Chapter 3
Devareaux’s POV
I was expecting to be disappointed even further with my blood match when she arrived, but I was floored when I opened the door to my soon-to-be blood bride.
She was definitely low blood born, but she was exquisite in a soft and delicate way.
She had the most beautiful lighter skin tone with the darkest black hair I had ever seen.
And it was so long and luscious. I literally wanted to run my hands through it.
And her scent! My mouth was watering as soon as I opened the door.
Her scent was so strong, it almost knocked the wind out of me.
I still wasn’t sure what to make of the extreme differences in our status.
As far as I knew, this had never occurred before.
A high blood born and a low blood born? What would the aristocrats say when I took her out in public?
I would delay that for now, until I could determine what this all meant.
For now, I would get to know Odessa and have her move in with me.
It was how it was done. She seemed as shocked as I had been about the status difference, but she appeared to care less about it than I did.
But then again, she came from poverty and minimalism, so of course she wouldn’t mind the match.
I was the one who was negatively affected by being matched to a low blood born.
I would tell Maman and Father later. I’m not sure how they would take the news of this matching.
Or even my younger sister, Estella. I needed time to determine how to proceed.
I wanted so badly to sink my teeth into my blood bride.
Her scent was hard to resist. I would be sure to have the legal documents signed before we left the Facility.
I had never heard of a blood scent being this strong.
I didn’t know if this was normal or not, but I was starting to wonder if it was.
The blood provider had reacted against the norm towards my reaction. I would have to ask him later.
We talked for a while, as I learned Odessa had worked two different jobs to meet her basic needs.
I had never known anyone from the low blood born level, never really engaged with them.
It was not done. My bride was a hard worker as she mentioned a second job so she could use the money to afford small luxuries.
It made my skin crawl. I knew the low blood borns lived minimally, but this sounded even worse than I had been led to believe.
But the again, I never asked. My father, mother, and even society at large talked down about low blood borns, like they deserved to be where they were in the status chain.
I was starting to to wonder if that was accurate.
When the provider came to the meeting room with some documents to review, I asked to speak to him privately. The provider seemed on edge, but nodded. We stepped out for a moment after reassuring Odessa I just had a technical question for him. She seemed unsure, but nodded.
Once outside the room I asked him, “Was the tasting of my blood bride unusual? You had responded in an odd manner.”
The provider appeared uneasy, and squirmed a bit in his place. “Your reaction was stronger than any I have witnessed to date.”
Crap!
“Oh?”
He shrugged, eyes wide. “Maybe it has to do with the extreme difference in your blood status, but I’m not sure.”
I leaned in, narrowing my eyes on him, as he shrunk back from me. “No one is to know about my bride’s status. Is. That. Clear?”
He stuttered out, “We….we…..cannot…...discuss that…..with…...anyone….sssiiirr….”His eyes wild and his face paler than usual. “Only yoooouu…….can discuss it….ssss…...ssiirr.”
I leaned back, calmer. “Good. Keep it that way.”
Then without further discussion, I returned to the room.
Odessa looked up at me, questioningly.
I smiled and shook my head. “Just ensuring we can have all the legal documents ready and in order to be signed today before we leave. I will send some people to get your belongings and have them delivered to my home immediately.”
I knew I was stepping over boundaries, but I didn’t want anyone to see her leave her place with any of my men or with me. I wasn’t ready for that sort of declaration just yet. I needed to sit with this first before I knew how I would proceed.
She looked shocked. “I could pack up my thing. I don’t have too much.”
I shook my head again. “I want you moved in immediately.”
Her face softened, making me feel a bit guilty, but also pleased.
“I would like that too.”
I felt my chest tighten. I felt a weird warmth spread over me at her expression. She really was a beautiful vampyr. I had been incredibly lucky in her becoming my blood partner. I just needed to figure out the status issue.
“Ummm….” Odessa’s voice broke me out of my thoughts. “My flat has a lease. I will either need to keep paying it or pay it off.” She was frowning.
“No need. If they have a problem with it, they can contact me. I’ll deal with it.”
They wouldn’t get my money. They should know that once a blood born changes status circles due to matching, the leases should be null and void.
“But…”
“No buts. Just leave it. If they have a problem, they will contact me and I’ll deal with it.
” I know I sounded gruff with her, but there was no way those leeches would get my money.
The business owners and dealers in low blood born towns were considered filthy, greedy manipulators. I would not give them a cent!
We spent the next couple of hours reviewing the documentation to become legal blood partners. Unlike with human marriages, once we signed all the documentation, the provider stamped the documents, and provided us copies before leaving the Facility, we were married in the eyes of the vampyr society.
I felt pride knowing my blood bride’s blood would no longer be available for tasting.
I felt a weird sense of jealousy and possessiveness knowing that other vampyrs had tasted my bride.
It left a sickening feeling inside. But she was mine now.
And this very night I would take the blood for the first time with her.
I would not wait. No. I could not wait. I could almost taste her on my mouth, even just being in her presence.
Her scent was strong. I just didn’t know if I could control myself around her if her scent was going to drive me with this kind of hunger every time I was in her presence.