“He knows he’s not powerful enough to be a threat to me,” Crimson replies, in a matter-of-fact tone. “But he’s allied with another vampire, Oana Ionescu. Together, they pose a…more significant concern.”
There’s a flicker of worry in my chest. I hadn’t considered the possibility that there are other vampire clans that could potentially harm Crimson and the Night vampires. Even though I’ve only been at the mansion a few months, it’s starting to feel like…well, it’s starting to feel likehome. And the idea of anyone hurting Crimson is unbearable.
“I didn’t realize you were dealing with that,” I tell her, honestly. “Is there anything I can do, to help?”
She gives me an odd look. I guess the other donors aren’t very interested in vampire politics. “That’s sweet of you to offer. You’ve already helped, of course. I wanted to disarm Cedric, to demonstrate that I’m not to be trifled with, and you certainly helped me with that.”
With a chilly finger, she traces the line of my jaw. It sends a wonderful shiver through my body. She definitely still has the power to thrill me, but I find that the more time I spend with her, the more comfortable I am with her, the more bold I feel.
I respond with a grin. “Happy to be of service,my king.”
Her eyes shimmer. “Now, let’s finish this back in my crypt,” she says. “I can think of some other things you can…helpme with.”
I shriek with joy as she lifts me up in her arms, and carries me away.
CHAPTER 23: HEARTS STARVE AS WELL AS BODIES
Crimson
Murad bellows with laughter, distilled blood spilling over the side of his glass. “And thenIsaid, ‘If you’re going to drink from so many shifters, you need to stop buying such expensive suits!’ And then he ripped itagain!”
I clutch my stomach, red tears streaming down my face. “It’s true! He couldnotcontrol his shifting forat leastthe first two decades.”
“I told him,” Murad says, shaking his head. “If he stuck to one group of shifters, fine. But he was all over the place! Wolves, bears, panthers…did you know there areowlshifters?”
“No…”
“Yes! Tudor found an ancient clan of owl shifters, living in Germany, I think.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Hereallywanted to be able to shift. He was so obsessed, it was almost adorable.”
“This one’s done,” I say, finishing off the last of our most recent bottle.
I stand and cross to the wooden cabinet at the side of the large room. We’re drinking distilled blood in Murad’s library-study, on the second floor of the mansion. It’s a cavernous room stuffed to the brim with old texts in Arabic, Latin, English, Persian, Greek, Turkish, and a dozen more languages I can’t even recognize. Thick tomes are piled haphazardly across wooden tables doted with flickering candles, half-full bottles of distilled blood, and vases of roses from the garden outside.
Murad is one of those vampires who uses his immortality to collect rare books and antiques. He’s amassed quite an impressive collection, and his library continues to grow. When he requested to join our clan several decades ago, he joined on the condition that he couldhave a library here at the mansion. Xavian was happy to oblige. He’d never touched the dusty rooms on the second floor. So Murad moved in.
I’m glad he did. Murad’s an old vampire - only a few decades younger than me - and while he brought several progeny with him when he joined our clan, he never made a move for Xavian’s seat, or threatened his power. I think he prefers to have the pressure on someone else, so he can enjoy a good book and the mansion’s many donors without the stress that comes with leadership.
That’s my burden, I suppose.
I grab another bottle and quickly uncork it. As I pour, I catch a glimpse of the label. “Uh oh, we should be careful!” I point to the image of a seashell. “Wouldn’t want to grow a fin by accident.”
“Well, I’veneverheard of a mer-vampire,” Murad says, taking his glass.
“First time for everything.”
“If it’s anyone, it’ll be Kai.”
I sigh. “Don’t remind me. Can you believe that they’re engaged to that oversized salmon?”
Murad gives me a look. “Young love, you know. If you try to stop them, they’ll just dig their fangs in.”
“Ihaveto stop them, Murad,” I groan. “You know how the dolphin shifters are, they’ll be furious if we throw a whole wedding for Kai and amerman. Vampires never marry. And if they do, it’s for a political alliance. The shifters will take it as a slap in the face.”
“So let them,” Murad counters, with a provocatively raised brow. “They seem genuinely happy together, Crim. Are you really going to keep them apart?”
