Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
LAYDEN
Breakfast at Vlad’s compound means a big meal with my whole family who are still gathered here.
We all came for sanctuary, and they stayed on once Vlad tricked my brother into the blood oath that meant I had to marry Phoenix.
Our castle back home had been destroyed so everyone might as well stay for the wedding since they were already here.
But any time my whole family gathers, it means chaos. We can’t help it. Being at Vlad’s compound has everyone more on edge than usual.
A bigger breakfast table had to be brought in, considering usually it’s only Phoenix that eats actual food.
As soon as the nuptials were announced—or should I say, decreed—Vlad was suddenly more than happy to make accommodations for the rest of us.
He had his minions clear out a storage room as a dining room—one of the few rooms in the compound with rows of windows.
The morning light streams through those windows in golden shafts, illuminating dust motes in the air. It’s beautiful in a way that feels almost mocking, given the darkness that permeates the rest of this place.
It’s not that Vlad and his family can’t go out in sunlight like all the legends about vampires say; they just greatly prefer not to. Something about how it pains their eyes and gives them headaches. Plus they see much better at night, like most nocturnal creatures.
In spite of the fact that he doesn’t eat normal food, Vlad insists on joining us for breakfast every morning. He sits at the head of the table and just keeps the two windows nearest to him heavily shaded so he can stay comfortable.
As soon as Phoenix and I appear, he claps his hands and stands up with a smile on his face.
It is not a pleasant sight when Vlad Tepes smiles.
The few times I’ve seen him flash his teeth at me, his fangs only slightly more apparent than the rest, I always got the impression that he’s about a millisecond from ripping my throat out.
I know a savage predator when I see one.
Apparently so does Ksenia and Kharon’s baby, Luna, who starts to cry at the other end of the table. Good instincts, kid.
I look away from Vlad toward the rest of my family.
Apparently, we’re late to the show. Everyone else is already seated.
Abaddon and his wife, Hannah, sit nearest Vlad with their toddler, Raven, between them.
Her black wings flutter behind her, but she remains seated for now as she plays with the silverware in front of her.
Then there’s Ksenia and Kharon with their baby girl.
And finally, my conjoined twin brothers Remus and Romulus—it appears Romulus is awake and in control of their shared head at the moment—with their consort Lauren.
The two seats on either side of Vlad remain open. How nice. He’s given Phoenix and me pride of place. Or no one else wanted to sit beside him. Likely the latter.
I also don’t miss that Vlad has several of Phoenix’s so-called “uncles” stationed around the shadowed corners of the room. He never enters a room without them. They’re ostensibly his guards, but he just likes to keep them around as creepy reminders that he’s always in control.
Phoenix takes her chair first. As I move to sit between her and my brother Kharon, her hand brushes mine briefly—an accident, maybe, but I feel it like a spark of electricity. She pulls back quickly, not meeting my eyes.
Vlad lifts his hand and makes a gesture with his wrist. Women dressed in barely decent thigh-high red robes come in, each carrying a steaming breakfast plate for all the “eaters” at the table. In a synchronized motion, they set the plates down in front of us.
I cover my distaste and nod my thanks to the woman who delivers mine. Her eyes are distant, almost void. She doesn’t respond. I wonder if she can even see us.
I feel Hannah’s discomfort from across the table.
Her anger radiates through the space between us.
This has been a point of contention since my family arrived and discovered that these women are Vlad’s family’s blood slaves.
They’re just kept around as regular drinking sources whenever Vlad or his sons need feeding or other comforts.
It’s distasteful and occasionally puts me off my dinner. Or breakfast, as it were.
The food in front of me looks amazing, though. I suppose one of the women must be a chef. My plate has a fluffy omelet topped with herbs. There are strawberry crepes dusted with sugar beside it. The thick-cut bacon smells like maple smoke.
I eat in spite of my churning stomach because I heard Vlad yelling at them one night when we didn’t eat enough.
It won’t really satisfy my hunger, but nothing ever does.
Doesn’t matter if I stuff myself with a feast or just drink broth.
I don’t mind it, not when it means I can control whether or not I inflict it on others.
I’m glad my brothers and their families will be getting out of here today. I’m just sorry Phoenix had to grow up in this toxic environment. It’s only more of a testament to the strong person she is.
I take a bite of my food as Phoenix politely asks her grandfather how his business dealings are going. Her voice is carefully neutral, filling the awkward silence that has fallen over the table. She’s trying to keep things civil.
Vlad waves a hand impatiently. “The only business I care about at the moment is you. Tell me he rode you thoroughly enough to breed you last night.”
Gasps come from the women around the table.
Vlad ignores them and stares pointedly at Phoenix.
She glares back at him, but her voice stays level. “Don’t be vile. There are children at the table.”
Vlad sniffs the air and narrows his eyes. “I don’t smell the scent of fucking on you.”
Abaddon jams his chair back and stands in fury, but I take my cues from Phoenix. She’s quietly furious. I know she wouldn’t want me making a display on her behalf.
“Not that it’s any of your business how I conduct myself in my marriage, but I showered this morning.” Her tone is ice.
Vlad leans in, face hard. “You should have been fucking this morning.”
I’ve had enough. But before I can say anything, Phoenix is already there.
She buries her knife into the table between her and Vlad. The sound echoes through the room.
“You might get to say who and when I marry, but the biology of when I conceive is something beyond either of our control.” Venom drips from her voice. “You will stay the hell out of my sex life. Don’t push me.”
I feel a surge of pride watching her stand up to him. She’s magnificent when she’s angry.
Vlad glares right back at her. The entire room holds its breath in the strained silence that follows.
Vlad finally breaks out in a low chuckle that releases the room’s tension. “That’s my girl. Fine. I’ll stay out of your sex life, but don’t think for a moment that I don’t expect results. By this time next year, I expect to be a proud grandpapa.”
“It hasn’t gotten old already?” Phoenix can’t help the snide comment as she gestures to the four men in the corners. We both know his “sons” are actually grandsons going back untold generations.
“None so interesting as you, my lovely,” Vlad says as he reaches out a hand to caress Phoenix’s face.
She jerks back from his touch. I feel her shudder beside me.
Vlad just smiles that predator’s smile again.
I wish I could kill this bastard. Phoenix swears he’s untouchable, and I understand her reasons. But watching him touch her makes something dark and violent stir in my chest. Watching her recoil from him makes me want to rip his throat out.
To my right, little Raven suddenly flies up out of her chair. She evades her mother’s arms as Hannah tries to reach for her.
“Raven, honey, you know we sit while we eat breakfast,” Hannah tries.
Raven’s little face is contorted as she points a finger at Vlad.
“Bad,” she pronounces loudly.
Then the small toddler flies up and out of her chair at Vlad like a little bullet.
We’re all so shocked that no one moves in time to do anything about it. All of us, that is, except for Vlad’s sons. One of them shoots from the nearest corner and snatches Raven out of the air by her wings a moment before her little snaggle-toothed fangs can connect with Vlad’s face.
“Filthy meat-eaters,” Vlad’s son snarls at her.
Raven’s not finished with her surprises for the morning, apparently.
Suddenly, she transforms in Vlad’s minion’s hands from a cute little toddler into something else entirely.
We all gasp as she lets out an animal growl and shapeshifts into some sort of monster three times her size.
She opens her mouth to reveal three rows of razor-sharp teeth.
A tail whips out from behind her, covered in spikes.
Her torso becomes furry and heavily muscled.
Instead of being cute and fluffy, her wings stretch out behind her like a huge, mutant bat with leathery, veined membranes.
Vlad’s minion drops her at the same time that she shoves him back.
When Vlad’s minion grabbed her cousin’s wings and snatched Raven out of the air, Luna began crying.
As the vampire flies back from Raven’s shove, a portal opens behind him.
He doesn’t even have a chance to realize what’s happening before he disappears into the shining man-size pool hanging in the air like a liquid mirror. Then it closes up behind him.
Right after, Raven transforms back into her adorable child self and hovers to the side of Vlad’s chair. Her fluffy wings flap madly as she looks at where Vlad’s son disappeared.
There’s a moment of silence as the rest of us do the same.
It’s broken by Vlad clapping loudly as enjoyment transforms his angular features. “Such delightful allies I have as in-laws.” He looks at Phoenix and me with a dark, avaricious tone. “I can’t wait until we get our own.”
“Raven!” Hannah jumps up and holds her arms out to her daughter. “Get away from him.”
“Father,” another of Vlad’s sons objects. “Make them bring Avram back!”