by Viola Grace
A raised stone was around the corner of a glowing hedge.
Leo bit her lip. “If you are looking for a virgin sacrifice, you are a little late.”
His laugh rang out and the flowers quivered. “Good to know. In full disclosure, this will stop you from aging for the next year, which means that your moon time will not occur.”
She deciphered it and blushed. “Oh. Right. No great loss.”
He turned with a sudden move and picked her up, placing her gently on the stone. Her legs were draped over the edge, and when he parted her thighs, she felt herself panicking again. “Where exactly is this mark going?”
“Your inner thigh. It should not hurt.” He stroked her dress up and carefully arranged the lace so that she was still completely covered.
It made her feel more exposed than just lying there naked would have, but she held still when his cool hands smoothed her skin, holding the lace down.
She didn’t feel his breath, but his tongue flicked out. Leo jumped a little. He held her thigh and pressed his teeth into her with the lightest pressure.
The word femoral artery ran through her mind as the teeth sank deeper. The sudden suction on her inner thigh sent pulses of arousal through her. Leo flailed around and gripped the edges of the stone, and she arched and hissed as he continued to drink.
This was more than marking.
Her self-control was wearing thin, and the moment he shifted his hand to cover her sex, it broke. She jerked and shivered, gasping as her body tried to clench down on an invader that wasn’t inside her.
She was sweating lightly and completely limp when Matthias licked the small wounds closed. He lifted his head and licked his lips. “That was new.”
Her blush could have started a fire. “I...” She couldn’t finish it. Aside from a slight lightheaded feeling, there was something new inside her.
“I must say, that was definitely a stirring reaction.” He eased her dress back over her thighs and moved to help her sit up.
It took some effort to unclench her hands from the stone, but he managed to get her to a sitting position. She was mortified.
“I am sorry that I... you know.”
“Came? Do not apologize. It is the first time I have caused that reaction while tagging an apprentice. You held back, so well done.”
“How do you know that?”
“Leonora, I have known you for a week, and you always hold back.” He smiled and pressed a kiss to her temple.
“I guess it is back to work then.”
He laughed. “First, we will go to the dining room and you will have a large meal. I didn’t intend to, but I drank quite a bit. I got a little carried away. The link has been forged, so while we got distracted, we managed to get the job done.”
She froze when he picked her up again.
“What are you doing?”
“I am carrying you in to the dining room. Trust me, you are in no shape to walk, and our connection won’t kick in until sunrise.”
“Oh, I guess that was in the fine print.” She tried to stay flippant, but it was difficult when all she wanted to do was lean against his shoulder and enjoy the ride.
He held her carefully as if afraid she would break. She was happy that they didn’t meet up with Reed. Her current position put her at a disadvantage.
The dining room was empty except for some covered dishes at one end. Matthias walked right to the chair, and instead of setting her down, he settled into it himself.
“Please, eat.”
She slowly turned in his lap and accepted him as her personal chair. Leo wasn’t one to ignore her stomach, so she uncovered the plates and grabbed a fork.
Being a human sacrifice was hungry work.
Chapter Nine
When she tasted a food that she really enjoyed, she felt a shiver run through Matthias. After her immediate hunger was satisfied, she turned and stared into his eyes.
“The link works both ways?”
He was sitting with his eyes closed and a blissful expression on his cool features. “Yes, it does. You have an exceptionally sensitive sense of taste. It dissects everything and enjoys the components.”
She shrugged. “It has always been that way. It makes it easier to reproduce the food I like.”
She tried to ease herself off his lap, but his hands gripped her hips and his eyes opened. “Where are you going?”
“I was going to my room to get changed and get to work.”
He sighed. “You have not eaten enough, and you definitely did not drink enough.”
She grumbled and pivoted back toward the table, filling her glass with water before chugging it down. The burp when she finished was inevitable. Leo glared at him. “Better?”
“A start. Reed will bring you a tray.” He let her go.
She wobbled a bit when she stood, but she didn’t want him to carry her again. With tremendous effort, she left the dining room and headed for her chambers.
Reed saw her and smiled brightly. “Come this way, Ms. Wicks. Your quarters have been moved closer to the mayor’s.”
She was a little foggy. “Why?”
“You are his apprentice now. Your proximity will help if you or he require anything during quiet hours.” Reed smiled happily. “There have not been any apprentices in the last five decades, so the staff is very excited.”
She swayed. “Excited?”
“It means that the mayor will be in a much better mood. That is a win-win situation for all of the staff.”
He turned to lead her to the new quarters, but he was fading into a tunnel as her vision blurred. Hands caught her, and Matthias lifted her again.
She looked up at him and muttered, “Dammit,” before she fainted.
* * * *
Matthias looked down at the woman in his arms, and he sighed. “She is stubborn.”
Reed inclined his head. “I believe that is why you chose her, sir.”
Matthias chuckled. “I believe you are right. She has a devotion to family that I found admirable and a self-possession that is truly amazing.”
“She is definitely a force to be reckoned with, sir. I have put her in the silver room.”
“Good.” Matthias moved with speed and settled her in her bed before going into her closet and selecting a dress, underwear and shoes for her. He kept the heels low because she was going to be unstable until she got some proper rest and her body embraced the small bit of the tree that he had pressed into her bloodstream.
“Where am I?”
He sat next to her and waited for her to sit up. “You are in your new rooms. We have a bit of work to finish tonight, so if you could get dressed and meet me in the office, I would appreciate it.”
He gave her a small kiss on her pursed lips, and her eyes widened in surprise.
He was still grinning twenty minutes later when she entered the office with her laptop and her phone in tow.
She settled at her desk and flicked him a quick glance. He watched the colour rise in her cheeks.
Matthias had tasted women for the last few thousand years and none had struck him with the clear purity of soul that Leonora had exhibited. She spent most of her time holding back her passion, her enthusiasm and her enjoyment of the world around her. She felt it; she just hid it.
Matthias was going to enjoy the link between himself and this woman who spent more time holding herself back than she did living her life. He was going to see what he could do to shift that balance.
* * * *
Leo glanced up and blushed. Matthias was staring at her with a smirk on his lips. It was a calculated look that appeared to be analyzing her.
“Yes, Mr. Mayor? Was there something you needed?”
He inclined his head. “I would like to go over your schedule with you. I have gotten some correspondence that requires action, but I am unable to go myself. Come here and I will explain what needs to be done.”
He got up from his d
esk and took a seat on one of the couches near the fireplace.
She grabbed her phone and left her desk to sit a polite distance from him.
He held up some of the heavy linen paper, similar to what he used for his own personal correspondence. “I have received a request for a mediator.”
“All right. What is that?”
He smiled and laid out the situation. A dragon’s wife—the vampire healer Zora—wished to buy a friend’s freedom from the vampire king Olvadi. The problem arose in that Octavia—the vampire in question—was one of Olvadi’s favourites.
“What do I have to do?”
“Represent me and keep both parties calm. Regick will have his lawyers speaking for him, but Olvadi likes the attack and retreat of negotiations. It is what makes him feel alive.”
“So, he is a taken vampire.”
“He is. I have heard that Zora’s healing has managed to regenerate him to some extent, and he is using that new energy to inflict himself on anything that crosses his path. He will take you if you don’t defend yourself.”
Leo was more than a little nervous at that. “Why send me at all?”
“Because Regick is a strong ally and a good friend. If he has asked me for help, I will offer it. Do not worry. I am sending you with my most trusted guards.” He reached out and touched her hand.
Her burgeoning panic eased, and she breathed evenly. “All right. When do I go?”
“You will need to fly out today at dusk. You will only be gone for two days; if there is anything additionally needed, I will send someone to replace you.”
She swallowed. “Today? Wow. That is quick.”
“I know. I have been putting this off as long as I could, but now that you are my apprentice, you are in the perfect position to take over some of my distant representation.”
“Why?”
He squeezed her hand again. “Vampires are territorial and I have killed far too many of them in my life. If my presence can be accepted without my being there, it is a step forward.”
“And it expands your control.”
Matthias shrugged slightly. “That as well.”
She sighed. “Right. Well, can I get some rest before I go?”
He nodded. “Of course. The helicopter will pick you up in front of the manor at seven this evening.”
She nodded. “Right, so where am I going?”
“The shadow city of Arbor. Daysiders and nightsiders split the population, but Olvadi rules them all. Regick owns most of the city. He has the resources to barter with, but he is not in the correct position to strike a deal.”
“Because of his wife.”
“Because he and Olvadi have a truce. If Olvadi gives in, he loses face; if Regick insists, he starts a war.”
“That would be bad.”
“Indeed. You have the rest of today to learn what you can about the parties involved, and then, you must get some rest. At midnight tonight, the link between us will be sealed.”
“And I will be in another city.” It made her feel nervous. Sealing seemed like something that would be visible.
He shrugged. “It can’t be helped.”
“Right. Well, in that case, I should go over the donations to the museum before I crash for a while. The director is probably rushing the morning couriers daily.”
“You are right. This way.” He rose and tugged at her hand, pulling her to her feet.
She walked with him. He tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow with a gesture so natural that she knew he had done it hundreds of times.
They headed toward her new room, and he led her past it to the door at the end of the hall. He opened the door, and they were in a room that made her apartments look teeny.
“These are my quarters. Feel free to visit if you need to talk.”
Somehow, when he said the word talk, it sounded far more intriguing than it should. He walked past the fireplace and pressed his hand to the wall. Hard. A stone shifted and a doorway opened.
“Keep hold of my hand. There are objects down here that do not enjoy daylight, but red lamps are inside the display room.”
She took his hand and followed him down a set of steep stairs into the darkness.
At the bottom of the steps, he put an arm around her and pulled her into a small vestibule. While she was plastered against him, he reached behind her and opened another door. He steered her through it and closed the door behind them until they were in absolute darkness.
Leo could hear her breathing and nothing else.
“I am turning the red light on.”
She heard the soft click of a switch, and red light bathed a warehouse full of items on display.
“Oh my...” She looked at the books, scrolls, daggers, tablets and thousands of other items in the collection.
“Choose what you think the director would get the most use out of. The blood chalice of Irka-Set is particularly charming.” He walked over to a cup carved out of ruby.
“Why would you part with any of this?” She looked around and waved her hands at the displays.
“To have you at my side, of course. It is a price I was more than willing to pay, and I still am.”
She was glad the red light would hide the blush that he seemed to bring on so easily. “Well, show me what you had in mind when it came up. You must have had some items in mind. Oh, but they do need to be light safe.”
“Right. Well, this is the blood chalice used by an ancient god to turn his people from mortal into immortal. It would be a good choice and an excellent draw.”
“It seems priceless.”
He chuckled and drew her down the line. “Everything in this room is. They are parts of vampire history. Having them on public display would be good for our social profile.”
He showed her nineteen items that he was considering for display.
“Too many. Keep it to ten and add to the collection every year as a tax deduction. You get to have them pay for the security to store it and insure it, and there is more room to keep your collection growing. Do you have provenance for all of this?”
“In the podium under the item. Each one has a full binder of all origin documentation.” Matthias smiled. “Have I mentioned how I enjoy your changing modes from embarrassed to workplace Valkyrie looking for victims?”
She felt the embarrassment rush over her again. “Um, it isn’t something I really have control over.”
He pulled her toward him, and he leaned down to kiss her softly. “Pick your ten and I will have them sent over to the museum.”
She rattled off her list, and he smiled; the expression was eerie in the light.
He took her hand and led her back to the entrance, turning off the light before opening the door. She stumbled when they climbed the stairs, and he caught her, holding her to his side as they walked up into the daylight world.
He escorted her back to her room. “Go to sleep. Your purse, laptop and meal have all been delivered.”
“How do you do that?”
Matthias laughed and held up his phone. “I can text and talk at the same time. The modern age is truly a marvel. Reed loves his phone.”
“What about Dorn?”
“Well, he is slow to change.”
Leo snickered. “Well, if I don’t see you before I leave, have a nice weekend.”
“Oh, you will see me. As I am sending you into the lair of a vampire king, you will bring a gift from me. It might not be enjoyable to deliver it, but you are my assistant.”
With that cryptic mention, he walked away. She decided not to worry about what she had to bring.
As Leo stepped into her bedroom and closed the door behind her, she sent a text to her sister. Tonight, I get to ride in a helicopter! Wheeee!
Chapter Ten
Matthias slid his hand under her hair and kissed her wildly. Leo froze in shock for a moment until her heart started pounding and her palms found themselves pressed against his
chest. When he let her go, she looked at her guards, and they both had politely disinterested looks on their faces.
“I am supposed to give that to Olvadi?” She licked her lips, and his eyes lit as he watched the movement.
“Oh, no. I have a lily watered with my own blood.” He waved his hand, and Dorn walked up to them with the lily in his hands.
She frowned. “Then what was the kiss?”
“Practice. I will see you when you get back, Leonora.”
She took the lily and walked to the helicopter that was sitting in the centre of the huge lawn.
Leo sat between Lima and Coren. She was a dwarf and he was a pixie. They both looked like they ate horseshoes for breakfast.
She put on the protective headphones and sat back as the blades of the helicopter began to whirl. She dug her phone out of the purse that Coren was watching over, and as they lifted off, she took pictures of the manor, the city and the skyline.
When she had finished being a tourist, she put her phone away and sat there, rubbing her fingers over her lips for the rest of the one-hour trip.
The city of Arbor was lovely, and the skyscrapers were attention getting. Redbird seemed small in comparison.
“Where are we going to land?”
Coren grinned. “On the tower of the dragon of Arbor.”
The tower in question was a mirrored-glass building that spiked the sky. The helicopter lined up, and the pilot landed them efficiently.
Two figures were waiting for them on the helipad.
Lima got out and held out her hand. Leo took the hint and exited the aircraft. Coren carried her bag and her computer.
A woman with long black hair came forward with a smile. “Hello. You must be Ms. Wicks.”
“I am; you can call me Leo.”
“I am Zora; this is Regick. We will be your hosts for the next two days.”
Leo shook Zora’s hand and then turned to the man with golden skin next to her. “Pleased to meet you.”
He looked her over, and his lips quirked in a smile. “Matthias has surprised me again.”