Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
It would seem my maker had quite the reputation. While I was approached on several occasions by flirtatious males—of the non-human variety—the moment they heard Cillian’s name, they couldn’t flee my presence fast enough.
As for the females… their reaction proved slightly different. A few introduced themselves, and seemed quite nice, even friendly. Then when they heard I was with Cillian, they turned cold and they barely walked away before gossiping about me.
Why would he choose someone like her as his fledgling?
Given she’s only average looking, she must be able to suck a golf ball through a hose.
He must have been desperate to have chosen someone so awkward.
Nothing like hearing people dissect you when you’re feeling your most attractive to make you suddenly lose all confidence.
It didn’t help I couldn’t spot Cillian. The crowded room and my short ass—even in heels—couldn’t see over or past the many bodies milling.
It took me a while to thread my way from one end of the party room to the other, without spotting Cillian.
He’d abandoned me.
Maybe I should go back to the car. It wasn’t as if I enjoyed myself. So much for getting out of the house and meeting people. What a waste and mistake this turned out to be. A loser before, and a loser now.
As I worked my way to the exit, I happened to glance through an arch and stopped dead. I’d found Cillian, and he wasn’t alone.
A young woman—with a steady heartbeat I could hear from where I stood—posed before him, head tilted back, hands cupping a bountiful bosom, offering up her cleavage as a meal. He eyed it, nothing more, and yet jealousy raged through me.
While I had no claim on him, I couldn’t watch him eat. I needed out of here. Brimming with emotion, I stalked for the main doors, passing by occupied seats and settees, only to suddenly find myself grabbed and dragged into a lap.
My startled gaze fell on a guy, probably late twenties, dirty blonde hair, handsome, wearing nothing but bootie shorts. Very human, judging by the way I could hear his blood pounding. Oh, and that blood also found its way to the growing bulge under my bottom. Awkward.
“Well, hello there, sexy. You look like you need a bite,” he stated, tilting his head to the side, showing off the column of his neck.
“I’m not hungry,” I stated. The truth. Those glasses of plasma I’d downed kept my ravenous need in check.
“Vampire babies are always hungry. And I promise I am delicious. Have a taste.” He cupped my head and dragged it to his neck, forcing my lips against his flesh. But I didn’t bite. I didn’t appreciate his aggressiveness.
“I said no,” I grumbled pulling my face away.
Before I could shove myself free, I found myself lifted and tucked behind a broad tuxedoed back, manhandled with ease by none other than Cillian.
It would appear my maker wasn’t happy.
“Since when does Sophia allow her pets to lay hands on her guests without permission?” he growled.
“The lady looked upset. I was just trying to please,” exclaimed the young man.
“She said no and you ignored her.”
“Uh.”
A fang-showing Cillian dragged the guy from the chair and held him aloft by the neck. “Do you know what happens to people who take liberties with those under my protection?”
Sophia suddenly appeared by his side. “Put Marco down, Cillian.”
“He offended me,” growled my maker.
“I think he’s aware of that fact,” Sophia’s dry reply.
“Is he?” Cillian hissed giving Marco a shake.
“I’m surprised by you. You’re not one to usually make a scene.”
The rebuke caused Cillian to drop Marco. Literally. The guy hit the floor in a heap and stayed there, head down, groveling.
A stoney-faced Cillian growled, “You might want to send this one back for more training, or the next person he insults might not be as lenient.”
“I’ll ensure Marco is dealt with. Now, why don’t you and your protégé come with me and try a special vintage I’ve been saving.”
“Thank you for the invitation, but Skylar and I will be leaving now.”
“So soon?” Sophia pouted. “But it’s barely past one, and the entertainment is about to begin.”
“I’m no longer in the mood.” Cillian’s less than warm words to Sophia. He hooked his arm around my waist and practically carried me as we headed for the exit.
“I’m sorry for ruining the evening,” I muttered.
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
“Then why are you so pissed? Nothing happened and I could have handled that guy without your help.”
“You should not have had to do anything. That servant knew he wasn’t allowed to lay hands on you or any other guest without invitation. It’s part of their training to avoid incidents. A predator will strike if startled. You would have been justified tearing out his throat.”
“But I held my cool and didn’t,” I stated rather proud of myself. “I must be getting better at controlling myself.”
Cillian glanced down at me. “You are and aren’t. Why did you run off in the first place looking upset?”
“Just feeling out of sorts,” I muttered, as he took our coats from the attendant and helped me put mine on before we exited into the cold night.
“Seemed more like you were distressed about the female offering me a bite.”
He’d spotted me? Admit or deny? “Don’t be ridiculous. You can eat whomever you like.” The statement tasted sour.
“You’re right, I can, but in this case, had you stayed a bit longer, you would have seen me refusing.”
“Why? She obviously offered, meaning her blood was fair game.”
“But not the least bit appetizing. I find no pleasure in taking from sheep. Might as well drink it from a bag.”
“Don’t you prefer your food fresh?”
Cillian rolled his shoulders. “Yes, but at the same time, eating from the living can have its challenges.”
“Such as?”
“Some humans don’t handle the draining of blood well and get faint or anemic, causing a medical emergency that garners attention.
There are donors who get addicted to the bite and become clingy and demanding, which is annoying, with the added risk that a refusal to feed on them could result in them revealing our secret.
Then there’s those who want us to partake but then decide afterwards they were coerced and-or regret the offer.
” He listed off reasons, then shrugged. “Therefore, you see, sometimes a live feed is not worth the bother, and nutritionally, there’s no actual difference. ”
I pursed my lips. “That doesn’t seem right. Surely eating it from the source is healthier.”
“The tests show that so long as the blood is properly collected and stored it’s the same.”
“So does that mean you never eat from a vein?”
“Not never, I just prefer to do so on my terms. The offerings at a party like this”—he waved at the building behind us—“are partaken of by many, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to share my food.”
That I could understand.
The car pulled up and Gwen popped out to open the door for us. Cillian tucked me in first before joining me in the back.
Seeing how I had him all to myself, and wasn’t a nervous wreck like on the drive over, I peppered him with small talk about my evening.
“I met a satyr,” I stated.
“Dirty pervs,” he replied. “And they taste terrible. I would not recommend.”
“Good to know. I also met a blond guy with dark wings but I’m not sure what he was.”
“Dark fairy. Tastes delicious but should never be trusted. That goes for the satyr as well. I will say I am impressed you managed to resist their seductive charm.”
My nose wrinkled. “Not my type. Even if they were, the moment they heard your name, they ran off like I had the plague.”
Cillian’s lips curved into a smug smile. “Nice to know my reputation remains intact.”
“Reputation for what?”
“Ruthlessness. Power struggles are the number one cause of death to vampires, other than humans with pitchforks and torches,” he said with a wink. “To ensure I am not constantly being challenged, I tend to preemptively eliminate potential threats.”
I shivered. I should have been appalled at his admission he killed to keep his position, but new me found his words arousing. Excuse me for being attracted to a true alpha male.
The car jerked and Cillian leaned forward. “Is there a problem?”
“Slick roads, boss,” Gwen replied, craning to reply. “Ice rain starting to come down.”
“Be careful.”
“Duh,” Randy grunted from the front.
Cillian settled in beside me and I glanced outside the window, the dark road, speed, and sleet made it impossible to see anything but dark blurs.
“I’m surprised there are so many vampires and cryptids in the area. You’d think that many non-humans would draw attention,” I stated.
“Only a handful live in the city or environs. Most of the guests you saw travelled to Sophia’s home for the party. They’ll spend a night or more at Sophia’s home or nearby hotels before returning to their domains.”
“How does someone like Tom and his fairy buddy manage to live without being noticed?”
“There are spells to hide their true face and shape.”
“Spells, as in magic?” I blurted.
“Yes.”
How awesome. “Cool. Do you have—”
I never finished that sentence because the car hit a very slippery patch and went into a tailspin.
Before I could even think about puking up any blood, the vehicle careened off the road and began rolling down an incline.
Bang. Thump. Crash.
Discombobulated didn’t come close to describing the experience of being tossed around like a rag doll because I’d forgotten to buckle in.
When the car did settle—upside down—I found myself splayed in an ungainly fashion atop Cillian, who’d somehow managed to wrap himself around me when the tumbling started.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“Yeah. You?”
“Fine. Let me check on Gwen and Randy.”
They turned out to also be okay, if bumped and bruised.
We’d emerged from the incident unscathed, however, as we exited the ruined car and stood by it, getting rained on by ice pellets, Cillian appeared grim.
“Why so glum?” I asked. “We’re alive.”
“And stuck at the bottom of a ravine, on a road rarely travelled.”
“So call for help.” I didn’t understand the big deal. I mean, yeah, the accident sucked, but he seemed rather more upset than the situation warranted.
“Can’t call. Either the nearest cell tower is down because of the ice storm, or the signal isn’t reaching us in this ravine.”
“Meaning we need to climb out.” I glanced at the hill and held in a sigh. My dress and shoes would be destroyed.
“Not we. Randy and Gwen will go while you and I seek out shelter from the coming dawn.”
“You don’t think they’ll get help in time? Dawn is a few hours away.”
“Would you like to take that chance?”
Barbecued by daylight didn’t sound fun. “Guess we’re looking for a hiding spot.”
And lucky me, it ended up being a stinky cave.