“Rebels?” Those vamps on the causeway.
Elio sighed. “Don’t worry about that. Are you hungry?”
Hmmm. Vampire rebels could prove to be useful if they had the power to make any sort of impact. I’d keep my ears pricked for any potential usefulness to get me the hell out of here.
“Famished,” I answered, patting my exposed belly. “Don’t suppose you’ve got any mistrock cigs to hand?”
“I can get you some.”
“Thanks. So, where is our king?”
“Asleep. His bed lowers into the ground during the day.”
What? Down into a snug pit of Hell? “Awesome.”
He regarded me with cold, hazel eyes. “Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up.”
Elio went west, or at least our west, leading me down the corridor. There really weren’t any doors or windows, the damn hallway seemingly endless.
Until it wasn’t.
The lights turned red, the walls closing in. I turned at a sound behind me, an onyx wall sliding into place to block the way we’d come.
“What happened?”
“A marvel of vampire engineering.”
The ground trembled, my stomach lurching at the sensation of moving down in an elevator.
“Once we’ve established your wardrobe, we will eat breakfast,” Elio explained. “You’re not permitted to leave his chambers without me as an escort. His Majesty has assigned me with the responsibility to take you to and from your meals.” He bit his bottom lip for a moment, then smiled.
“Are you worried?” I asked.
“About what?”
“Hanging around me.”
The elf shook his head. “Your life has changed beyond all measure. You don’t belong to yourself now, but to him.” His smile was so wide it could’ve split his face in half.
“And that’s a good thing?” I grimaced.
“Being a thrall is a blessing,” he answered snootily, this elevator thingy still descending. “You’ve been given such a precious gift some can only dream of.”
Meaning I should be super grateful and kiss his arse?
That arse would be fun to kiss.
Silence, prick!
“To share in his blood is extraordinary,” he added. “Like nothing else in this world.”
My newly acquired bloodthirst stirred, ready for more of the king.
I wiped my mouth, my turn to bite my lip.
Rejecting him came with the desire to serve, the two in constant flux. One didn’t dominate the other, both made my skull ache.
I have to get out of here…
