Chapter 4

Silas

I stare at the woman, entranced by the realization and beauty. Lorez seems to notice this and speaks up, “She smells delightful doesn’t she? I researched that your kind are attracted to the scent of melody bee honey from the land of Rashan. I had some imported a few week ago in anticipation.”

The man has certainly been busy. I don’t like that he knows such a facts about vampires, but thankfully that is not a fact toward me. The honey is nothing but an enjoyment for me, so at least he won’t have an advantage with the knowledge. I need to be more wary of what he might know though.

I do my best to reign in the emotions in my face as he grabs her waist, pulling her to him. He takes a large inhale, his face buried in between her cleavage, and I swear I’m an inch away from throwing the table across the room. I feel Melanie’s hand on my leg, and I snap my eyes to hers. Her eyes are a swirling amber with a mix of silver. Something is going on inside her too. Whatever it is, we must be strong. Not show any emotions.

“If she is to be mine later, I would appreciate you not breathing her in as you are doing. Also, if she is mine for the night, I would very much enjoy her seated at my side. However, I defer to you for tonight,” I say as regally as possible. Lorez must have liked me adding that last bit as he whispers to the woman.

The woman then moves around the table, bows her head, and holds a curtsy near me. I signal that she may rise and pull the seat beside me out for her. She does not move.

“Ah, Duke Everwood, she is perfectly fit kneeling by your feet for the meal. She is trained as such.”

His words disgust me but I dare not change the status quo at the moment. With a light push, the chair slides quickly across the floor, almost tipping over as it reaches the end of the table. Lorez’s eyes widen slightly at my display of controlled power, and I smirk internally. I gesture for her to kneel.

She does, and the thrum inside me hurts at the sight. However, I cannot change this at the moment.

After a moment of silence for the goddess, we assembled our plates from the buffet in front of us. I know slaves at a table do not eat, but I cannot help slipping a piece of chicken under the table. She grabs it to eat, and I’m glad I can do at least this much for her. I’ll plan to slip some more as the dinner goes on.

Lorez finally speak up after a few minutes, “As you very well know, your blood moon ritual approaches. Previously, my clan has not been granted the privilege to participate.” Ahh, there it is. The real reason he partitioned a meeting and week long stay for me.

He continues, “The entry rules state that the participants must be 10 years of age in this world to enter. As such, we have reached the 10 year mark and there are a number of warriors in my clan that wish to join.” Lorez is a conniving man. He has been since he first laid claim to land here. Land that I still am baffled the King gave. I’m sure there is some shady business between those two.

“Yes, those are the rules. How many of the warriors fit those rules and do you have proof?” I say, hoping that he does not.

Lorez’s eyes brighten and claps his hands to the side. Immediately, a gruff bear of a man with a black rough beard and a scar around his eye lumbers toward him holding a large book.

Taking the book from the man, Lorez states, “We have always been meticulous with a yearly census, along with a magical signature of each persons dna so that there is undeniable proof.” He smiles a devilish smile, knowing he has cornered me. At this point, I cannot refuse their entry, and he knows it.

“Very well. I would like to verify the book at your earliest convenience. We can set a meeting for tomorrow morning to review the participants.” My words feel dry coming from my mouth. This is such a mess. I want him gone, not integrated into this world. He is evil.

After this, we went over the basics of the rituals and what all would happen should I verify the book. The steps would include the participants going and staying in a compound near my estate, as I am the closest reigning duke, three weeks before the blood moon occurs. After that, several trails commence and one victor is crowned. The victor that is crowned is granted a small fortune, a title, and a chance to lay his or her hand upon the amulet to ask the goddess for a wish. The goddess has only granted two wishes in my lifetime. One crowned the king, the second granted access to the human world. Two very big changes in our existence.

We finish eating, and are excused. When I stand up, I look to the woman on her knees and snap my fingers, signaling her to get up. I hate treating her like this, and in time, I hope she will realize that. She stand up keeping her head bowed. Lorez eyes the whole interaction with something akin to envy but moves to the door to show us our rooms.

We ascend the staircase at the front of the pack house as they call it and go to the third floor. He gestures to our door and says goodnight, leveling a cruel smirk and glaring eyes at the woman who is my other half. I keep my anger at bay and go to enter the room. Melanie, instead of going to her room, follows me into mine.