"Give your report, Councilwoman," he commanded. As usual, I had very little to report. Malarias didn't care about how many safe houses I had and how many human donors had been rescued from abusive vampires. He didn't want to know about our new vampire apprenticeship program that taught young vamps to stop being bottom feeders and to become business owners by teaming them up with a successful willing Master. Would he care that I had taught my minion to peacefully resolve their own problems or risk death by bringing them to me to resolve—with finality?So I spoke on redundant things that meant nothing. When I finished, he watched me in prolonged silence. "You operate … safe houses. Are they boding well?"My mouth parted in surprise. "They are. At times we have small skirmishes, but I also have vampires stationed at each house to keep violence at a minimum.""What about non-sanctioned turnings? How many have occurred in the last year?""Well … none. Not in the last twelve or so mo
Cyrene threw her hands in the air, and then she disappeared. I inclined my head in Tony's direction, grateful that he had taken the time to stand up for me. He nodded in return, and I clasped Ran's hand and together we disappeared.As soon as we were safely at my house, Ran gave me an uneasy look. "This doesn't sound like Malarias' doing."I lightly gnawed my lower lip. "Ask around and find out if other Councils are going through these changes."He nodded, and a moment later he was gone.I frowned in deep thought. What was really going on?I located Paul in our office at my desk working on my files. Damn, my selfishness had created more work for him, and that more than anything convinced me that I was going to end this. "How was the meeting?"I sat in the chair opposite him. "Weird." I detailed the events because I was married to a meticulous individual who was at his best when he knew every bit of the facts. "What do you think?"He rubbed his hands through his long hair. "W
"Oh," I said in understanding. Back in a time before degrees were needed for a certain positions, Sam had evidently proven herself. And by the time she was let go it would have meant starting all over again. That must have been very bitter for her."I took a chance that she hadn't been able to get her foot in the door at another firm and I was right. She's been working four months out of the year as a tax assistant for one of those quick tax refund companies. When I told her what we were looking for she seemed eager.""Paul, she has no idea what we are." Even though I wanted a human assistant, I assumed we would select one from our own community, one who already understood what it meant to work for a vampire.Before he could respond, his nose crinkled and he passed me the warm bottle. "BJ needs her diaper changed.""What?" I tried to hand back the bottle. "You smelled it first."He grimaced. "I can't help but smell it first! Honey, you know my stomach."I rolled my eyes but suppr
I shook my head. "I'm not much of a tea drinker." I noticed that she appeared to distrust that, and I suppressed a smile. "What do you do, Kim? Not for refreshments." Sam chuckled. "For a living."I supposed it was the witching hour, the time to mesmerize her. I stared deeply into her eyes noting that one was blue while the other was a more prominent shade of gray. "Sam, I need an assistant to help me with my personal as well as my professional affairs." I willed her to listen, to be honest, and later—if needed—I would will her to forget. Paul watched quietly from the other side of the breakfast bar."Sam, I need to ask you some questions first and then I will give you more details about the position, okay?""Yes, that's fine," she responded easily. She took well to the suggestions. I could see the glazed look that had developed in her eyes, but she continued to remain relaxed and pleasant. I found out that she had no husband, no children, and to Paul's chagrin, she offered
Sam touched her neck in a distracted way while she watched me. The skin there was a bit red in the spot where my chin had made contact with the silver. Thankfully it hadn't burned her. She dismissed my concern with a slight shake of her head. "It doesn't hurt. I'll be fine, but what about you? May I see your chin?"I didn't want her to see it, but this was the first step to complete honesty so I lowered my hand with a slight grimace. It still hurt. It was the nature of silver toward the Neratomay. Silver was like an acid. It took a while to stop actually burning even when the silver was no longer in direct contact with Neratomay flesh. Accidental contact with silver maimed countless vampires each year. It took mere moments to lose a limb to the deadly metal. However, a limb lost to silver would eventually regenerate. I was proof of that. Sam reached up and touched the puffy area around the burn. "It's hot to the touch! Paul, bring a cool cloth. Kim, you didn't touch that necklace
Paul watched me closely, silently."I'm not like other vampires." Please don't ask me anymore about that. I urged her silently, and she took the suggestion, probably without even knowing that I had given her one. But it was obvious that she was a sharp one."I don't see why there should have been a punishment anyway," Sam said. "After all, it was a life and death situation in which he spared your life."My chin felt good enough to remove the damp towel. "Politics. Vampires have politics just as humans do. They don't like me so they've tried many things to get me out of the way." I smiled sadly. "I have a good network of friends who help me, and so far I've been able to prevail over their desires. So far."Sam nodded and then looked at Paul. "I have a million questions." She turned back to me. "But the only one that I need you to answer now is this: Are you planning to kill me?"I gasped. "No! I would never do that. I've never killed a human. I never will." As the lie slipped from
I was really thankful that my ladies had worked it out amongst themselves to sit for me. I could hire a human nanny—or au pair as Sam had called it—but I would never rest comfortably unless my daughter was with someone who could protect her, someone with enhanced senses, and someone who was family."Hey Chica, I'll be there in five. Everything okay?""Yes, see you when you get here. Paul just put Julie to sleep." "Well damn, but she never sleeps long. I'll hang around until she's awake." "Cool. Her eyes have been changing. You gotta see it!""I can't wait. I'm pulling up to the drive.""Use the key, and Mara? I'm sorry but the succubus … she's not been fed—and I'm really hungry … both ways."I felt her sigh but not totally in displeasure.The succubus surpassed sexual orientation. As far as I could tell none of my ladies were anything but heterosexual and yet any of them would gladly have sex with me. In the past we've pushed the envelope more times than I can count.Paul re
Mara cried out pulling me tighter. I don't remember us embracing, but we were gripping each other in some type of strange blood dance. It was something Alexis would do with his feet levitating from the ground. The two of us hovered inches from the ground, and I spun us slowly in a circle. I had never hovered, and I was aware of it only in a detached, disinterested way.Not me … the succubus. That was its power. Alexis was succubus, too, and that was why he hovered and moved without using his feet. Dear God …I suddenly felt Paul's hand lightly touching the back of my neck. His other hand lightly touched the back of Mara's. He was pushing us downward, back to the floor. When my feet touched the floor I wanted no more of this new ability. I pulled my teeth from her neck.Blood shot out on me. I'd made such a mess, but I didn't trust myself to put my mouth on her again. I reached out with my fingers—four of them because of the four holes that I'd left in her neck, and I staunched the