Chapter 10
Devareaux’s POV
After leaving Odessa’s flat, without my wife, I realized how badly I messed up.
I could be losing my wife. Yes, I would be looked down upon in society, across the board, but somehow that meant nothing to me.
The actual thought of Odessa not returning with me devastated me.
I had grown accustomed to her presence, her softness, her humor.
If I had stripped away all the intricacies of the stations, Odessa would have been my perfect match.
She was my opposite, but in all of the best ways.
She saw beauty and charm where all I saw was expectations.
She was gentle and engaging while I was always putting on a performance.
As soon as I entered the car, I informed Chauffie of his new instructions.
He appeared relieved, but I wasn’t sure why.
During the ride back, I sat with my thoughts, my memories of living with Odessa.
She didn’t appear to fit in with the surroundings of the estate, but after observing her flat, I could see why.
Our estate was very formal, structured, cold, and almost blank in comparison.
Although her flat had been incredibly small, and even somewhat bare, it had a homey feel to it.
I was positive that had more to do with the person filling the space than the space itself.
I would have to make some changes to the estate.
Make it more comfortable for Odessa. Help her feel welcomed there.
It, after all, was our home. I know she denied it being hers, but I would not think differently.
It was our home, and I would make it our home.
I just needed time to persuade my wife to return permanently.
Memories of watching my wife interact with the staff settled in my chest. She was warm and welcoming to all of them.
I knew they were all low blood borns, but I had witnessed a detachment among them when Odessa came.
I never bothered to ask about it, but Odessa turned that around quickly.
Within a week, she was talking, joking, and laughing with all of them.
The maids, the landscapers, Chauffie, Renald, and Miss Gloria.
It truly had become her home, even if she didn’t see it or feel it.
I would make a better effort moving forward.
When Chauffie dropped off Odessa that night, I was anxious but excited.
Three days without touching her had been a living nightmare.
I hadn’t realized how accustomed I had come to simple touches, holding her in bed, smelling her hair, breathing in her scent.
Even her voice somehow settled me. And I had fucked it all up.
I struggled keeping my hands to myself when she arrived.
She looked tired, but I offered her dinner.
She said she ate with her parents earlier so she wasn’t really hungry. She had a bag with her.
“Ummm….what’s in the bag?” I tried to sound casual.
“My clothes for tomorrow.”
“You still have clothes here.”
She shook her head, her expression blank. “Those are not my clothes. They should be returned since I doubt Quinn could fit into them.”
I flinched and clenched my fists. “Quinn will not be coming here, Odessa. I thought I made that clear. I have no interest in her.”
“But once we have ended the marriage, I am sure she will need clothes once she becomes your blood wife.”
I was getting agitated, so without thinking it through, I reached out and took Odessa’s hands in mine, and held them firmly in place. Her eyes came to mine, looking wary.
“The only blood wife I will take is you, my lovely, Odessa. Only you.”
She simply hummed and pulled her hands away. I sighed.
“We should talk about how long this will take.”
I frowned at her. “How long what will take, Odessa?”
“For you to legally end our marriage. Then you can take the blood with your new partner, or…...whatever.” She waved her hand in the air.
I realized we were still standing in the entrance way for the rest of the staff to hear our conversation, so I encouraged her to come with me to speak privately.
I couldn’t help but put my hand at her back when I guided her to my office.
She tried to move away from me, but I maintained my position.
She quickly took a seat across from my desk, forcing me to either sit behind the desk and face her or stand beside her.
I chose to stand beside her. I hoped proximity would influence her decision.
Probably a bad idea considering I needed to take the blood and I could practically taste her delicious blood scent on my tongue.
“Odessa, my dear, I have no intentions of legally ending our marriage.”
She huffed and put her hand up to stop me.
“You made the public statement to be seen with a woman not your blood wife.” I went to respond a rebuttal, when her hand jerked towards me to stop me again.
“You made that choice, and now I am simply giving you the space to have what you really wanted, a mid or high blood born partner. As to such, I would like this marriage legally ended by the two month marker, as I will no longer come to your home for the taking. That is my limit.”
I felt my soul crushing in, the pounding of my heart in my ears as she gave me a deadline to end our marriage so she could stop coming for the taking. I was devastated. But two months. That gave me two months to change her mind. Prove I loved her, prove I wanted only her.
“I will stay in the guest room,” I started shaking my head, her hand up to stop me yet a third time.
“That is not up for discussion. I will stay in the guest room where you will take the blood. Once I rest and able to, I will leave at early morning. I will have Chauffie drop me off early enough for me to drop off my change of clothes at my flat before work in the morning.”
That meant she would have to be up really early to get back in time to change and be at work. I did not like that.
“Next time, bring your uniform and have Chauffie drop you off straight at work. Leave your clothes from the night before here, and I will have Miss Gloria clean them for you.” I hoped by making accommodations she would come to realize I wanted what was best for her.
She just nodded.
“I know you said you were not hungry, but would you join me for dinner for conversation?” She started to protest when I added, “Miss Gloria could serve you one of the new pastries she made for a dessert?”
I knew Odessa enjoyed Miss Gloria’s cooking, and had actually given Miss Gloria tips for cooking while she had been here.
I had actually enjoyed the added changes Odessa had encouraged.
Miss Gloria would tell me privately about the changes so as not to put the Madam of the house on the spot.
I had appreciated how the staff took to my wife so easily.
The staff in my parents’ home was way more formal.
Even Estella loved my staff better than our staff during our upbringing.
“Well, I couldn’t possibly miss one of her yummy pastries, so I guess I could join you.” She had a small smile on her face. I took this as a win, however small it was.
She appeared to enjoy her pastry while I attempted to eat quickly. I didn’t want her leaving the table too early. I did manage to get her to open up a bit about her visit with her parents, although she was a bit aloof about giving me too many details. I knew I had a lot of work to do ahead.
During the taking that night, I pushed a little more.
I decided to take more of Odessa’s blood than I had been.
I had gotten close to losing control, but was able to pull back just when I thought I had taken enough.
She did not seem fazed at all, which left me feeling immense relief.
Her blood was overwhelmingly addictive, but I did not want to harm my blood wife.
Over the next almost two months, as the deadline loomed ahead of me, I continued to invite Odessa in for dinners whenever possible.
Some days she would accept, others she would not.
But the conversations, no matter how much I tried to pull from her, were stilted.
She maintained a detached distance from me.
It wounded me that I had done this much damage to us.
I continued to push a little at each taking, to take a little more of her blood, just in case I did lose her.
I had attempted to persuade her at every visit to stay longer, to allow me to have her driven to work from our home, but it did not deter her one bit. I was losing faith in my ability to keep my wife, and I no longer knew what to do. I was starting to spiral, and could not fathom losing her.