Page 144 of Vampire's Choice
She hadn’t thought of him as her teacher. But he could be.
Just as you are for me. Marcellus tells me that’s the way this is supposed to work.
She met his gaze with a spark of humor. Did he get that from the latest women’s magazine poll on relationships?
He never misses an issue.
Kaela stopped mid-sentence, only a beat before Ruth felt it herself. Another vampire was approaching the house.
“He’s a couple hours early,” Garron noted grimly. He apparently said something to Kaela, mind-to-mind, because she shook her head.
“As I did last time, I’ll meet him alone at the door,” she said. For Ruth and Merc, she added, “Trads see our bonds with humans as weakness. And they have no regard for human life.”
“Ironic, since most of them are made,” Garron said, with an edge.
“I will accompany you to the door, Lady Kaela.” Merc met Garron’s gaze. His lady would have backup. And she wouldn’t have to risk her servant.
Garron gave him a stiff nod of thanks.
“Thank you, my lord.” Kaela glanced at Ruth. “If you’ll go to my office with Garron, we’ll meet you there. It’s better to assess his mood in my driveway, and not appear as if we’re overwhelming him with numbers.”
Ruth wasn’t sure she liked being left behind any more than Garron, but the logic was sound. As Kaela and Merc left, Merc gave her a brief look.
If I need backup, I’ll call.
Keep being a smartass. I’ll dye those feathers neon orange.
A brief touch of humor from his mind, plus a reassurance, then they were gone.
Ruth turned to Garron. “If either of us sense a problem, we’ll go help them.”
“Yeah. We will.”
In accord on it, they proceeded to the office. However, they didn’t have long to wait before Merc and Kaela returned.
The vampire overlord came in first, followed by the Trad, then Merc. Asva was compact, and wound like a steel cable. His hair was shaved so she could see scalp through the light-colored fuzz. He wore cargo pants and a camouflage shirt with hiking boots. She was sure they concealed a variety of weapons. Blades, maybe even wooden stakes.
His most potent weapon was his stench, however. Ruth resisted the desire to cover her nose. Trads rarely bathed, which suited their off-the-grid lifestyle but not the olfactory senses of those who liked soap, deodorant and toothpaste. All vampires might be striking, even without access to toiletries, but they were no more immune to body odor than anyone else. Kaela would have to fumigate her chairs if he chose one.
He didn’t. Instead, he nodded toward the door that led to Kaela’s office balcony. “I would prefer being outside for our conversation. If it’s secure.”
“It’s over a cliff. Only the birds should hear us. This is Lady Ruth, Merc’s companion.”
Asva’s gaze had already moved to Ruth, and clung to her. His eyes were nearly colorless. “I am quite aware of her presence.”
Merc shifted, blocking his view. “Become less aware.”
The Trad held up his hands. “I meant no offense,” he said. “If she’s yours, may your union and her womb bear fruit. Even if it’s not a pureblood, it would strengthen our race.”
Ruth didn’t appreciate the Trad discounting her presence as nothing more than Merc’s shadow. She stepped to his side, correcting that, and pinned the Trad with her gaze. “My womb is none of your fucking business. And Lady Kaela said companion. Make no assumptions from that.”
“Of course.” His eyes held hers. Hungry.
With that atavistic attention, any impact his Dominant nature could have on her held no power. Ruth held his gaze with no problem. Moving them away from dangerous waters, Kaela gestured toward the balcony door.
The wind was strong this morning. Merc tucked his wings in closer to his body, creating a wind break. He gestured Ruth into the chair in front of him.
Her hackles were up, but the chair put her in the conversation circle with Kaela and the Trad. Garron stood silently behind his Mistress’s chair. It held a different message than Merc’s decision to stand behind Ruth, though the men were in mirror positions.