A Vampire's Seduction (A Dark Hero Book 1)

by Fleur Camacho

  “It has to be cleaned if you won’t drink, or it will get infected.”

  “I don’t like to drink from the people who work for me, it isn’t good business to eat where you piss.”

  She huffed. “I do not work for you.”

  I opened my eyes. “I was speaking of my driver.”

  She stopped pulling at my wound to stare at my chin. “I was talking about me.”

  I clicked my tongue. “Rowan would stake me, and then my wounds would be worse than a little bite.”

  “It’s not a little bite, and Rowan isn’t my master.”

  “I am not your master, either.”

  “Then let me return home, to comfort my mother in her grief.”

  I gripped her chin. “I cannot. You must serve in the stead of your father, or others would defy me. I can’t afford the rebellion of the whole city, not when Agosto’s death has left a gap in the control of it.”

  Suddenly she looked me in the eyes. “And is that what is most important to you? To trample under the feet of others, in order to dominate them?”

  I sighed. “Actually, no. What is important to me is that hundreds of lives are saved by avoiding a war among the beasts that stalk the city. Many of the living would die, and then hundreds more would be slaughtered to keep the talk of magical beings from leaving the city.”

  I closed my eyes again and leaned against the carriage, but the sound of her beating heart was in my ears and I opened my eyes. Her wrist was under my nose, and the smell of her blood was making me dizzy. I gripped her wrist and slowly lowered it. “I can manage.” I gasped this out, even as her blood called to my strigoi, and the pain from the bites in my leg began to throb.

  Then she was sitting on my lap, making sure to avoid my wound, and I held her hips in an attempt to keep her jostling body from pressing on the bite on my thigh. She put her head on mine and I could hear the throb in her neck, beating a lullaby to my trembling strigoi. I gripped her shoulders to move her back, but was unable to do so.

  “I do… like Rowan. But I serve you willingly. You’ve protected me in ways that my father never did, and you only took your vengeance out on him and allowed the rest of my family to live.” I heard her saliva travel down her throat. “I know you could’ve killed them all, and made me become one of your thralls, or tied me to a hungrier strigoi. Rowan is kind, and is as willing to give me as much pleasure as he takes. I want you to drink, as payment for your kindness.”

  I raised my head to look at her now and her earnest eyes hooked into my chest.

  “I give it to you gladly, with a sincere heart.”

  “If I do not use my venom, it will hurt.” I wasn’t willing to break her bond with Rowan, to give her the gift of my erotic poison that would bind her to me, a deadly addiction.

  She bared her neck to me, and the call was so sweet and willingly given that I bit into it. She cried out, gripping my arms tight, and I pulled her blood into my mouth. It lit my whole body on fire, and I moaned as her healing powers flooded my body, intoxicating my mind and spirit. Gripping her shoulders tight as her sweet claret rolled over my tongue and down my throat, my side mended, as well as the holes that studded my body.

  Licking her wounds closed, I allowed her to lay against me and she began to sleep until we arrived home. Rowan stood outside, pacing near the door, and as soon as we came into view he swiveled to face the carriage, a furious look on his face.

  I got out and put her into his hands. He gave me a scathing look, but carried her inside. I began to walk towards the river, throwing the rest of my shirt off as I descended towards it. Then Rowan was beside me.

  “I told you she wasn’t safe.”

  I frowned. “She may be a human, but don’t treat her like a china doll. She held herself well.”

  “What if they had turned on you, and attacked her? The shifters don’t always have control over their wolf minds.”

  I clicked my tongue. “I protected her, as I said I would.”

  He gripped my arm. “I know you drank from her.” His eyes were a dark obsidian and his hand was so tight on my arm that it actually hurt.

  I raised my eyebrow. “What of it?”

  He pulled me close. “She’s mine.”

  I showed him my teeth, warning him. “She offered it to me, and I partook because I was wounded.”

  “That is not up to you, you should’ve asked me first.”

  I growled, and blasted him with my senses. He crashed against one of the trees that lined the bank and slid to the ground. “Go to the docks and find another to drink from tonight. She will be weak for the night and needs to rest.” I towered over him. “You forget who is Master. Don’t ever question me again.”

  He groaned, his back injured from the blast. “You will be the death of me, Detrand. I have stalked her since she became a woman, and she haunted me in my dreams. It has been my only desire to have her withering under me, to become united as one, even as her blood ran through my veins. And with one sting from you, it has all slipped away.” His voice caught and he stared towards the river, unwilling to look at me.

  “I used no venom.”

  He looked at me now, his eyes wide. “You allowed her to suffer so? No wonder she slept.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You can never be satisfied.” I held my hand to help him up, he was fully recovered now. “Come, and let her rest tonight, and then tomorrow you will take her into your bed and give her, her every desire. And then you shall have your fantasy, or nightmare, as you see it, and be content.”

  He glared at me, and when he didn’t take my hand, I laughed. “Oh, Rowan, you are such a child.” When he stood up, using the tree for support instead of my offered hand, I sighed. “You would think that after you have been given permission to give in to your deepest desire, you would be a lot more enthusiastic. And grateful.”

  I began to unbuckle my pants. “Have it your way. But as for me, I’m going to cleanse my body, and my soul, in the river.” He began to walk away. “Whatever happened to the fae I requested?”

  “She arrived earlier today.”

  I nodded. “Send her outside to me as soon as I arrive home, even if she is sleeping. I also need you to instruct Sophie to order new clothes for Adelade, and burn all of her old rags. She is to receive the finest in town, is that clear?”

  Only his back answered my instructions, but I knew that he would follow my command. I turned to him again. “Rowan.” My voice was a command and his feet turned to me even though his will was against it. His face held the scorn and anger that he felt.

  “If you lose control with Lula, I will kill you myself.”

  The fae, clutching my clothes to her chest, stared at my naked body as I walked up the path to the house. Her hair was woven in golden strands, with a vine of soft flowers arranged around her head.

  I held my hand out and she stared at me in awe.

  “My clothes?”

  She jumped and shoved them into my hands. “Of course.”

  I took them and began to dress. “What is your name? How old are you?”

  She jerked her head back. It was impolite to ask an old being their age, and most of the fae in this area was very old, but I was tired and didn’t bother with niceties.

  “My name is Raisa. I’m unaware in the times of man, but many moons have passed. Too many to count.”

  I touched her elbow, and felt the calming presence of her powers. Satisfied that she could help me, I nodded, and led her towards the garden. “I have a use for you. Are you willing?”

  She nodded. “Of course, sir. Agosto saved us from the wrath of King Orin, and I would gladly return the favor, even if I suffer for it. For your suffering will only be kindness compared to his wrath, which would last as many moons as I have lived.”

  I chuckled. “I don’t think that you will suffer, but that depends on your magic.”

  We’d reached the garden wall now, and I boosted her up on it so that I could see her better. Her body was small, and tiny iridescent
scales ran from her cheekbones to her hairline, as well as along her eyelids. It gave her a shimmering look, and I took in a deep breath. She smelled sweet, of flowers and appetite. Her bright blue eyes stared into mine, our powers of compulsion having no affect.

  “I have a problem, and I need the help of the fae.”

  “Your wish is my command, I will serve you as instructed.”

  “There is a woman under my household whose blood lust calls to me with such power that I cannot resist. I need the powers of the Fae to compel my strigoi to follow my command, or I will slowly descend into madness.”

  “Why do you not give in to your desires?”

  I looked away. “Because I would kill her, I don’t have the required control.”

  She tilted her head towards me. “And that is a problem?”

  I chuckled. “She is under my protection.”

  She bat her long eyelashes. “I see.”

  I bit my lip, and trailed my tongue over it. “Will you help me?”

  “Of course. But magic requires payment.”

  “I can give you all the coins you desire.”

  Now she laughed. “I have no need for coins, and neither does my magic. You must give something else, something of yourself to renew my powers, or they will wane.”

  My hand traveled up her arms, causing her cheeks to flush, and I raised my eyebrow. “What kind of payment?”

  Her eyes studied the house behind me, and I felt a tingle of magic move up my arm. “You have dark powers that protect the home, and have several visitors who know how to use these powers. Allow me to feed from their energy, and this will renew my powers.”

  I turned towards the home. “I will allow you to feed from one, and it will be one of my choosing.” I would choose one who knew nothing of the magic that protected our home, so that we would be in no danger.

  Her eyes were on me now, and she nodded slowly.

  I smiled, though it didn’t reach my eyes. “Begin your spell now, that I may enter my home in peace.”

  She grinned. “I already have.”

  I raised my eyes in surprise. “How did you know I would agree to feed your powers?”

  “Because your reputation precedes you.”

  I smiled back at her; I liked this fae. “Come,” I held my hand out to guide her. “I will introduce you to Lily.”

  Chapter Ten

  Adelade

  I sat with Lula, gripping her hand as she faced the room, trying to determine if Agosto’s killer was in the room. Treveti was here tonight, and Lula couldn’t stand the way he stared at her, so I sat next to her to give her comfort.

  I watched Lula in fascination as she easily conversed with Tasha, although I knew by the tension pressed on my hand that she was nervous. By the look on her face, you’d believe that she was conversing with a peer at a tea party at the mayor’s mansion.

  Standing at the back wall, Treveti watched her. His eyes roamed her body as she moved unconsciously under his constant stare. Rowan entered the room and Treveti straightened, and then his eyes fell on me. I glanced away quickly, for I saw no reason for him to know that I’d been watching him, and the tick in his neck made me so uncomfortable as to think that there was something simmering beneath the surface. What it was, I was determined to discover.

  Lily’s eyes were on me as well, although she shifted them away from me every time I turned towards her, for she refused to speak to me. I wondered if she was the one who’d managed to kill Agosto, although Treveti also seemed like a more likely candidate. Every time his eyes fell on me, I felt an evil come over me that I couldn’t shake.

  The time waned on and I grew tired. Discouraged and understanding that I wouldn’t discover anything new tonight, I grew tired. The physical exhaustion of our training, combined with sitting in this room mixed with the strigoi and the living waned on my energy, so that by the time the events in the room were just beginning to become lively I stood up and, giving Lula my apologies that I couldn’t stay awake a moment longer, I retired for the night.

  Walking down the hall towards my room, I turned to glance behind me and caught a glimpse of Lily, who was staring at me. The anger on her face made me believe that she was ready to pounce. Frightened and ignoring all decor, I ran to my room and slammed the door behind me, only to discover that my mother’s vanity had been removed.

  I tripped over my feet in an effort to rush to the empty space, somehow believing that if I drew myself closer, it would reappear and I would sit upon it. But the empty space in the room was nowhere near the empty space in my heart. I threw myself on my bed in anger, frustration and sadness. Who had taken it and why? Of course, the obvious culprit was Lily, but I couldn’t understand why she would steal it.

  My whole life I had lived in peace and happiness in my home, with a certain love and affection from my parents, and even though many in the town had avoided my gaze, I was still content in my own home.

  Living here under the constant threat of danger to my physical body, as well as the strange gazes from the staff and now threatening looks from the strigoi, as well as my mother’s missing vanity, all crashed down over me. I threw off my dress and put my nightgown over me.

  I was tempted to allow my tears to fall but refused to let them and instead, climbed into bed and forced my eyes to close in an attempt to fall asleep. Suddenly my door opened and Treveti entered.

  I sat up quickly, pulling my stake from under my pillow. “What do you want?”

  He didn’t answer but walked slowly around my bed.

  I stood up on my mattress, unwilling to give him the advantage of catching me with my feet tied in my sheets.

  As he watched me rise up to meet him, he laughed. “That will do you no good.”

  I gripped my stake tightly. “What will do me no good?”

  “Standing there like that. You’re no match for me.”

  “And why would I find myself in a match with you?”

  His eyes darkened as he continued to pace my room. “You see too much. You are like a cat waiting in the dark, watching and waiting for my every move.”

  I followed him with my body, shuffling my feet as his footsteps traced the floor. “You must be mistaken. I see nothing, and only desire to please the Master of the house so that I may pay off the debt for my father.”

  Treveti laughed. “Your father owes no debt. It is Detrand who owed your father.”

  I furrowed my eyebrows. “You are mistaken.”

  He didn’t answer my claim, but strode to the window and looked out.

  Tired of being stalked, I stood up straight, making my back neutral as Landon had taught us. “You desire Lula.”

  He grinned, and the red of his eyes glowed in the dark. “Only a weak man would say that having more than one woman was too much.” His eyebrows rose. “It only takes an understanding of knowing exactly how to please each woman to keep them happy.”

  “Rowan will never let you have her.”

  His smile became predatory. “That is where you are mistaken. I know things about Rowan, the secrets he hides from his master. He will allow me to have her.”

  My mind churned. Rowan?

  Suddenly, he turned towards me and began to stalk towards my bed. My knees shook and my hand tightened its grip on my stake. I repeated the movements Landon had taught me in my mind. Elbow high, step forward and allow my strength to flow from my legs into my arm. As soon as he made his move, I was ready to pounce.

  He grinned as he reached the bed, and I saw that his fangs were extended. “The only question, is what Detrand will do if he discovers that I’ve drained your body of its life-giving gift.”

  Suddenly Detrand was behind him. “Yes, tell me. What would Detrand do if he discovered that you had killed the girl?”

  Treveti’s eyes opened wide in surprise and he turned in a blur and struck. Grabbing Treveti’s face, he twisted, severing his neck from the rest of his body, and the popping noise made a shiver go up my back. For a brief moment Treveti’s eyes
found mine; they were cold and resentful. Then the life in them was gone and as he fell to the floor, I knew that if he awoke, he would kill me the instant he could.

  I jumped off my bed, landed on top of him, and staked him in the heart.

  Waiting for a moment to make sure that he had truly died the final death, I looked up to see that Treveti had managed to cut Detrand. Long lacerations lined his face, and his blood drained from them.

  I dropped the stake dripping with Treveti’s blood and stood up. “You’re hurt.”

  Suddenly Tasha was in the room, screaming and clutching her chest. Rowan was next, followed by Sophie, and then Lula. Tasha fell at my feet, clutching at the disintegrating pile of mush and sand, wailing. I stared at what was left of Treveti, he had deteriorated so quickly that I hadn’t noticed, distracted by the commotion of the room. My mouth dropped open. The magic of the strigoi was a wonder.

  Detrand wiped at the blood on his face which was already beginning to heal. “Rowan, remove her and have someone take her to her house.”

  Rowan nodded, even with Tasha screaming and scraping at the ground while he pulled her out. She flung sand through the air and the soft powder sprayed out, caking my nightgown. I coughed, feeling it in my chest, and a shiver ran through my body knowing that I’d breathed in the remains of the strigoi.

  Detrand growled at the rest to leave. I moved to follow them, but he gripped my arm.

  Trying to ignore the sensation of his hand on my arm, I turned to glare at him. “Your protection wasn’t necessary.” My sudden anger took me off guard and I pulled my arm out of his grip and stepped back.

  He laughed and the sound of it surprised me. I couldn’t think of one time I even saw a trickle of a smile on his face, nor hear a sound of joy from his lips. I was tempted to smile at him in return, but was still angry.

  “You laugh at me.” The words tore from my lips, showing my despondency.

  His laugh turned into a grimace and he stepped towards me. “I laugh because you are so innocent to the beasts of this world. It would’ve only taken him one second to bury his teeth in your neck, and ten more seconds to suck you dry.”