Tony cleaned up and left shortly thereafter. Since I was going to a Council meeting I showered again. Vampires were notorious for smelling sex on you and then telling you about it. I dressed in red. The Council had no sense of style so I liked to show them a thing or two. I wore a red, sleeveless turtleneck and red pants that were super tight over my ass and thighs but flared out gradually at the knees until they showed only the tip of a red snakeskin shoes. A red duster completed the ensemble. I wore a gold watch encrusted with rubies and two of my favorite rings.Of course I also wore my crucifix hidden beneath my shirt. I wasn't going into the Council house without a weapon.I donned black, framed glasses that had red lenses. They were so dark that I don't think a human would have been able to see out of them.I walked out of the bedroom to an appreciate audience of three—Tyler, Karen, and Monica. "Ooh, girl," Karen said. "You look good!" Karen was one of my human donors. She
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah," I grunted.We both stood. Tyler tilted her head to expose the long line of her neck. I placed my hands on her shoulder and put up a mental wall to shield me from unwanted feelings or sensations. Vampires could do this naturally, but being a Third, I had to learn this talent in a different way. Paul, my confidante, my protector, and my friend taught me the trick. It works really well for me. But Paul was not someone who I wanted to think about when I was trying not to think about lust. I concentrated on Tyler's neck. I first sensed and then saw the pulse there. Hers always beat rapidly. My teeth lowered because I had the desire to eat. And there lies the source of the control. You didn't really make the teeth do what you want. It was like looking at your hand and saying "flex." You had to have a desire that would bring the teeth, like a desire to eat, a desire to fight, or a desire to intimidate. That was the big secret that took me so long to understand.
She pulled me back to her, and I was thankful. "Kim …" "I thought Alexis loved me." I then told Tyler about the place Alexis took us to in the spirit world while my punishment was taking place in the real world. I described the little beach house nestled between the rocks on that beautiful, isolated beach. I described how he picked me up to carry me across the threshold by making up some story about how the rocks were sharp. I described how he had returned us to a completely human state while we were in the spirit world, how he revealed that we were married, and how he told me he was in love with me. He had even told me something that I wasn't ready to admit—that I was in love with three different men, but no one man had to possess me. I was my own master, and it was my decision if I wanted to be with one, two, or all three. I told Tyler about the months of playing in the ocean and barbecues on the beach and making love in front of the fireplace. I told her how he cooked breakfast fo
I leaped over the couch and lunged for him, clawing him cleanly in the chest and snapping my fangs inches from his throat. He blocked me with a forearm and held my head away from him with his hand. I screamed as my fangs met nothing but air, and it was really pissing me off.Tony sent me flying backwards over the couch. He looked down at the claw marks on his chest. "I liked this shirt," his voice sounded incredulous.I picked up and threw the couch against a puke green loveseat. "I hate it!" I leaped at him again, but this time he caught both of my wrists and held me fast. "Kim!" he shouted.The crucifix slipped out during the struggle, and Tony grimaced with a growl and turned away. I kneed him in the balls, and though he doubled over, he still held on to my wrists.Gigi, the wench, sneaked over and ripped the crucifix from my neck.Stupid, stupid move.I twisted out of Tony's grip and leaped for Gigi's throat.Tony snatched and held the back of my neck, squeezing tender ski
I materialized in the lower level of the Council house where we usually held our meetings. It wasn't a formal meeting, so we didn't have the long table out. Everyone present was lounging on the modern furniture talking like old friends.Tony was conspicuously absent.I'm sure he had to change his shirt.Malarias, Alexis' replacement, stood alone by the fireplace with his old, stooped shoulders. He was at least a thousand years old and looked every bit of it. Someone had turned Malarias when he was eighty, and with his long white robe, he would have looked more at home in a monastery than a Vampire Council house. I didn't care for Malarias at all, because when Alexis had been trying to fight for my life, he was the one who resisted saving me.All eyes were on me when I approached."Where is Tony?" Cyrene asked me coolly. No one on the Council liked me. Cyrene thought I was too low class. Keada didn't like how I got on the Council. Frank wanted to have sex with me. Kaniji still bl
Then I knew she wasn't lying. Alexis had used his mind to bring me to climax. For me, though, he had made it most enjoyable."The last time that I tried to help 'myself,' Alexis pulled my tongue out of my mouth," Kaniji continued. "Of course, you know this because you were standing there watching him do it."My husband has been a very bad boy."Where is Alexis?" I asked. I had seen a different side of an evil man. I knew that there was more to him even if Kaniji didn't."He's been exiled," Kaniji said.I tried to hide my surprise. I didn't expect her to tell me anything. "What does that mean?""It means that he has to leave all he knows, his place on the Council, and … you."My breathing grew ragged. "Why is he being punished?"Kaniji smiled. "Now that's the million-dollar question.""A million dollars is nothing to us," I said. "What do you want in return for this information?""You have nothing that I want.""Not even Tony?"Her eyes flashed at me. "You would bargain away
I closed the coffin lid and then sat on it. "Where are we?" I asked."We're about an hour outside of Barcelona," Tyler said. "Karen went ahead to the villa to make sure the arrangements checked out."They all looked worn out, except for Julie, who watched me intently. "You really scared Karen," Tyler said. "She thought you'd rip her throat out when you awoke.""She said two days, I said one, and I'm where I need to be. She has nothing to worry about. Julie, shouldn't you be at home making sure nothing goes wrong while I'm away?""I'm where you need me to be," Julie said. "I think you need me to be here with you now." "Tyler? Why are you here?""Someone has to take care of you two during the day," she replied.I knew why Monica and Karen were here. I moved to the couch across from her. "Epic Cu. What can you tell me about the place?"Epic Cu was sometimes called the birthplace of modern torture. During the Spanish Inquisition, Epic Cu provided torture devices for the Vatican.
"Karen, you are a goddess!""I'm happy you like everything," she said. "This is the first time that I've had a chance to show you what I do well. Tyler is your muscle and Monica your secretary. Kat's been decorating the hell out of your house, and Mara is your attorney. But me? I've not had an opportunity to do anything for you.""Girl, what are you talking about? You are invaluable in the territory meetings. I rely on your advice. And you keep your head straight when it comes to watching out for the other ladies."She blushed through her ebony skin. "I'll leave you alone so that you can get cleaned up.""Karen. Thank you. I'm sorry I strong-armed you. It will never happen again. I don't want to be your Master. I want to be your friend. Will you do me a favor and never call me Master again?"She nodded and smiled. "That's not a hard promise to make. I'll gladly never refer to you as Master again." "Get some rest. I know you haven't slept since last night."When Karen left, I ra