free to
fornicate at will.”
“Alrighty.
I understand.” Like hell . Another thought entered her mind. “That means
you…”
“I’m
celibate. Brant and I have never…” She blushed. How strange. Even though Tanya
was fully aware that most known facts about vampires were myths, she shouldn’t
be so surprised at normal bodily functions. Vampires were not the undead. Far
from it. They were just another species. Like humans or shifters. They were
very much alive. As far as she knew, they could age. It was said that they
lived twice as long as humans though and were tough SOBs, they could be killed
but it wasn’t easy.
“What’s
with the whole blood drinking thing anyway?” So far, this seemed to be the only
semblance the species had with the myths that surrounded them.
“We
can and do partake in food and drink. The problem is that our metabolisms are
too fast to be able to consume sufficient human nutrients to survive. For
whatever reason, blood slows down our metabolic rate. We need to drink every
few days. Also, animal blood doesn’t work, it has to be vampire or human blood.”
“Oh,
so Brant will have no choice but to go back to her?” The thought of him with
the full-of-it brunette stung still. It was just so unimaginable to her how she
could so quickly feel attached to him, in a way that made her feel so much
animosity towards the other woman. Confused, she tossed around the idea of
leaving again. After all, there had to be another way to save the vampire race.
She couldn’t be the only answer for them. Maybe there was a way for Brant to
choose again? The idea hurt so badly, that she knew it was pointless to
continue these thoughts. Just thinking about it hurt like a paper cut to the
eye ball.
“He
won’t drink from you?” Stephany sounded surprised.
“No,
he says it’s too risky, that I would be in danger.”
The
blonde remained silent for a time. She seemed to be contemplating something.
“What?”
It stung that the Stephany didn’t want to confide in her any more, although she
couldn’t blame her.
She
pursed her lips, turning her sea blue eyes on Tanya. “I wouldn’t worry too much
about it. He will have to drink from you sooner or later. Be patient and do not
let Alexandra get to you. She can be a bitch.”
Tanya
laughed, feeling a ton better.
“By
the way, we’re going out this evening,” Stephany winked. “Brant wants his
people to see the future queen. I’m sure he wants to show you off. I’ll come
back later to help you get ready.”
Tanya
smiled back. Even though she knew it was pointless, her mind turned back to
thoughts of escape again. If they were going to town, then there might be an
opportunity. The real problem was that if the time came, she wasn’t sure she
could really do it.
****
Stephany’s
dress glittered under the street light. “Please remember, our drinks are pretty
much neat alcohol. Be sure to ask the bartender for something human.”
She
gasped, “Are you telling me that we’re going to a vampire club?”
Stephany
laughed, “Of course silly. Very few humans have been permitted to cross the
threshold. It’s Brant’s club. Aorta does extremely well, even members of Zane’s
coven sneak in on a regular basis.”
“Doesn’t
it cause trouble? Fights I mean.”
“Nah.
Nowadays the beef mainly exists between the kings. They seem to think the
hatred between each other is just as bad between the covens. In reality, we get
along just fine with more than our fair share of cross matings.” Tiny diamonds
twinkled at the vampire’s ears.
“Cross
mating huh? I’ll bet.” She could just imagine. “What happened to cause the
original feud?”
Stephany’s
eyes narrowed. “Oh no. Brant can tell you but make sure you catch him in a good
mood. He hates to talk about Zane on the best of days.”
Zane,
an image of the ultra sexy, extra mean vampire came to mind. Dark, haunting
eyes. Broad, muscled shoulders. Meaty thighs encased in soft
Ernle Dusgate Selby Bradford