Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
BLOOD MAGIC
‘Tell me what you hear. What you see.’
It’s just after sunset. I’m near the fence that borders our estate, where it brushes against the edge of the Great Forest. Joaquin is with me, his hand on my waist.
‘When you said you were going to take me out tonight, this wasn’t what I thought you meant.’ My legs are cold, my short dress and boots not really suited for wandering the grounds at night. I don’t really care, though.
‘Shh.’ His grip on my waist tightens. ‘Use all your senses.’
I sigh, doing as he asks. I’m not sure what the point is, other than to show him how bad humans are at this.
At first, all I’m aware of is my own breath, the pressure of his hand.
Then my vision adjusts and I can see further.
The forest, at first a dark mass, now becomes shapes in the darkness.
Tree trunks and small things that move. The crackle of twigs, the hoot of an owl.
The crashing path of a deer through the undergrowth.
I hear the faint sound of rushing water, a whispered thread of noise.
Darkness, that can’t be the waterfall Kyle took me to, can it? My breath catches. Holy shit.
‘That’s it. Sink into it.’
‘This is amazing. I never knew—’
‘—that you could do this? You are vampire, Emelia, just as I am, despite your human form. Your very blood sings with our magic. Do not fight who you are.’ His lips brush my ear.
I tingle all over. ‘We are the reason humans seek light in the darkness. I see you wanting to be that light for them. But there’s darkness in you, too. ’
‘I’m not vampire.’ But even as I say the words, I wonder. Yes, I have a human body, human frailties, but my blood, as everyone likes to remind me, is vampire blood.
‘No?’ He turns me to face him. ‘Humans cannot see what you just saw. Nor do they taste each other’s blood.’
‘I don’t drink blood.’
‘You’ve never had blood pass your lips?’
‘Not human blood.’
‘Maybe you should try it sometime.’
In any other circumstance, this would be abhorrent. But something about being in the dark with him, listening to the forest, brings a wildness to the surface. I wonder what it would be like to be truly vampire, to feed on something living.
Darkness surges in me, the part that only he seems to reach.
The crackle of power between us, Raven to Jaguar, that I felt when we first met.
It’s intoxicating. I’ll never have to worry about him betraying me for power, because he has his own.
I’ll be his consort as much as he’ll be mine, equals on our thrones.
He smiles, flash of white fangs, then bites his finger and extends it to me. A single drop of blood, dark red, sits on the tip. ‘You are vampire beneath your skin. So drink.’
As I gaze at him, wondering, it’s as though the rising wildness possesses me and I grab his hand, bringing his finger to my lips, sucking it.
He groans, his eyes closing. He tastes like violets, and something more heated.
Then I’m in his arms, his mouth on mine, my back against the cold metal railings.
‘Oh yes, my darling,’ he murmurs against my mouth. His hands roam over me and I arch into him, wanting more. ‘Now let me taste you.’
I tense, wondering what he means to do. His hand slips under my skirt, between my legs, pulling my underwear aside. I gasp, my head going back as he explores me, pleasure pounding through my veins.
‘Raven one, Raven two.’ The call from a nearby patrol, guarding the fence, brings me back to reality.
Shit. I push at Joaquin. ‘We can’t do this. The guards…’
He stills, his hand between my thighs, his mouth on my throat. I’m panting, trembling with desire. He pulls back, straightening my clothes, smoothing his hair.
‘Perhaps we can continue in the house?’ Invitation growls in every word.
I hesitate. I don’t know why I’m holding back.
‘No?’ He nods, once. ‘I forget, you think differently here about sex. Very well, my Raven. I shall respect your parents’ home, and you.
I’m sure I can find someone else to help me out for tonight.
’ He puts his fingers to his lips and licks them, grinning, his fangs dropped.
Fingers that, just a moment ago, were on my most intimate flesh. ‘Delicious. Just as I thought.’
Then he’s gone, a streak of black in the night. I sag against the fence, my hand to my chest. What the hell just happened?
I’ve managed to regain my composure by the time I get back to the house. Which is good as I enter the foyer to see Joaquin, Selene and the rest of his entourage. They all turn their heads as I enter. Selene grins, wiping the corners of her mouth. God and darkness.
Joaquin comes to me, taking my hand, kissing each of my knuckles in turn.
‘What’s there to do for fun around here?’
‘For fun?’ It’s difficult to concentrate when his tongue flickers across my skin, his gaze liquid on mine. ‘Um, there are books and games in the library. There’s the ballroom. The Costume Room.’
Joaquin raises an eyebrow. ‘That’s it? Books and clothing? I wish to take you out, my Raven, not play dress-up. Unless you’re into that, of course.’ A wicked smile, a ripple of laughter from the group.
‘There’s a nightclub near here,’ I say, feeling strangled. ‘It’s pretty good.’
Joaquin’s face lights up, breathtaking beauty. ‘Now that, my darling, sounds much more my scene. Can we go there?’
‘Y-yes, of course. I just need to arrange it.’ I manage to extricate myself, pulling my phone from my pocket. ‘I’ll call Ira, the owner, and let him know we’re coming.’
‘VIP, I hope? Does he have good food?’
‘He usually has a selection.’ I try not to think about the caged humans behind Ira’s bar. ‘Free range, mostly. Plus, we can take a dancer if you prefer.’
‘I think we’ve drunk our fill of your dancers.’ He grins, revealing dropped fangs. ‘Besides, I like to try local flavours whenever I’m somewhere new.’
Thank darkness Ira picks up. I turn away from Joaquin. ‘Ira, it’s Emelia.’
‘I know who it is.’ There’s a smile in Ira’s voice. ‘What can I do for you?’
‘I have … that is, we have guests, and we’d like to come to the club. Tonight.’
‘Raven are always welcome. I’ll reserve a table for you.’
‘Thank you. There will be eight of us, I think.’
A short while later we’re in a couple of cars, heading towards Dark Haven.
We pull up outside the Dome, our drivers opening the doors.
The line of patrons waiting outside whip out their phones, taking photographs, gasping and calling out.
I’m sure I’ll be all over social media in a matter of minutes.
So different from the last time I was here. For a lot of reasons.
I lead Joaquin and his entourage inside. I haven’t been here since that night with Kyle, when we danced and drank, and he carried me home through the flickering dark.
‘Are you all right?’ Joaquin’s hand is at the small of my back. I lean into his strength, finding I need it. I also need wine.
‘Lady Raven?’ A female vampire, clad in skintight leather, her red hair piled high, comes over. ‘This way, please. My name is Ilona, and I’ll be looking after you this evening. Anything you need, just ask.’
‘Ilona,’ Joaquin purrs, his dark gaze wandering over her lush curves. Jealousy stabs me. ‘I believe we would like to drink. Wine, for my darling, and your best dancers for the rest of us.’
‘Of course.’ Ilona is all eyelashes and pouty lips as she leads us to a booth on the edge of the circular dance floor, her body an undulating invitation. I clutch Joaquin’s arm and try not to glare. He just laughs, running the tip of his tongue up my cheek, following it with a kiss. Gods.
We squeeze into the booth, Joaquin curving his body protectively around mine.
I put my legs over his lap, my arm around his neck, our mouths so close together.
Oh yes, I can do this. I can take this handsome prince for my own, for my realm.
Maybe he’s right. Maybe there is more vampire in me than I thought.
It’s time for me to explore this side of myself, too.
And Joaquin is the perfect companion with whom to do so.
And, as I drink wine and laugh, as Joaquin’s hands stroke my thighs, play with the edge of my skirt, graze the underside of my breasts, as his followers gyrate on the dance floor, blood on their mouths, I let myself sink into darkness.
I put warmth and light out of my mind, turn towards the cool of night.
I think of Varin holding his sword, the idea of balance.
I’ve shown the world my human side. I wonder what they’ll think of my vampire side, whatever that is.
I tilt my head as Joaquin runs his mouth along my throat, looking up at the reflection in the mirror fragments embedded in the domed ceiling.
A circular dancefloor, curving booths in red leather around the edge of it, as though we’re in a flower.
And me, draped across Joaquin, his hands on me like he owns me.
‘Hey.’ Joaquin’s hand comes to my jaw, his mouth to mine.
He tastes like blood and violets, sucking gently on my tongue before releasing me to refill my wine glass.
‘You want to dance? Or you want to go somewhere more private?’ His fingertips slide beneath the hem of my skirt.
Breathless, I grab my wineglass and drain it.
‘Dance,’ I gasp. I’m still not ready for anything more, darkness knows why.
‘If dancing is what you truly want,’ Joaquin says, leaning in to lick droplets of wine from my lips, ‘then so be it. But I want you, Emelia. And I cannot wait much longer.’
He slides from the booth, pulling me with him, holding me tight as we join the swaying crowd.
I cling to him, wondering why the hell I’m resisting falling into bed with him.
But later, as we head home, the sky paling towards dawn, my head aching from too much wine, I can’t hide from the truth.
We head inside, Joaquin’s arm around me.
‘Shall I tuck you into bed?’ he murmurs, all innuendo and heat.
‘I’m so tired,’ I say, conscious of Selene’s mocking green gaze. ‘Forgive me.’
‘There’s nothing to forgive,’ Joaquin says lightly.
‘One more kiss, though, before you go?’ His strong arms come around me as he bends me back.
When he releases me, I’m unsteady on my feet.
I turn towards the stairs, and see Michael standing there, with my mother.
She has her eyebrows raised. Michael’s expression is completely shuttered.
And that, right there, is the problem. I’m still hung up on Michael.