Chapter 15 #2
The cafeteria often planned meals around the daily theme, and she looked forward to seeing what they did with the food. She caught the scent of rich, savory aromas while she was still in the stairwell — gamey moose, buttery mashed potatoes, and possibly turkey, too.
Emmy loaded her plate with what the placard said was shepherd’s pie, but it looked like a fancy dessert.
She’d been right about the turkey, and she grabbed a giant leg by the bone and settled it on her plate. Then a stack of what promised to be rare roast beef tea sandwiches.
And finally, she grabbed a few cucumber sandwiches and some scones for the hell of it.
Rhea motioned her over when she turned to the tables, and she sat beside her.
“Felix is on your other side,” Rhea said. “He ran downstairs to get his battery. Phone’s about to die.”
Emmy laughed. “Oh, no! The horror!”
Everyone laughed, and she smiled at the rest of the table before poking her fork into the pie — and was pleasantly surprised to discover the little sign had been correct. The piping on top was mashed potatoes, not icing, and the inside was full of yummy lamb goodness.
She looked at Felix’s plate and noted a huge mushroom stuffed with … she wasn’t sure what. Veggies and maybe cream cheese, or some kind of cheese. Or was that rice?
Felix returned, and Emmy stood to hug him. He squeezed her back, kissed her cheek, and the two took their seats. Felix settled the battery and phone on the other side of his plate, and dug into his portobello.
Rhea took a huge bite of her turkey leg, chewed and swallowed, and told her, “So, our lucky hare has been living the dream life while you’ve been buried in rabbit DNA.”
Felix flushed, but his grin was pure, unrepentant bliss.
“Master Vexare has booked me every day except one for a solid week. And he delivers—” He shivered a full-body ripple of remembered ecstasy.
“He’s beyond cruel, and he delivers the most exquisite pain.
There’s no slow build with him. You accept it because there is no choice, and yet, it crashes over you like a wave you never want to end. ”
Emmy wanted to hug him all over again, this loyal, playful masochist who’d become a close friend, his joy infectious even when she wanted to be grumpy.
“The other vampires call him Vex,” Rhea said, and Emmy’s eyes went wide.
“Oh. Tall, dark, and handsome while oozing danger?” She turned to Felix. “Fuck, if he’s as cruel as the energy he gives off, then I have to say congratulations, and I’m happy for you.” She shuddered. “Also, better you than me.”
Maren chuckled. “Right there with you, but our boy is smitten.”
“Dude lives in Prague,” Rhea said, “but rumor has it, he petitioned Zander for the right to come to Alaska months ago, and will be arriving in Fairbanks early next year.”
“You think this might turn into something?” Emmy asked Felix.
He blew out a breath. “I’m afraid to hope, and yet I’m kind of desperately doing just that.”
Emmy leaned to the side and kissed his cheek. “Then I hope all your wishes come true, and you find yourself with the bestest, cruelest master who adores you all the way to your soul.”
“Speaking of adoring masters,” Rhea said, “We’ve barely seen you. Spill, girlfriend.”
Emmy shrugged and popped another roast beef mini sandwich in her mouth.
“I’ve been spending ten and twelve hours a day on my thesis. Sequencing, mapping breakdowns, building models. Not much gossip in that.”
Felix leaned in and sniffed, then looked at Rhea.
“I am horrified to scent truth in her words. How sad is that? Living with a submissive wolf and a Master Vampire, and she’s all work and no play? That may be the most depressing thing I’ve heard in months.”
Laughter rippled around the table, fond rather than mocking, and Emmy felt the warmth of it settle in her chest. These people had become her chosen family, and she missed their warmth and their chaos.
“Zander has been busy, and Spence puts food in front of me when I forget to eat. I have a lot of work to do before we return to Anchorage, so I can hit the ground running with live trials. It works out, since the two of them are busy keeping all the vampires entertained. I figure that will change once we return to Anchorage.”
Conversation drifted to the evening’s frenzy and the excitement of playing the part of Alice, for the women, and the March Hare, for the men.
The costumes were detailed and exquisite.
The vampires would be either The Mad Hatter or the Queen of Hearts, depending on gender, and it promised to be a wild evening.
“Can’t wait to see Spence with hare ears,” Felix teased, waggling imaginary ones. “He’ll look adorably deranged.”
Rhea snorted. “And Zander as the Hatter? All that cool control cracking into madness? Deadly.”
Emmy laughed with them, the easy camaraderie wrapping around her like a blanket — good friends, fun gossip, and the promise of dark theatrical sex.
And while she was in a good mood, she called her mother when she returned to her suite, before she started getting ready for the frenzy. She was growing to enjoy these video chats, hearing about her siblings, telling her mom about her thesis progress. It was grounding, and it felt good.
Later that night, while she removed her Alice makeup, Zander stepped to the doorway and leaned against the frame, watching her like the predator he is.
Was he upset with the smell of another vampire on her? She wasn’t sure, but she’d signed a contract to be flock, and it was important she follow through with it.
“The Harvest Gala is next week,” she told him.
He lifted a brow. “I’m aware.”
“I mean. I’m being paid to be flock. It’s important I do what I signed up to be. That means I’ll smell like a whole lot of vampires, after. Not just one.”
His voice was careful. Soft. “Is that what you want to do?”
“I want to do what I’m being paid to do.” She heard the defensive edge in her voice, but couldn’t help it. “I don’t want people thinking I’m getting special treatment.”
Zander studied her for a long moment. “You have the option of belonging to me or being part of the flock, and that’s a decision only you can make.”
His words hit like a sledgehammer. It was hard to breathe for a second, and her chest hurt.
“I don’t want to belong to anyone else,” she said, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. “I want to be your partner. But I also don’t want to skimp out on my obligations. How can I do both?”
“What do you think your obligations are, Emerald?”
“I’m contracted to be available for feeding and sex during the events. To perform in the feeding frenzies. To—”
“Your contract,” Zander interrupted quietly, “says you’re part of the flock, and subject to any assignment that does not contradict the pain level you agreed to.
And not only that, you were clear you prefer to give pain rather than receive it.
The question isn’t about your obligations, Emmy.
The question is whether you’ll accept an assignment as my lover — and sadist to Spencer. ”
Her heart skipped faster, but she looked down at her bare feet because his eyes were just too intense. “But I’m being paid to be flock. I can’t let you pay me to be your girlfriend.”
“You’re still doing the work,” Zander said.
“The feeding frenzies. Your presence at the events. But more than that…” He finally reached for her, his hand cupping her cheek.
“You’re mine, Emmy. You and Spencer both, and I take care of what’s mine.
That’s not charity. That’s not me paying you to be my arm candy.
That’s me making sure you’re secure while we all build something that matters. ”
“That sounds like—”
“Like a partnership,” he finished. “Which is what you said you wanted.”
Emmy felt her throat tighten. “So if I say I only want you and Spence…”
“Then at the Harvest Gala next week, you dance with me and Spencer, and if anyone else touches you, they’ll answer to me.” His thumb brushed her cheekbone. “But that has to be your choice, not mine. I won’t make it for you.”
She looked up at him, this ancient vampire who treated her like an equal even when he could have demanded anything he wanted. “I choose you,” she whispered. “Both of you. Just you.”
“Then that’s settled.” He pulled her into his arms, and she felt the tension drain out of her. “No more fighting with yourself about obligations and contracts. You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.”
Spence’s voice came from the bedroom doorway. “Thank goodness. With your permission, Sir and Ma’am, I’d like to go to bed now.”
Emmy laughed despite herself, and let Zander lead her back to the bedroom, where Spence was already pulling back the covers.