by Eve Newton
"Meaning? Something to do with the moody sire?"
"Yes. But can we drop it? I said I didn't want to talk about him."
"Sure. I can see why you like him," he says casually. "He's a bit like Devon."
I blink at him. "Yes, I suppose he is."
"Seems he has a bit of a type though," he says casually then. "You and Sebastian look alike."
I know he has said that to gross me out about the whole family relations things, so I ignore him and say instead, "Go get me another drink, please.” I hold out my empty glass.
He bobs his head. "Of course, my love." As he stands, his phone rings. He glances at it with a frown and then turns his back to answer it with a low, "It's not a good time," as he saunters over to the very far side of the bar.
I raise my eyebrows in suspicion. Sorry, baby, but that won't help you. I use my magickly-enhanced hearing – that no one knows about yet, for obvious reasons – to listen to whoever is on the other end of the phone.
"Why, what's up?" It's Devon, I note as my heart drops. Everyone gets calls except me, it seems.
In a low, low voice Cole says, "Liv is here."
"Oh," comes the flat reply. "I thought she came up on Saturdays."
"Well, seems that now you are back in L.A., it has freed up more ‘me' time," Cole says, not nastily but not altogether pleasantly, either.
"Lucky you. Enjoy it while it lasts," Devon says cruelly.
"I'm not even going to ask what that means," Cole says, insulted.
"Nothing. I'm sorry, forget it."
"Fine. What's up? How's Jess?"
"She's…you know. Fine, I guess."
"Gee, such enthusiasm. I say you just turn her and be done with it. She clearly wants it."
My heart jolts as my eavesdropping ears just take in what Cole has said. Turn her? Devon has someone? Someone who wants him to turn her?
"Not likely," Devon scoffs.
Relief shoots through me at that comment.
"Well, I'd better get back. Is there something you wanted?"
"No, it can wait. Don't tell her it was me, okay?"
"I don't really want to lie to her, Dev."
"Please. It'll be better for you as well. You know how she gets. She's like a dog with a bone," he says with a sigh.
"Yeah, no kidding," Cole says with a chuckle. "I'll catch ya later."
"Sure. See ya."
End of conversation. Most curious. I knew they talked. I didn't know they called each other up to ‘chat.’ Although, I’m quite glad, it's nice that they get on well enough to talk about things.
Cole reappears with our drinks and sits casually back down next to me with a lingering kiss. Oh, he's learning the distraction techniques all right.
"Who was that?" I ask when he lets me up for air. He may be learning but I'm still better.
"Oh, just someone from the studio," he says, avoiding my gaze.
Hm, so he is going to lie to me. Oh, well. I will drop it, as I don’t want to cause a scene and ruin our time together.
"Oh, okay," I say and take a sip of my drink. He stares at me in surprise as I have so easily dropped it.
"Oh, all right!" he snaps. "It was Devon. Happy?"
I look back at him mildly. "Oh. I see," I say. "What did he want?"
"Just to talk, it's no big deal. Don't make a thing out of it. Please?" he asks with earnest.
"Fine." I shrug. It infuriates him but he remains silent, as I do. I snuggle into him, knowing a thing or two about distraction myself, and he accepts it, relaxing a bit. Catching him off guard, I ask, "How is he?"
He tenses back up and scowls at me. "He's fine. Dealing. It helps he has…" he trails off and I wonder if he meant to say that or if it was a genuine Freudian slip.
"Has what?" I pounce and he sighs.
"He has someone to distract him, okay?"
"Oh, really? Already?" I sneer into my drink and he pulls my face towards his to look at him.
"Liv, that's unfair. She's been around awhile now."
"Awhile? How long is awhile? And why don't I know?"
“All I know is, he met her before you guys got closer again, I guess. It’s not a big thing. He doesn’t want you to know and worry about it."
"Worry about it?” I ask, genuinely confused by his words. "Unless now it's serious?" I gulp. If him leaving me has anything to do with this skank, I won’t bother asking if I can turn her before I do and then stake the bitch straight through slutty heart.
He shrugs. "I don't really know, he’s close-lipped. I know that she knows about him though."
"What?" I suddenly snap. "He told her about us?" I’m furious now, how dare he tell her our secret without telling me first.
He nods warily. "Yes. He doesn't need your permission to tell. Just like you didn't need his," he points out, still using pronouns and making life difficult. "She won't say anything. She's quite accepting. Wants to be one of us." He takes my hand, but I pull away.
"Wants to be one of us? Well, that will never happen," I say, absolutely confident of my words.
"Why not? I say he should turn her. Might help him to have something else to focus on…you know."
"He won't," I say, absolutely resolute and furious at Cole’s words. It’s like he is actively trying to put a wedge between me and Devon.
He peers at me curiously. The penny drops and his mouth drops open. "What? He's never turned anyone before?"
I shake my head smugly. “No, and if I know my oldest charge, he isn’t about to start now."
Processing that piece of information, he stares at me and then suddenly his eyes light up and he snaps his fingers. "It all completely makes sense now!" he says excitedly. "I don't know why I never realized it before!"
I narrow my eyes at him. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, please, don't be coy. You know exactly what I'm talking about. His complete devotion to you even after all this time. The reason why he hasn't left your side in over five hundred years except for a few years a couple of centuries ago. You are his whole world. He doesn't have anyone to be responsible for and has you to take care of him so that he doesn’t have to have any responsibility. Crafty son of a bitch, he’s got this all worked out.”
I’m astounded by his words and he must see it pass across my face.
"I'm sorry, Liv. That was a bit harsh. I wasn’t trying to be a dick, but I'm right, aren't I?" he questions. Before I even have a chance to say anything, he clicks his fingers again and has another ‘Eureka’ moment, adding, "And you like it that way! I bet you haven't ever encouraged him to branch out on his own! You play right into his fantasy, only now you have other people in your life who mean as much to you. No wonder he had to get some headspace. It’s fucking with his grand plan."
"Excuse me?" I hiss, utterly incredulous by his reckoning. "How dare you! How dare you cast aspersions on our relationship! You don’t know the first thing about it."
He looks a bit wary at my tone but stands his ground and says, "I told him to do it. It will be good for him to have something other than you to focus on for once in his life. You should let him if he wants to."
"He won't," I spit out. "And I will not let him tie himself to someone he isn't in love with."
"It seems quite clear that you don't have to be in love with the people you sire. Why not just let him have some fun?"
"Fun? Fun? Oh no. Not a chance. It's not his style. Don't ever push him to do it again," I say quietly.
"Jealousy is not a good look for you, Livvie."
I fix him with my most fearsome glare, cruelly enjoying his visible flinch. "It's not jealousy. I’m protecting him from making a big mistake."
"Why is it a mistake?"
"It just is for Devon, okay," I say heatedly.
He sighs. "I’m sorry we got into this. You’re right, it’s none of my business. I’m sorry for being an ass. Can we drop this now? I don't really want to spend what little time I have with you arguing about him or any of the others."
Just yet.
If what he says about Devon is true, then it only makes me more determined to contact him and talk this out. I can’t let him do something stupid in the heat of the moment.
Although surprised with my acquiescence, Cole takes it in the manner with which it was intended and kisses me back. I pull away with a smile and he smiles back. I snuggle into him again and all is well.
"Tell me about your week," he says. "You said you had a pile of shit to tell me."
"Oh, Christ, yes. It's been a bit of a hectic few days," I say, remembering everything he needs to know.
"How so?" he asks interested.
I launch into my tales of Cade, Xane, and, well, he already knows about Sebastian now.
"Cade approached you?" he asks worriedly when I finish up.
"Several times. He is a pain in the arse," I say ruefully.
"But he hasn't tried anything?"
"No, it's odd and when I confronted him about it, he said he didn't know why?"
"You confronted him?"
"Yes, I was getting tired of his games. I’m intrigued to see what happens next."
"Intrigued? Shouldn't you be more concerned? Shouldn’t you be actively trying to get rid of him?"
I’m shocked by his words. Here I thought Cole had morals that were a bit unshakeable, even under the circumstances of him being a Vampire.
"Get rid of him? I’m not going to kill him, Cole. Not when he hasn’t done anything to me. I can't explain it, but I don’t feel that he is a threat. But still, keep your guard up," I warn. "I may be invulnerable, but I just couldn't bear it if anything happened to you," I say.
He throws me his half smile that I love and says, "Grayson watches me like a hawk."
"Good," I say. "I shall have to compensate him well."
"So, Demons now as well?" he sighs.
I know what he is thinking but ignore it. “Yep. I’m going to go to Vegas on Thursday to meet with him. See what it is he has to say about his region."
"Don't go alone," he says grumpily, knowing that he can't come with me.
"I won't, don't worry, baby. I will have back-up," I say, thinking that I will probably have more back-up than I would care for. Without a doubt Lincoln will come with me, CK will refuse to stay in New York without me and I’m guessing that Sebastian will also jump on the bandwagon for a free trip to Sin City as well.
Having thus far been peered at curiously but largely left alone, it is now getting later. The younger crowd is coming out and both of us get recognized. Cole spends a few moments chatting and signing autographs and having his photo taken. I try to stay out of it, but he did want the opportunity to have a very public cuddle, so I indulge him much to everyone's delight. I feel whatever anyone might have thought about the photo of me and CK has now been forgotten as Cole and I are clearly in love and can't get enough of each other. Cole reinforces this as he says, "Well, if you will excuse us now, I haven't seen my wife for a few days, and I want her to myself now."
The fans all whoop their approval and off we go, chuckling to ourselves, back to our suite.
I take a moment to relight my candles and I feel better, but I realize I haven't had a nightly feed and mention it to Cole.
"Nightly feed?" he asks, confused.
I look away slightly embarrassed as I say, "I have to feed twice a day now. It keeps me calm."
He crosses to the bar area and pulls out an unassuming bottle from the fridge. "Emergency stash," he says and hands it to me.
"You’re perfect." I smile at him and gulp it down as he glows under my praise.
"Better?" he asks as I hand the bottle back to him to dispose of.
"Much. Thank you." I remember to text Nico and then I put my iPhone on the dock and turn the music on. I have quite an eclectic taste due to my many years on this planet and Cole loves the change from song to song.
"Now, come here, my love. I have missed you in my bed."
"Our bed," I say sternly.
"Yes, our bed," he agrees, wholeheartedly.
He takes me to our bed, slowly and seductively, walking me towards the bedroom with light kisses to my mouth, my chin, my neck. Disrobing me, his hands are all over me.
"God, I missed you, Liv. I can't bear this time apart," he murmurs.
I melt under his touch, under his words.
"I need you," he whispers.
I let him push me back onto the bed as he strips off his clothes. He crawls over me, still dropping little kisses all over me, driving me crazy.
"Take me," I whisper.
He moans in delight as I let him have his way with me. My sire self has calmed a lot since I turned Cole. I no longer feel the urge to dominate and take control of him. In fact, I quite like that he takes over and does everything he can to please me. I wonder if that has something to do with my Dragon Powers. My mother mentioned that the Dragon way is very different to the Vampire way and that I may see changes in my relationships due to my new attitude towards such things. Although, I can't say that I have wanted to be true to one as is supposed to be the way, I have definitely changed regarding how I expect to be treated: like a Queen. Which is, well, what I am.
I’m relaxing under his ministrations as he revels in being able to please me, so it seems it works out for both of us. He rises above me and slowly enters me as I writhe underneath him in rapture. He slowly, enticingly pulses in and out of my pussy, causing the utmost pleasure to shoot through me.
"Oh, yes, baby," I murmur.
He responds by speeding up and pushing me over the edge. He groans as he feels my pussy clenching around him.
"Christ, I love the feel of you," he says as he continues to thrust in and out of me at a steady pace that makes me want to die right there in his arms. "Take over," he whispers.
I don't hesitate, since he asked. Rolling us over, I ride him slowly, causing him incredible pleasure as I don't allow him to set the pace. I slide over his length gently. His cock is rock-hard inside me, desperate for a release. I drag him up by his shoulders, dropping my fangs. I want to taste him. He pulls my head towards his neck, wanting it too. He shoots his load almost as soon as I start suckling and I groan at the rush of his climax through his blood. His hands move up my back, making the tattoo ripple in delight at his touch. It makes me flex my shoulders.
"Whoa!" he says suddenly, gawking at me.
"What?" I ask in concern. "What?"
He puts his hands up above my shoulders and says, "Virtual wings."
"Virtual wings? What?"
"You sprouted wings!" he says in wonder. "Not real ones though, almost as if an extension of your tattoo."
I giggle. "Seems V.A. is happy."
He kisses me and we start all over again.
A fter Cole falls asleep, I ponder the question of first sires. What makes most Vampires decide to turn that first someone? I know for CK and the other Initial Vampires, it was all about creating a race, but what about everyone else? If Devon chooses to sire this girl, I will be devastated. As much as I don’t like to admit it, I am glad that he has never sired. I love having him all to myself. If he went off now and did it just to spite me, it would be a mistake. My own story is heartbreaking, and I don’t like to think about it too often. But now, my mind wanders back to that day that I first turned someone.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SEVEN
Duchy of Saxony – 1121 – Aefre
A fter I left Constantine, and I changed my form to that of the blue-eyed, dark-haired girl, I decided to keep it. I knew that if he came looking for me, he would never find me. He would be looking for the green-eyed, light-haired girl that he met.
She no longer existed.
I changed my name in the beginning but as I made my way into the Duchy of Saxony, I changed it back. It was t
he birthplace of my ancestors and my name reflected that lineage, after all.
I found work with a traveling healer. I was so used to having to want for nothing with Constantine’s servants and Feeders, his wealth and power, I struggled on my own. I needed work, but I had no skills to speak of. The healer took me on as I was able and strong, and the sight of blood and gore didn’t bother me. In fact, it was quite the opposite, obviously. But more than that, I wasn’t interested in the healing of the humans. I was interested to see the damage inside. To see how they hurt and didn’t heal. It had been a long time since I’d been a human, and I had forgotten what it was like to hurt. Physically, at least.
I thought Galena was a witch of some kind. I thought that was why she travelled from village to village, never staying in one place long enough for anyone to get suspicious as to her successful healing rate.
One day, we came upon a small village in the north of the Duchy, where we were offered shelter and food in exchange for her services. That was when I met Evoric. A young man, with the bluest eyes and the darkest hair. He was sweet, caring, and funny. And dying.
He had phthisis. He was dying with a cough so cruel it brought tears to my eyes because I liked him. He made me laugh when he was lucid, and we talked about where I had been with Galena and the things I had seen. He told me about his family as I soothed him when he was in pain. He knew his end was near, but he wasn’t afraid. His strength of character was one of the things I liked most about him. He made me forget about my sire. My sire that I missed more than anything. Every day, I wanted to return to Castellum Aquapontanus, but then I remembered him with that woman, her fangs in his neck, and I hated him all over again. But I loved him still, and it hurt not to be around him. To have him hold me and kiss me, to smile that smile at me that I loved so much. No, I wouldn’t go back. He had hurt me too much.
“Do not be sad, lovely Aefre,” Evoric said to me as I drifted off into my thoughts of Constantine.
“I am sad. I am sad for you. I cannot lose you,” I said as I took his hand. I came to sit with him, every day.
Galena had left to attend the next village, saying she would return for me. I had refused to go as I did not want to leave Evoric. He had no one. No one would sit with him for fear of contracting his disease and it made me sad.