Deirdre’s fangs descended. “If our brother put you here, only our brother can release you.”
My anger was wearing off. I was tired. It had to be nearly 4:00 a.m.
“Looks like I’m staying the night,” I said, unzipping my heels and kicking them off. I padded into the bathroom, looking around for supplies to remove my make-up. I was sure it looked a mess by now anyway.
Soaking a blue flannel in hot water, I scrubbed at the layers on my face, rinsing and repeating until my normal self was showing once more. I glared at her for looking so young and incapable. I steamed my face with a hot flannel and splashed cold water over my skin, patting dry with a fluffy white towel.
I eyed the shower and listened to the tense murmurs of Kyros’s siblings. Shower it was. Locking the door, I started the shower, setting it to scalding.
I tied my hair in a knot, not having a hair tie, and stepped under the hot jets.
My shoulders relaxed as I sighed.
That felt fucking good.
In no hurry to rejoin the royals, I stood that way for several minutes before reaching for the soap. It wasn’t as meditative as my usual routine, but I repeated the soaping twice to drag out the shower even longer.
Rinsing, I tuned into Kyros, blanching at what I felt.
Pain, fear, loneliness, regret, anger.
Felt like he was calming down at last, but I was still angry enough to be glad he felt like shit, so maybe it was a good thing Kyros had left the tower for a while.
I reluctantly turned off the shower and dried, slipping into the same clubbing clothes. My rabbit onesie would be ideal—or Kyros’s loungewear drawer—but I didn’t feel right about delving into his stuff after the shit between us.
And there was a lot of shit.
Where did it start and where did it end? Half the time I couldn’t even remember what I was angry about. There was just so damn much. Him doing things to me. Me doing things to him. His family doing things to both of us. Fyrlia throwing obstacles into the mix.
I hadn’t infiltrated Kyros Sky to get dragged into this again. I was here to fight my battle and do it right.
When Kyros returned, I’d apologise and get it over and done with. The more I fought him, the less likely he’d let me leave, and the less inclined he’d be to enter a fourth exchange.
Plan formed. Done.
I hung the towel over a drying rack and threw my make-up flannel in a hamper before joining the others. They’d turned on the TV and were watching female wrestling.
“Want to see how the photos today turned out,” Lionel said from the middle of the bed. Only Neelan and Gerome hadn’t managed to find a spot on the bed and shared the large round sofa.
As I passed Neelan, I touched his shoulder. “What you did was shitty, but I didn’t have to get personal where others could hear. I can’t imagine your family without you in the picture. You fit, Neelan—whatever you think to the otherwise.”
Moving to the bed, I picked my way to the middle and huddled in a space by Lionel.
He shoved his phone under my nose, and I swore.
“Oh my god, that’s not us.” My eyes rounded.
“It is.” He cackled.
Lionel cackling just wasn’t right.
He scrolled through the images. We looked hot. Like one second away from ripping off each other’s clothes hot. There was something carnal in my eyes and in his.
“These are being used for promotion of vertical farming and aquaponics?” I asked weakly.
“Nothing says sustainable farming like half-naked people,” he replied. “Trust me, most vampires and humans are led entirely by their junk.”
I didn’t disagree for a second. It was a constant battle to disobey my junk. “How long until they go up?”
The timing was less than ideal. Hopefully a few days—
“Tomorrow,” he announced with glee.
I chewed my bottom lip. “You’re certain that’s a good idea? I’m not sure Kyros is in the mood to be pushed.”
“He never is.”
Silently disagreeing, I conceded the point and stretched my legs out.
“You can’t just force your way in,” Francesca said as I popped my legs over hers.
I studied the youngest Sundulus royal. “Do you mean in this moment or in a more general way?”
She fell silent.
“I don’t plan on replacing you or anyone, Francesca. I sure as hell didn’t ask for any of this.”
She sniffed and didn’t answer.
I eased down between Lalitta and Safina. Mostly flat—success. I yawned loudly. “So tired.” A thought occurred to me. “Don’t you guys usually sleep now?”
Rory answered. “When our brother is unhappy, we’re unhappy. Sleep hasn’t come easy to you this night, and it won’t come easy for us either.”
Well, that made me feel terrible, not that I should take on their reactions. Kyros and I would undoubtedly argue again.
I sighed. “Then call him.”
“You misunderstand me. Kyros told us that he lost control and you bore the brunt of that, nearly rendering you unconscious. We’ll remain with you because it will reassure our brother as he works to regain control of his power. It’s no small task.”
From what Gina said, it was a constant effort for him.
Yawning again, I closed my eyes. “Wish I had siblings or cousins.”
Though it would mean more people to look after. If I was in this game and had eight siblings, I’d be fucking terrified daily about their safety. Let alone having a vulnerable human mate who was careening around town like a cowboy.
I kind of felt really terrible now.
“You have no family left?” Safina asked.
A lump rose up my throat. My answer took too long.
“No,” I said in a neutral voice. “No family. You’re lucky to have each other.”
“We are,” she replied. “Family is a blessing in hard times. That’s why we’re so close. There are many working against us. And many spies. If we could not trust each other, we’d have no one.”
I’d gathered that from the intense and almost desperate way they interacted. It was a sad way to live, and I could see why Kyros allowed them so much leeway in his life. They needed to test the strength of their sibling bonds—to be reassured of what that bond could withstand. And what it couldn’t. These little games they planned were reaffirming for them in a city filled with creatures who wanted to tear them down.
I reached out and patted her leg. Or someone’s. “Understand.”
Arms I knew pulled me from a tangle of bodies that were too heavy and too warm. I’d been climbing up from the heavy tow of sleep for what felt like an age only to be dragged down again.
The last of their limbs fell from me, and eyes closed, I wrapped my legs around Kyros’s waist, letting him otherwise hold me against his chest.
He sank down against a wall, holding me close.
I pushed away and met his tired gaze. He looked exhausted.
“Sorry I worried you,” I rasped.
And I meant it.
Lowering my head, I closed my eyes again as his arms tightened around me. He smelt like cold sweat and his voice was just as weary as his expression.
“Why were you meeting with my enemy, Basilia?”
Not forgiven then.
I curled my hands together on his chest. “I need to know if the triplets caused my grandmother’s heart attack. I went to Gina for information.”
A spark of anger flared again. “You didn’t come to me.”
“No, I didn’t.” I may have fucked up, but our past was filled with lies and most of them were his. I may be able to rely on him, but I sure as fuck wasn’t used to doing so and didn’t want to.
He rested his head atop mine, inhaling deeply. “What are we doing, Miss Le Spyre?”
“No clue, Mr Atagio.” I fidgeted on his lap, my tight dress digging in. Some things weren’t meant to be slept in. I might have permanent imprints of the pan
els on my body after this.
We were silent for a time.
“Did Gina have information?” he asked.
“No.” I hesitated. “But she’s going to dig around.”
A growl rumbled in his chest. “What was the deal?”
“The deal doesn’t hurt your family in any way. It’s all on me.”
“I didn’t ask if it hurt my family, I asked what it was.”
I pushed away, irritation snapping through me. “I’m not telling you what the deal was. It won’t harm me or any of you. That’s all I’m saying.”
Kyros looked and felt mutinous at that. His eyes blazed momentarily.
He could compel me easily. One second at any time and my secrets could be out.
I waited to see if he’d shit on me that way, too, holding his gaze with a stony one of my own. In this matter, I was more embarrassed than anything that he’d find out the details of the deal. Gina put a lot more stock in my ability to sway Kyros’s opinion than I did.
“Your wellbeing won’t be in danger in any way because of this deal with Gina?” he asked, attention riveted on me—and no doubt my emotions.
“No, Kyros. Not one bit. Or I wouldn’t have agreed.”
He paused. “Does it involve intimacy with another male?”
I let the exasperation of his question wash over me. “No men are involved.”
The blaze in his eyes died down to the same bone-weariness of earlier. I fidgeted again, resisting the urge to peel the tight dress off to ease my discomfort.
I nuzzled into Kyros once more. The weirdness of this situation was like a temporary access card—a no man’s land. “Where did you go?”
“Running. Hunting. Drinking.”
Considering that, I said, “Hunting animals? And drinking blood?”
“Humans are animals. But I wasn’t hunting humans, no. And yes, drinking blood.”
“You’ve run out of my blood?”
He didn’t answer, which was as much yes as I needed.
I yawned, pulling at the digging hem of my dress. “What’s the time?”
“Midday.”
Shit. Vampires were really messing with my sleep patterns. “What day?”
“Thursday.”
At least I hadn’t missed the meeting with my Churchill team. This fucking dress needed to go.
“Basilia.”
I glanced up at him. His arms were looped around my lower back, his legs stretched out behind me. We were against the wall next to the door.
He watched me closely. “If I provide you with a list of the Fyrlia royals’ personal properties and local businesses, will you promise me never to enter one without me again?”
That could prove doubly useful, and I could always meet Gina in other places. “Yes, I promise.”
Kyros nodded. “Then you’ll have it by tonight. Now…” His hands went to the bottom of my dress.
“What are you doing?” I blurted.
His eyes were shadowed. “You want the dress off. Let me help you.”
His siblings were right behind us, probably pretending to be asleep. I glanced back, but they were—to my eyes—a tangled mess of deeply-asleep royal vampires.
Chewing on my lip, I faced Kyros again, sensing his need to look after me.
Feeling like I was doing something dark and forbidden, I nodded.
His hands were massive and so warm. He slid his hands under the hem on both sides, hooking the dress with his thumbs. I lifted onto my knees as he slid the dress up over my ass, taking his time. The removal was pain and pleasure as he worked the garment up over my stomach.
He stopped when the bottom of my breasts were exposed. This was a no-bra kind of dress. Was he surprised? My boobs bounced as he freed them to push the dress over my head.
I steadied myself with a hand on his shoulder after. His eyes were as dark as I’d ever seen them, intent on me. A deep-rooted admiration twirled toward me, a fierce protective emotion. Combined, the feeling was almost like…
Reverence.
Drawing back, clad only in my panties, I covered my breasts and tucked my chin.
“Why are you covering yourself?” he said in a calm voice. “You’re beautiful beyond compare.”
I closed my eyes. I had zero issues with my body. “You’ve never looked at me that way.”
“No,” he admitted. “And that’s overwhelming for you.”
No kidding.
“Lower your arms, my beauty. Let me see you.”
What did that mean though? This felt a whole heap more intimate than sex. So deeply erotic and invasive.
I opened my eyes first, just slightly, to peek at him through my lashes. He wasn’t fooled, his meadow-green gaze latched on. Kyros tilted his head and reached for his loosened tie, discarding it before setting his attention to the buttons of his shirt. I watched as he worked down the line, exposing smooth, golden skin.
Hard.
I appreciated the reciprocation though.
Keeping my gaze lowered, I let my arms drop to my sides, resting my palms on the tops of my legs as I sat on his thighs again.
His hands slid up from my bent knees, up my forearms, and along my shoulders to follow the slopes of my neck upward. He forced my head upward until my eyes locked once more with his.
The vampire let go, leaning forward, and I tensed in readiness for a kiss that might end me forever.
My breath quickened as he reached an arm overhead and pulled his unbuttoned shirt off.
I drank in the sight of him, mouth drying at his unfathomable beauty.
Kyros drew my arms through his black shirt sleeves and set to buttoning the front. I sighed at the slither of warm material over the painful indents the dress had made.
“That feels better.” Kyros tucked me back against his chest.
And I went.
Fuck it all, but I went; just to be pressed against him in the bubble where the world didn’t seem to exist and we weren’t at odds.
“I’m sorry for hurting and scaring you, true mate,” he whispered in my ear. “So very sorry.”
20
I studied my notes from the meeting with the siblings, snickering. I’d found a way to recall the various discussion threads despite the Vissimo-induced reactions of my body.
Now, I kept a separate document open on the tablet. I stared at my first hashtag.
#AgriWantAgriGet
Translation: The realty push in the agriculture suburb was at full tilt.
#ambanking
Rory’s plans to merge the new bank, NJB, with Bluff City Bank were underway.
#Grestival
Gerome had plans for a fashion festival to launch a new street of boutique shops in Green.
#Letsgetvertical
Lionel was set to launch the vertical farming to the public.
#Safinaforpresident
Safina, in charge of the second largest industry—local government—was having her politicians enter a bill to inhibit further categorising of agricultural land to housing land.
#IndustryLyf
There were no major current changes proposed for the health, manufacturing, retail, and education industries that belonged to Neelan, Deirdre, Francesca, and Lalitta respectively.
I sat back, pretty chuffed with my new method of keeping track. Really, being up on Level 66 was the perfect mentorship to learn how the industries in Bluff City worked together and how they affected each other. I was still scratching the surface, but in time, Sundulus would show me exactly how to strengthen my own game.
“They’re taking off the cover,” Lionel hissed at Neelan, dragging me from reverie.
Kyros had left to answer a question from a blushing minion after the call with King Julius, and Lionel was about to reveal his fucking billboard.
Oh brother.
He whirled to me. “Can you take a photo when he comes in?”
“Sure,” I said drily, sliding my phone out as Kyros entered the room.
He was surrounded by his s
mirking brothers and sisters. Fingers racing, I clicked on my camera and took a few snaps of the nine royals.
Things with Kyros had been different over the last few days. Settled, yet more intense. Like a vibrating undercurrent existed between us at all times. Usually the bond made me feel burning attraction—and that wasn’t diminished—but I was feeling an emotional clinginess that I’d never experienced before. And I could tell he was too.
We hadn’t interacted much since our cuddling session in his lair. Perhaps he was studying the new development between us as well. I wasn’t sure what to make of it—in that I sure as fuck didn’t want to be emotionally dependent on anyone, including him.
Lionel slid a blindfold from his pocket, circling Kyros. “I have a surprise. You need to put this on, please.”
Kyros arched a brow but did as bidden, an indulgent half smile on his lips. My heart squeezed as he allowed his brothers and sisters to shove him into place in front of the windows.
I snapped another few photos and stood aside to get into a better spot for the big reveal.
Lionel fired off a text, and the lights surrounding a billboard just below and opposite us flared to life. I groaned at the sight of Lionel and I tangled around each other between two towering haystacks.
Not everything has to be horizontal.
Vertical farming. A new position. A better ending.
A throaty chuckle slipped between my lips. That was actually pretty funny, the problem being that it was about me. Damn Lionel for being mostly likeable.
“What is it?” Kyros said, grinning at our quiet laughter.
Lionel winked at me and snatched the blindfold off his brother.
I wasn’t alone in holding my breath as he looked.
And looked.
His siblings whooped after a few seconds, thumping Lionel on the back. Kyros smiled. But I didn’t.
Not when I could feel he didn’t find it amusing one bit. In fact, the vampire was unaccountably sad as he stood grinning at the billboard and shaking his head ruefully. He even snapped a few times at Lionel in false anger.
“Look how much she wants me,” Lionel crowed.
The photographer had asked if I needed alcohol to loosen up.
“You know I was thinking of Kyros.” I winced as the words left my mouth. That sounded pathetic. No matter how true it was.
Vampire Debt: Supernatural Battle (Vampire Towers Book 2) Page 25