Chapter 14 #3
I stared at him for a long moment, unsure what to feel. His words seemed sincere, but this was the Prime. He was an expert at making people feel things. “Okay.” Eloquent as always, Alex.
“I would like to make it up to you.”
My mother’s words floated in my mind. Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Except this time a vampire and a wolf were involved.
“You fed me. Let me keep the earrings and we’ll call it good.
” Alric could surely afford a pair of prehnite earrings.
In fact, he could probably have a truckload of them delivered and not even notice the transaction in his bank account.
“A meal and a pair of earrings is a paltry peace offering.”
“It’s the only one I want.”
Alric sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers over his flat stomach. “Let us say I believe you will not reveal what happened in that alley. Why should I trust you won’t blackmail me later?”
I groaned. “Because I was perfectly content until your vampire showed up at my coffee shop and attacked me after dinner. I want nothing to do with any of this. If you want to make amends, force Beckett to leave me alone.”
“Ah,” Alric said. “About that. Since I discovered your miraculous recovery, there is another matter we must discuss. That, more than anything, is the reason I invited you here tonight.”
I knew he hadn’t done this out of the kindness of his heart. “I’m listening.”
“The vampire’s attack wasn’t only physical. He left something behind.”
My stomach twisted. “Oh?”
“Do you know anything about vampiric abilities?”
Not that I would tell him. I shrugged. “I’ve read some things.
” Lying to him was not wise. I had to tell the truth while keeping the bulk of my knowledge to myself.
No supernatural wanted stories of their weaknesses revealed.
While no one could hide everything, the vampires had tried their best to wipe every text with their history and anatomy off the map.
Humans believed vampires were reanimated corpses.
Not quite the truth. Vamps weren’t dead, not exactly.
Humans could technically die and be brought back to life still possessing all their faculties.
They woke up the same person they were when they died.
Vamps were similar, except their DNA came back fundamentally altered.
They were neither dead nor alive. Vampires were something in between and driven by hunger.
Some regained their former self, though none could live with their human families again—at least not until they gained control of their bloodlust. None chose to do so once they had, electing instead to live in Hives.
A faint smile tipped Alric’s lips up. “We all possess different abilities, but when we share blood with a human, we maintain a measure of control over them. As long as the link exists, a vampire has certain sway over their victim.”
“I’m a witch.”
“I’m aware.”
“Then you know what you’re implying is impossible.” As I said the words, a cold shiver walked down my spine. Those side effects I’d been experiencing, hearing the blood rush in a human’s veins, the craving to taste their blood…
“Beckett has an unusual gift, Ms. Damona. I’m afraid even a witch might not be immune.”
There was no way to know if Alric knew I’d tasted his Prime blood that night in the alley. If he did, he was being circumspect. Were my weird side effects a result of Beckett or the Prime?
“I think I’ll take my chances.”
He uncrossed his hands and leaned forward, his bright green gaze pinning me in place. “Have you had any odd symptoms over the last several days?”
“Where’s Beckett?” I asked instead of answering his question.
A look of fury flicked over Alric’s face, there and gone in an instant before his face settled into a placid, unconcerned expression. “I have people looking for him. He’ll be found soon enough.”
“So you do know him.” I snorted. Even half-dead, I’d realized he was lying during that conversation in the alley!
Alric didn’t respond. He lifted his wine glass and sipped, watching me like a hawk over the rim.
Realization hit me like a truck. “You can’t call him off because you can’t find him. And you want me to help you.” A laugh escaped me. “You must be out of your mind. Why in the world would I help you?”
Alric’s jaw tightened with displeasure. “As Prime, my responsibility is to keep every citizen of this city safe.”
His words stung. He’d forgotten someone. “Except for me.” I scoffed. “You forgot about the woman you left bleeding to death.” I tapped the table with my index finger. “A woman who would not have almost died had she not run into you two!”
I felt confident Beckett wouldn’t have killed me right away had he caught me. He seemed like the type of vamp to play with his food. Whether I would have lived long was debatable. Since I was winning this argument, I kept my mouth shut about that part.
Alric tried to hold my stare and couldn’t. Good to know he possessed at least some sense of shame.
I continued. “This is a total PR disaster for you. You have no true desire to make any amends with me. All you want is Beckett and you don’t care if I lose my life in the process as long as I help you get what you want.”
Alric’s eyes began to glow. “Miss Damona, your life is in danger.”
I rolled my eyes. “My life has been in danger the moment Beckett walked into my coffee shop.” Disgust filled me, and I pushed my chair back. “My life was in danger when I stumbled into you and the Shifter King fighting in an alleyway.” I picked my purse up. “I owe you nothing, Mr. Methinas.”
“Please sit, Alex. We’re only on the second course.”
“My appetite seems to have disappeared.” I turned and headed toward the door.
“Miss Damona.”
“Please call Leo.”
A heavy sigh sounded from behind. “Alex. Please.” When I didn’t stop, his chair scraped back. “Alex. I—” Another sigh. “Shit.”
I almost laughed.
“I fucked up, okay? In a massive way. I am trying to make amends, but you are not making this easy on me.”
I stopped and whirled toward him. “Easy?” I hissed, rage filling me. “You left me to die!”
“Yes.” His face was serious. “And I have regretted it every day since.” He gestured toward the table. “Please.”
At my glare, he held his hands up in surrender.
“I won’t ask anything of you. The chef has been working for hours to make all these dishes and if we don’t try all of them, I’m afraid he’ll quit for good this time.
” He gave me a sheepish smile. “Cory is temperamental on a good day. He quits at least once a month, but I’m skating on thin ice this week. ”
My resolve softened. Alric seemed so… human. And I did love pasta.
But I had to remember, I was no one special. This is how a rich man always wooed a woman, even if he had zero romantic interest. Woo her with good food and wine, flatter her or terrify her, Alric was doing a great job at it all, then boom, spring the condition on her.
You’ll get to have this fine wine and fancy dinner forever if you only do this…
“Please,” he said. “The moment dinner is finished, Leo will escort you home.” He laid a hand over his heart. “Scout’s honor.” At my look, he winced. “Too far?”
“Too far,” I agreed. But I was starving and a free meal made by a trained chef was hard to pass up. And I was already here, after all.
“Very well. I take it back. You have my word as Prime that Leo will escort you home as soon as you take your last bite, and I will leave you alone.”
Alric Methinas was dangerously charming.
“No funny business,” I warned.
“I would never.”
I rolled my eyes but retook my seat, pretending I didn’t notice Alric’s look of relief.
The third and fourth courses came back to back, and Alric was true to his word. He made no more requests and did not push for information.
Instead, he spoke about flowers and gardening and asked me questions about the practice of hedgewitchery. He was an intelligent and witty dinner companion, and I found myself charmed in spite of myself.
Several times during our conversation, I felt myself leaning in, listening a little harder, watching him a little closer.
The Vampire Prime was a beautiful, articulate, and intelligent male.
Why had I been so scared of him? My fingers itched to trace the sharp line of his jaw, down the column of his pale throat.
I clenched my fists in my lap, resisting the almost overwhelming urge to touch him.
If I didn’t know better, I’d suspect he was weaving a spell on me.
My fingers brushed one of the charms on the bracelet I wore.
A soft pop of air and my thoughts suddenly went crystal clear.
My stomach dropped to my feet at the realization of what had just happened.
Alric’s quiet laugh wove around me. “I would have liked it if you touched me,” he said softly.
I hurtled to my feet, my chair clattering to the floor. “You sonofabitch!”
Alric’s smirk made me want to haul myself across the table and wrap my hands around his neck.
“I wondered how long it would take you to notice. Not bad, little witch.”
“You and I are done.” I snatched my purse off the table and spun on my heel.
The bastard laughed. “Dinner isn’t finished!”
This time I didn’t pause. My heels clacked on the stone floor as I headed out the door.
My face burned with embarrassment and fury.
He knew I’d consumed his blood and had proven his point by weaving a subtle spell of control around me, hoping to use it to force me to do his bidding, guessing his power would work on me regardless of my witch blood.
But what he didn’t realize was I always wore a failsafe to alert me to spells, and I hadn’t thought to test the possibility until I felt the almost overwhelming urge to touch him. I never wanted to touch anyone. I’d been such a fool to accept his invitation.
The sound of footsteps behind me didn’t make me slow my own steps until a soft feminine voice spoke.
“Alex. A moment if you will.”