Page 129 of Vampire's Choice
“If an angel has greater magic and power than the rest of us, he could get vampire females to conceive, right? Or destroy the vampire world you hate so much?”
“They think they could capture and control an angel?”
“It wouldn’t be far afield of many of their outlandish ideas,” Kaela said.
Merc glanced at Ruth. If any race tried to capture an angel, the Legion would descend upon them. Not so much because they value a half-breed like me, but for the principle of the matter.
I’m going to tell Marcellus you said that, and let him smack you upside your stubborn head.
Merc showed her the tip of a fang, but then their attention was drawn back to Kaela, who’d sat back in her chair. “I think we’ve prepared as much as we can. My cook has prepared an excellent dinner.”
She glanced at Merc. “She’ll be delighted to feed a guest who can eat a full plate, but Lady Ruth, I think you’ll enjoy the artistry of our vampire portions. She likes being creative with her presentations. I also have two second marked household staff who can mix their blood with selections from my wine cellar, if you need that.”
“She does not,” Merc said.
Him stating baldly that he was providing her sustenance surprised Ruth, but she concealed it. There was something else she needed to address. A vampire meal with guests wasn’t simply a meal. It was a ritual, a demonstration and testing of power, unless the vampire hosting it, or those who outranked her at the meal, indicated otherwise.
“This may be on the obvious side, my lady, but while Merc is carrying my marks, he’s not a marked servant. As we’re both familiar with the protocols at a vampire dinner, I want to make it clear that they do not fit his situation.”
“That’s evident, never fear.” Kaela’s gaze took on a peculiar intensity. “It’s not the proper fit for you, either. Is it?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Ruth stiffened. “My lady, I’m in the company of an ambassador from Lady Lyssa. Both of them outrank me, just as you do. Are you suggesting I’m acting improperly?”
“Not at all. I meant only that our normal dinner protocols would not apply in this scenario.”
The words were spoken smoothly, but it was a change in direction, driven by Ruth’s reaction. A test. Ruth needed to settle down, because she’d put Merc on alert, his body language far less friendly. Which in turn did the same to Garron’s.
I’m okay. I just get tense meeting with new vampires. Don’t feed off my paranoia.
Merc placed his hand upon hers on the chair arm, a clear warning to Kaela. Because Merc wasn’t the nurturing type, Ruth took it that way, but his thought carried enough reassurance to surprise her.
I’m here for Lady Lyssa, yes. But I’m also here for you. You don’t need to be afraid of anything.
Kaela’s shoulders held tension of her own. She dipped her head toward Garron, acknowledging whatever he was saying to her. The male’s eyes were on the contact between Ruth and Merc, but Ruth didn’t pull away. Everything she was doing was perfectly acceptable.
“Merc.” Kaela turned her gaze to him. “Are you familiar with the sexual entertainments vampires offer at our mealtimes?”
“I have witnessed some at the Circus, when Lady Yvette entertains important vampire guests. They’re memorable.”
“I would expect so. Would that be of interest to one of your race, your incubus blood? If not, I’ll ensure there are no such provocations at our meal.”
Kaela’s tone suggested nothing but a vampire overlord’s intent to care for her guests, in a way appropriate to their respective ranks. Ruth was feeling like an idiot.
Merc’s hand tightened on hers. You’re cautious. There’s nothing wrong with that. Would you enjoy observing the entertainments she provides?
Ruth thought of Play Night, how he’d had her watch the scenes and then had taken her to a private space to make demands of her. The memory made her vibrate with pleasure.
Kaela rose, coming around the desk and propping her hips against the front of the desk. Garron watched his Mistress carefully. Ruth was picking up something else from him now. He wasn’t entirely on board with the direction Kaela was choosing.
Not unusual for a Dominant servant. A servant was normally the center of whatever sexual entertainments a vampire host and guests chose to indulge, during or after a dinner. With him already wary of Merc, he might be fighting his natural aversion to being put in a vulnerable position in front of him.
But Garron had been a servant long enough to quell such a reaction. Vampires fed on such reluctance, aroused by the chance to show the servant the depths of what their service required.
Submissive to Merc she might be, but Ruth was also a vampire. Watching Kaela top her powerful human servant, imagining how Merc could go down that road with Ruth later, when the two of them were together?
I like how you react to this idea. Tell her yes.