now, never forget a vampyre will do anything to survive."
A sound warning. My skin crawled with the Sanguis Vitam in the house. And not just your average Sanguis Vitam either. This was powerful, ancient to varying degrees, and commanding. Each Iunctio Councillor is an Alpha in their own right. So many leaders under one roof. This house had ceased to be our home and now was a minefield as dangerous as any battle we would surely face in this war.
I will need to have you near me, Michel said softly, switching to speaking in my mind as we neared other vampires who could eavesdrop on our conversation. I knew the Ambrosia could still read our thoughts should he desire, but I hoped he was the only other vampire here with that particular talent. Gregor could always read my thoughts too, but not Michel's. And Gregor was family, the Ambrosia was not.
OK, I'll stay near, I replied, squeezing his hand for emphasis.
I cannot show this weakness, but it is a weakness right now, ma douce. My need, or more precisely, my vampyre-within's need to protect. If I cannot see you or sense you, my control will slip.
Is it that precarious? I asked, breathing deeply through a deep seated fear on his behalf.
My control is not, but any indication I am weak is to those we will be with.
I nodded and bit my bottom lip.
This is politics at its most cut-throat. I am... he hesitated, searching for the right words. In the end he surprised me with his choice. I am compromised right now, no one must suspect.
They won't, I vowed, and it was his hand that squeezed mine.
And then we were there. At the bottom floor of the house, standing outside the doors to the parlour. Two of Michel's vampires stood on either side of the door. Two more could be seen guarding the front door, while another couple stood at the rear of the hallway, guarding the kitchen. I had known we'd also passed several unseen on each of the floors. All of them with Michel's signature. The house was overflowing with his guards, and still I hadn't seen Antonio or Ricardo. But then, I probably wouldn't. They had, no doubt, been on our floor, but hidden in shadows. And I was guessing they were still with us now, and wouldn't leave Michel's side until he and I returned to our private room.
The Champion stood beside me, and for the first time I really understood that. For the first time, I felt a little awed.
One last squeeze of his hand in mine, and then he let it go and pushed through the door, head held high. I swallowed, rolled my shoulders, fingered a stake in my jacket pocket, and then followed him through to the other side.
Conversation stopped when we entered. The various Councillors all fisting their hands over their hearts and bowing their heads briefly as soon as Michel arrived. In a flash my eyes ascertained all possible threats. Where each vampire was, what their Dark said, who was with whom, and who was hiding from sight. I couldn't sense Michel's shadow guards, and I doubted they were the only ones here, but those vampire guards who lacked the talent to hide their Sanguis Vitam as well as themselves in shadows, I could see.
Even if they tried to be camouflaged and hidden from sight right now.
The Ambrosia had two vampires with him, both in plain sight, standing at attention along the wall at his back. The Scribe had two as well, both openly watching me - not Michel - and the Keeper had four. Two openly at his back and two more hidden off to our right hand side. Not shadow guards, normal vampires attempting to hide using their Sanguis Vitam. I was betting the Keeper also had shadows as well, but those I'd never sense or see. Michel had two more guards in here, as well as Alain, so with his shadows that would make five. He is the Champion, he undoubtedly should have the most. So why did the Keeper have possibly more than Michel?
My eyes skimmed the rest of the room and took in Gregor, with two guards and Marcus and Natalyia off to their side. No one else. No Amisi or Sophie. No Matthias or Sergei. Where were they?
Waiting for you in the kitchen, but I need you here. I am making a point.
OK, then.
The Keeper has four guards I can detect, possibly more, I told him.
Silence from Michel for a lengthy second, then Thank you, I was not aware.
"Have we made progress?" Michel asked the room at large. No hello, sorry I'm late, been shaggin' the missus, you know how it is. Straight down to business. He was in charge.
The Scribe answered. "The ghouls, both here and in Paris, have been reluctant to join our side. We will have to compel them."
I forced myself not to react to his casually spoken words. Ghouls could be commanded by vampires to do their bidding. It was a loss of control I couldn't abide. But ghouls were physically strong beings, having them on your side in a battle was a strategic move. I had helped Michel secure the cooperation of the Auckland ghouls once, avoiding compulsion and sealing the first ever accord between their kinds. It was a coup I couldn't see being repeated in London. London's ghouls were blood thirsty and anti-vampire to an unbelievable degree. I kind of understood where that hatred came from, no one likes to live under the shadow of a vampire's ability to control your kind. But I truly did not believe they could be won over, like my acquaintance in Auckland, Pete.
As for the Parisian ghouls, I didn't know a thing about them. I'd have to talk to Yves. But I wasn't so naive to believe this was avoidable. If we didn't secure the ghouls, the other side would instead. It was a lose/lose situation. For me there was no preferred path, unless the ghouls joined of their own free will.
"Have negotiations broken down completely?" Michel asked, moving across to a large table the Councillors were surrounding and looking down at a map with shaded areas in red. I took a position off to the side near my guards. I had no intention of being at that table, but I wouldn't sit down with such obvious predators in the room.
"Our ambassadors were chased from the Genie's Bottle, two were attacked and are recovering now in the cellar," the Keeper advised, flicking a pen over in his hand continually. It was a movement meant to look casual; a simple flick of the wrist. But his Sanguis Vitam thrummed in the background, and his hidden guards shifted into crouches to the side. The guards openly at his back, remained statue still, giving the appearance that all was quite fine.
There was no way the Keeper would attack Michel here. Not with so many Councillors and their guards in attendance. Not with Michel's guards also here, as well as two of mine. He was trying to goad us. Or maybe just me. Maybe he knew I could sense them and he wanted me to act first.
It was a test, designed for me to fail... and be kicked out.
I took a seat further away from both Michel and the hidden guards and picked up a magazine and began to flick through the pages. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the Ambrosia smile.
"What about Paris?" Michel asked, turning the map so it was facing him, his body was relaxed and for all intents and purposes, completely unperturbed.
"The ambassadors we sent turned up in the Seine, their heads partially cut off," the Keeper continued, showing no sign of disappointment in my behaviour at all. Sneaky vampire.
Wow though, the Parisian ghouls were worse than London's. That was saying something.
"They will fully recover in time," the Keeper finished, checking his nails for non-existent dirt.
"Very well," Michel said nonchalantly. "We will consider this their final answer. Arrange to have them compelled."
I turned the page of my magazine slowly and pretended to read what was rapidly becoming hazy before my eyes. No one would have suspected my anguish at my kindred's words, but him.
"What of the Creator?" he asked in a neutral voice. I knew the Creator was on our side, so he was obviously up to something. I pushed all thoughts of compulsion and loss of the ghouls' rights aside and waited to hear the answer.
The Ambrosia began to speak, something about the Creator having had success in St Petersburg, when all hell broke loose.
One of the hidden guards flew across the room towards me, the other simply disappeared from sight. For a house full of vampires, they were all rather slow to react - completely caught off guard.
Time slowed.
I watched Marcus jump into action and be swatted down by the invisible-disappearing guard. I saw Antonio flicker and appear off to Michel's side. His other guards and Alain surrounding him. Natalyia rushed to place herself between me and the rapidly approaching threat. Every other guard in the room covered their master. Each Councillor protected from an attack not aimed at them.
It all happened so quickly, but everything seemed to be moving so slow.
I was on my feet before he smacked Natalyia aside.
I had my stake up before his hot breath washed my face.
And he was dust before anyone could shout out.
Chapter 26
The Vote
The second hidden guard quickly followed suit, and as the room crackled with Sanguis Vitam and dust settled on the floor, I pocketed my stake and sat back down.
My hands were shaking and I thought I was going to be sick, but I was sure as hell not going to show it. I let my Light wash out around me, settling my nerves and reaching out for Michel.
He appeared before me in the next instant. Magenta flashing in his eyes and nothing else.
Ah, crap. Just what we didn't need.
You have to let Michel take control, I said to the dragon in my mind.
I am still here, ma douce, Michel answered me. I am just furious. Ah, good to know, we were back on familiar ground. Michel's eyes shining magenta when both he and the dragon-within were angry.
I smiled, or at least attempted to, I don't think I fooled him in slightest. I'm fine, you need to deal with this, I said softly.
You are not fine, you are shaking, he pointed out.
I worked on controlling the tremors for a while. The entire room was dead silent, no one moved. And Michel simply stood before me like an avenging angel about to strike. I took a deep breath in and lifted my chin to him, then watched as he closed his eyes briefly, then turned towards the Councillors at the table.
"How dare you?" he demanded the Keeper.
"I had nothing to do with this," the Keeper replied calmly.
"They were your vampires," Michel shot back.
"Says who?" the Keeper asked imperiously.
"Says the Sanguis Vitam Cupitor," I replied, stepping to Michel's side and letting my Light wash the room briefly.
The Keeper stilled. Realising, I think, that he had underestimated me and completely forgotten I could see vampire's Dark, as well as recognise their masters because of it.
"They were not acting on my orders," the Keeper eventually replied, head lowering.
"I am to believe you now, when you have just lied to my face?" Michel demanded in a low growl.
"It is the truth," the Keeper replied, swallowing thickly, showing his nerves for the very first time.
Vampires can smell a lie, if they are looking for it. I wondered if Michel had smelled a lie on the Keeper right now.
"That is irrelevant," Michel replied in an ice cold voice. "The punishment lies
in the offence." Before anyone could blink an eye, Michel had a sword in his hand and had thrust it through the Keeper's throat. Not a death blow, but crippling enough that the Keeper would take a day or so to recover.
I could not have retaliated, the Keeper is an Iunctio Councillor. But the Champion could and had. Did I trust the vampire in charge of the Iunctio's combined power? No, I most definitely did not. Could I do a thing about it right now? Not a chance. Politics sucked in a big fucking way.
"Leave my house," Michel instructed, withdrawing the sword and wiping it on his trousers, removing the blood, then sheathing it in his invisible scabbard, hiding it again from view. "And do not return until you have secured the ghouls' cooperation."
Not just punished, but given an onerous and dangerous task.
"Do not fail me on this. Are we clear?" Michel asked, eyes still flashing magenta.
"Crystal," the Keeper replied in a gurgle of blood, requiring assistance as he stepped away and almost stumbled. His remaining guards on either side offered much needed support. I thought he could do better than that, what a wuss to show such weakness.
Michel snorted off to my side, but hid it with a growl immediately.
No one said anything until the Keeper had vacated the room, and no doubt the entire house. Then Michel reached forward and punched a number into the phone on the table. A dial tone sounded through speakers on the walls.
"Champion?" came the voice down the line.
"Creator," Michel replied. "You are on speaker phone."
"Hold on," the Creator answered and we heard a static sound and then a clunk as he placed his phone on speaker too. "The Foreteller is also here, we've been expecting you."
Creepy, the Foreteller had obviously seen what was about to happen.
"Excellent," Michel replied and then looked up at the remaining Councillors in the room. "We are weakened," he said without pause. "We are split. The Iunctio has been compromised. Will you tolerate this?"
Kiss of the Dragon Page 25