But I don’t see him anywhere on the dance floor. He must be deeperin the club, probably enchanting some poor customer at this very moment.
When I open the door to my private suite at the back of the club, I’m not surprised to see him sitting comfortably in my favourite spot, a scantily-clad breather upside-down on his lap. He drinks from an artery in her thigh. Her head and long hair drape down over the couch, her dress bunched up around her waist.
Tudor doesn’t stop drinking, or acknowledge my presence when I enter. I close the door behind me with a conspicuousbang.
“Nice robes,” I say wryly, referring to the deep violet, academic robes he wears. He hasn’t bothered to change since coming from the academy. “So thoughtful of you to take time out of your busy teaching schedule to drop in on us.”
His gaze flicks up at me, but he doesn’t stop sucking on the thigh of the breathless human. I avoid looking at her face.
“If you’re busy, I can come at another time,” I say.
For another full minute, he drinks. My irritation starts to build. I can’t help noticing the slowing heartbeat of my Creator’s helpless victim. Her face is dazed and pale.
Now I realize the game he’s playing, and my irritation crests into anger. I cross my arms over my chest.
Only now does he pull his fangs away. A river of red gushes from the girl’s open wound and down her bare leg and hip. She must be young. Her hair is a dark brown, with a hint of red. Her eyes are…
I don’t look. I force my gaze to meet Tudor’s.
Now he speaks. “You interfered with Lazarus’s business.Again. After I expressly told you not to.”
I struggle to steady my voice. “You have no reason to be angry with me. Lazarus and Cedric were selling drugs laced with witch magic to our customers, making them susceptible to injury. The club and casino are a significant source of income for us. If they scare away the whole customer base…”
“What customer base? Thebreathers? Who cares if they’re drugged?” Tudor’s eyes narrow. “That would bebetterfor business. It brings in more vampires who can feed easily. I’m sure that’s what Cedric was thinking of. He always had a keen business sense.”
“Howcan you say that? Cedric betrayed us, he betrayedyou, hisCreator! How can you just let him go and join Lazarus?”
“Is that what this is all about? You’rehurtthat your brother left?” he smirks. “You’ve got to overcome those petty attachments, Celine. We’revampires. Betrayal and heartbreak is how we live. Your brother was offered a better deal, and he went to Lazarus. I’m not happy about it, either, but you can’t keep whining about it forever. This is why I create more progeny. So I can lose a few if need be.”
My fangs protrude slightly in anger, but I push my rage down. It’s no use shouting at Tudor, no matter how infuriating his words are. He licks a bloody lip and continues.
“We can’t let such trivial feuds break our focus. We have bigger things at stake.”
He takes the girl’s limp legs and pulls her closer to his mouth, sucking at her bleeding wound again.
She’s very still, almost not moving.
“Tudor, if you’re still thirsty, I can find you another breather. It looks like this one is almost drained.”
He doesn’t stop drinking, and I feel a hint of fear build up in my chest.
“Tudor…Father, please…you don’t need to drain that human, there are many more…”
“There are many more, and nobody will care if this one goes missing.”
He chuckles deviously at the expression on my face. My fingers itch for my dagger, but I’m forced to stop myself.
There’s nothing I can do. And he knows it.
With ancient carelessness, he tosses the girl’s body to the ground. She crumples soundlessly to the floor in a heap, no longer bleeding. Tudor stands and dusts off his long robe.
Then he whispers in my ear, “This ismyclub, Celine. My empire. And your little feud with Cedric is now over. If I catch one more whiff of your insolence, you’ll experience my full wrath.”
I close my eyes. “I understand.”
“You’d better. I wouldn’t hesitate to stake you myself. Or better yet, one of your littlesisters.Since you’re so preoccupied with your siblings. I’ll let you choose. Not Renata, she’s too useful to the operations of the hotel. Maybe Lexi, or that new one.”
“Iunderstand.”
