Page 139 of Vampire's Choice
“It’s difficult to watch someone struggle with the same thing you do yourself, and not offer them a line of connection,” the overlord said in a calm voice. “Everyone’s life is a mix of lies and truth. It’s how we live, survive and find happiness.”
Ruth’s mind froze. She wanted to deny what she was hearing, stop it from happening. But Merc wouldn’t let it.
“I expect,” Merc mused, “if a servant is a Master, service-oriented in a very special way, he can be what his vampire needs him to be, when she is being what the vampire world expects her to be.”
His gaze lifted to Garron. “Submitting to his vampire at the right moments, if that’s what’s needed to protect and care for her—to be her Master—that’s what he'll do.”
Garron leaned over his lady and murmured to her. She shook her head and he straightened. With another glance at Ruth, she rose.
As she moved to an open stretch of the large Persian carpet, Garron turned to watch her. A few heartbeats of silent communication, and she nodded. An answer to him, and perhaps to herself as well.
In her elegant heels and fashionable dress—Ruth had been right about what Kaela considered informal—the powerful California overlord sank to her knees, clasped her hands behind her straight back and bowed her head.
Waiting for her Master’s command.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
What gripped Ruth was so beyond shock, there wasn’t a word for it. How had she missed it?
Because Ruth was a submissive, but an alpha as well. And a vampire. She’d only submit for a male physically stronger than she was, and maybe on other levels as well. Emotionally, spiritually, and at the key moments when it mattered.
Not to a human. Never to a human. Humans had no right to command a vampire. Ever.
Look at him, Ruth. Look at him, and look at her.
She couldn’t refuse Merc’s demand. Reluctantly, her gaze slid to Garron. His expression on Kaela was fierce, protective. Proud. Worried. Now she understood his reluctance. Kaela had planned for this, because she’d recognized what Ruth was. Garron, his mind on her protection, had worried it exposed too much about her, a dangerous and wrong course.
He'd been right.
Ruth rose from the table, so abruptly her knee bumped the wooden edge, bruising her flesh. “Lady Kaela.” She addressed the opposite wall. Where she wasn’t looking at the kneeling woman. “Your meal and company have been…lovely.”
The fake sound of her voice was acid in her mouth. “If you’ll forgive me, I need to rest before the Trad’s arrival tonight. And it appears you have other…business. With your leave, I’ll retire.”
Ruth hated herself as Kaela’s head remained in that lowered position. A hard quiver ran through the woman, and before Ruth could look away again, she saw Kaela swallow, a convulsive movement of her slim neck. Garron moved toward her, but Kaela’s hand came up, a sharp movement.
Garron stopped, with obvious reluctance and great effort, and his lady rose to her feet on her own and faced her guests.
Inside, Ruth suspected Kaela was shaking from head to toe. Outwardly, if Ruth hadn’t seen what she’d just seen, Kaela looked like the vampire who had Lady Lyssa’s full confidence and had brought order to the region. “Very well, Lady Ruth. Thank you for your company.” Her eyes had that brassy shine, but her voice was even and courteous.
Ruth pressed her lips together. “I think…does Garron have to deactivate the security?”
“Yes.”
Garron didn’t move in that direction. Kaela sent him a look easy to decipher. What can we do? Keep a Truth Vessel and a born vampire imprisoned to hide our secret?
Ruth was no stranger to the risks of having her nature discovered. She’d learned how to contain and conquer the anxiety, the hated fear, but it didn’t stop them from plaguing her, whenever she was put in situations where it could be revealed to other vampires. The unpleasant coldness in her gut and vigilance accompanied her every time.
Her mind might be rejecting this, messed up over all of it, but on one thing she was sure.
“Lady Kaela, you provided fine entertainment with your servants, and your chef’s food and presentation are exceptional. If anyone asks me about your hospitality, I will report that the Council themselves couldn’t do better.”
Message received. Kaela’s subtle nod said so, but the dull light in her gaze didn’t bring Ruth any relief. “Thank you, Lady Ruth. If you or Merc need anything before the Trad’s arrival, please advise Garron or the household staff.”
Garron had deactivated the panel. As Ruth moved for the door, she purposefully didn’t look at him. A servant. A human servant. All the trumped-up stories of human male servants taking advantage of female vampires…she’d scoffed at them as ridiculous chauvinism on the part of male vampires, possibly some jealousy.
Having that idea trying to take root inside her now was like swallowing poison. She had to get out of here. That was all. She had to think about this.
Merc was following her, but she didn’t reach out to his mind. She had too much buzzing around her own.