Chapter 8
Devareaux’s POV
I had come to the gala earlier, not wanting to walk in with my blood wife.
I needed to make an entrance, and I could only do that on my own.
I knew I would have to introduce Odessa once she arrived, but until then, I could use my own status, and that of my family’s, to raise me up until I had to explain I was bonded to a low blood born.
I felt I would have to ease them into it.
Before Odessa arrived though, Quinn arrived in a blazing red dress.
She raised eyes and people took notice. She looked fiery tonight.
She came straight to me, making me smile.
We had started up a friendly conversation with some general banter when I felt eyes on me.
I turned to see Odessa at the entrance of the grand room, in a very beautiful silver dress.
But compared to Quinn she looked plain and simple.
Not what an aristocrat’s blood wife should be.
I almost felt irritation at her being my bride, when I suddenly noticed her expression.
Her face was blank, which was unusual for her.
Then she looked from me to my hands on Quinn’s waist, then back to me.
I smiled at her wider, see what she would do about it.
Would she dare say something? But suddenly she turned and walked away.
I figured maybe she went to the restroom or to get something to drink.
I felt a pinch in my chest from her expression, but brushed it off.
I continued talking with Quinn a little longer, when she finally asked me, “Weren’t we supposed to meet your blood wife, Devareaux?” she teased me.
I smiled at her. “She’s around her somewhere, I’m sure.”
“But you’ve been spending all this time with little ‘ole me. She can’t possibly be okay with that.” She fluttered her eyes at me suggestively. I knew how Quinn flirted, and this was what she was doing now. It raised my hackles because I didn’t like her bringing up my wife.
In an irritated tone, I snapped, “She’s fine with it.
” But a soon as I said that, I realized I had not seen Odessa since earlier in the evening.
That left me confused. Where was she? I frowned, looking around the room, and didn’t see her anywhere.
Did she leave already? Without even speaking to me?
Letting me introduce her to society as my blood wife? Now I was frustrated.
“She’s not meant for these kinds of events.” I flipped my hand offhandedly, suddenly souring my mood. “Let’s not talk of her for now.”
I spent the next couple of hours mingling with guests, before I realized the night was winding down. I still had not seen Odessa since earlier in the evening so I assumed she went home without telling me. I would have words with her when I returned home.
It took another thirty minutes or so saying goodbye to those who mattered, and made my way out to my driver.
Chauffie appeared in an awfully quiet, agitated state.
I didn’t ask because I was already on edge from Odessa leaving without bothering to tell me.
I was glad I had engaged in the taking the night before because then I would not have to tonight.
I did not want her physically near me after she made an embarrassment of me by leaving.
Luckily, other than Quinn, no one else had asked about my blood wife, even though it had been hinted that would be occurring tonight.
Once I arrived home, even more agitated, Renald was in the front entrance, looking highly more tense than usual.
“I am not in the mood for whatever this is, Renald. Is the Madam in bed already?”
Renald looked even more agitated after I spoke. In a tight voice, Renald responded, “The Madam has left the estate.”
I jolted. “What? Oh, for goodness sakes! I’m going to bed. Let me know when the Madam returns. I need to speak with her.” I was already walking away, but I swore I heard Renald say something like, “She won’t be coming back.”
The next morning, I felt heavy and on edge. While eating breakfast, I inquired about Odessa again since she was not at the breakfast table.
Renald spoke up from his corner area, terse, “I told you, the Madam left the estate last night, sir.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. She’ll be back.”
Still in a tight tone, Renald muttered, “That’s not likely to happen.”
I grunted. “And why is that?” I was getting irritated now. This tantrum she was throwing was getting ridiculous.
“Because she took two suitcases with her and had Chauffie drop her off somewhere.”
I almost choked on my tea. “Somewhere? You don’t even know where she went?” I stared at Renald in shock.
His eyes narrowed at me, making me feel uneasy and I was starting to panic.
“She said you had made a choice and would be bringing a new Madam home.”
“What? Where did she get that idea? She’s being dramatic. Nothing happened.”
“Master, could you tell me what exactly ‘nothing’ was that Madam Odessa would feel that a new Madam would be arriving any time?”
I felt sick. She couldn’t possibly think I was going to replace her with Quinn? Yes, I had been enjoying Quinn’s company, okay maybe even disappointed that she had not been my blood wife, but that didn’t mean I wanted to replace my blood wife. Did I?
I slammed my hand down on the table, shaking those thoughts out.
“It was nothing. Odessa will just have to throw her little tantrum. Then she will come back, and we’ll resume our ways.” But I didn’t feel so sure about that. And Renald’s response did not reinforce that matter one bit.
“I wouldn’t hold my breath.”
By the second day of no word from my blood wife, I was starting to get anxious and highly agitated. I would need to take the blood soon. I needed her to come back home. I would not chase my wife while she was having a tantrum. That was all this was, right? Just a tantrum.
On the afternoon of that second day, my sister arrived for a visit. And she set me off on a whole chain of fear and desperation.
I was sitting in my home office, trying to get something, anything, done, but my nerves were shot. I needed Odessa to come back. I needed to take the blood. Renald stood in the entrance to the door, drawing my attention.
“Yes, Renald?” My tone was snappy, but I couldn’t help it.
I was starting to lose focus. I had been told that after five days, a vampyr becomes slower, sluggish until they reach the last stage.
It was called the craze. Because that was exactly what happened.
The vampyr no longer had functioning thought, body responses were violent and jerky, and the vampyr could no longer comprehend.
There was no coming back from that stage.
The only option was death. It was rare, but it had happened or we wouldn’t know the information we knew.
“Miss Estella is here.”
I grumbled and rubbed a hand down my face. I grunted, and muttered, “Let her in.”
I ha to brace myself. I wasn’t sure why she was here, but I had my suspicions. She had been unable to attend the gala for some reason or another, so she may be here to ask about Odessa.
She came swooshing in, energetic and upbeat, her eyes lit up.
It made me anxious and edgy. Estella was every bit the aristocrat, with her short light brown hair, brown eyes, and a medium shade skin tone like mine.
Our skin was darker than Odessa’s but there were some that got even darker.
She also dressed the aristocratic style to the tee with her loose crème silk blouse and a long silk beige skirt that went to he ankles.
She always wore high heels outside of the home. Her hair was pinned back at the sides.
“So where is she?”
I grimaced. “Who Estella?” I knew who, but I needed to draw her away from this topic somehow.
Her smile dipped as she rolled her eyes. “Your blood wife, silly. Of course. I missed her the other night. I heard she was quite the spectacle. Wore a red dress and all that! Scandalous!” She put and hand to her mouth, her eyes gleaming.
I flinched. “Ummmm…….Odessa left the gala early so I was unable to present her.” I paused. “And she isn’t here.”
Estella’s eyes flickered around. “Why did she leave early? Who was the woman in red then with you at the gala?” Her eyes narrowed. “And why wouldn’t she be here now?”
I looked away. “I was talking with Quinn at the event for part of the evening.” Estella huffed. “Okay, most of the evening.”
“Uh huh.” She didn’t sound impressed.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, and continued to avoid eye contact. “Odessa saw me standing with Quinn, and may have got the wrong impression.”
“And why would you think that?” She looked irritated now, crossing her arms.
“She left the gala early, came back here, packed a few things and left.” I sighed. “I don’t know where she is.”
Estella looked angry. I had never seen her this angry before. Estella was a tall vampyr at 5’8” and graceful. She had a soft elegance to her that even our mother didn’t have, but right now she looked anything but elegant or graceful. Her face was contorted in such disgust, making me unsettled.
“How could you? How could you disgrace your blood wife like that? And in public no less.”
I felt desperate and ashamed. “She was of low blood. I could not announce her as my blood wife.”
Estella’s expression flickered, but then she glared at me in pure anger.
“It doesn’t matter what level she is at.
Her blood was tasted. Her blood was meant for you.
And you deliberately disrespected and shamed her with your…
...your…..blood whore,” she roared at me.
“I hope she never returns. That is what you deserve, Devareaux.” She spun around and stormed out of my office.
Shortly thereafter, I heard the front door slam.
I needed to find my wife!
Losing control, I shouted, “Renald! Renald!”
Renald came quickly, looking on edge. “Yes sir?”
“Where is Odessa?”
He seemed flustered. “I don’t know sir.” I was ready to scream at him, when he sputtered out, “But Chauffie should. He drove the Madam.”
“Send him here! Now!”
I was losing all control. I needed to find her. I needed to get her back here. I had messed up so badly. I needed to make amends, I needed to get down on my knees and beg my wife’s forgiveness. But first, I had to find her.
Chauffie strode in a few minutes later looking tense. “Yes sir? Renald said you were looking for me?”
I got up from behind my desk, walked around swiftly and stood in front of Chauffie. “Where did you drop off Odessa?”
His eyes glazed over for a minute, as he turned his eyes away from me.
Back to her flat.”
That hit me like a punch. So, she had returned back to her old place. I needed to get her. I needed to bring my wife back.
“Take me to her. Now.”