Page 88 of Vampire's Choice
“Yes. She’s a born submissive.”
Like Ruth. He was starting to figure out where this was going, even if he wasn’t sure he liked it. “The vampire-servant relationship is linear Dom-sub. Merc isn’t going to be topped by anyone.”
“No. We wouldn’t expect that,” Yvette said. “The point is the precedent for an expanded definition of the vampire-servant relationship, in a situation where the “servant” isn’t human. It doesn’t come with the same biases that still pervade our world on the vampire-human servant relationship.”
“That the acceptable level of affection a vampire should feel for their human servant excludes true romantic feelings, because the human is inferior, and the vampire holds all the power?” Adan shook his head, thinking of his parents. “Even though, when they pursue those feelings, it expands their understanding, and things change for the better, for both vampire and servant. No matter what our law says on it.”
Yvette sighed. “The law they have been trying to change for over a decade, while they endlessly tweak and massage a new one, which is just an excuse for one side trying to give it more protections and the other to weaken or scrap it all together.”
“Politics,” Adan said grimly. He nodded to Marcellus, patiently listening to the sidebar on vampire issues. “So okay, I get your point, that there’s a window that could allow a marking to happen between Merc and Ruth. You still haven’t said why you think it should.”
“Because he’s strong enough to protect her,” Marcellus said bluntly. “And the vampire world has no power over him. Just as it has no power over your and Catriona’s relationship, except what you are willing to give it.”
“He’s also strong enough to destroy her.”
“No matter what unsettling vibes he puts out, Merc has learned to control his impulses.” Yvette met Adan’s gaze. “It’s impossible to miss, when we are directed to look at it. We’ve had no incident of concern for years. I believe I overreacted to his sparring match with Ruth based on the past, not the present. But that is because of what we just discussed. He’s never been viewed as part of the Circus; more as a model inmate. One who chafes at the restriction. Understands it, while resenting it, while remaining isolated, untrusted. Friendless, because he resists any bonds.”
“And you want my sister to be the guinea pig relationship to let him out of the cell?”
“No.” Marcellus met his gaze. “I’m saying the cell became unnecessary some time ago. I want you to trust what we are saying, that what they are becoming to one another makes this potentially the best next step for both of them.”
“So at what point do I or Merc get to be part of this monumental decision that impacts us both?”
Adan turned toward the archway. Ruth stood there, with an expression he recognized. She was pissed. She also looked…wan.
He came to her. “What happened?”
“Nothing I didn’t ask to have happen. And don’t change the subject. You shouldn’t be making decisions without me.” She pushed past him, sending Yvette a courteous but stiff nod. “Thanks for having Gundar come get me.”
Yvette gave Marcellus and his arched brow an even look. “She should have input into this. So should Merc, but the first level of discussion belongs here. She must agree. If she does, you’ll broach it with him, I’m sure, but I believe you would agree the final say will be between the two of them.”
Despite Ruth’s raised hackles, Adan directed her to a chair and pushed her into it. “Be mad while sitting,” he told her. “So you don’t fall down.”
She gave him an annoyed look, but complied, an encouraging sign her anger wasn’t full blown. He saw no evidence of wounds, though those might have healed, depending on their severity and when they occurred.
“She asked Merc to feed from her. Fully,” Yvette noted. “After an attack by two vampires in town. Nothing outside the bounds of our world’s typical power plays. But Merc intervened.”
At Ruth’s annoyed look, Yvette pinned her with a stow-it-or-else look. “This is a conversation that requires your brother’s full focus. No point in having his attention divided, trying to figure out what is going on.”
“Ruth, what the hell…”
“I am fine,” she repeated. “And he gave me blood of his own free will before I asked him to feed from me. His blood is about three times as potent as human blood.” She paused, met her brother’s gaze. “Adan, it accelerates my healing ability and improves my energy.”
The surprise of that revelation stopped him mid-tirade. Marcellus turned things back to the subject at hand. “While Merc has already embraced the control he needs to keep his demon blood yoked and channeled for the right purposes, when Ruth started spending time with him, she showed him another reason to live that life. To protect and be worthy of a woman who matters to him.”
Ruth’s expression went still. This was news to her. Adan saw the feelings for Merc were there, but Marcellus had given her more information, a perspective Merc hadn’t put out there yet. At least not that baldly. If Merc was dealing with the confusion of falling in love with a female, Adan grudgingly acknowledged it tended to stifle and eradicate communication skills, regardless of species.
Damn Light Guardian training, which helped him see patterns that served the greater good. Thanks to it, Adan might be feeling less opposed to the idea, but only if he got to the bottom of the two most important points. Ruth had her own question first, though.
“Why does the servant choice of a low-ranking vampire matter to the owner of the Circus and an angel?” she asked.
“Because Clara has dreamed of you two being bound,” Marcellus said.
Ruth’s eyes widened. “It was a dream, not necessarily a vision,” the sorceress explained. “Which means the free will of the parties involved and changing variables can alter the picture. But it turned our thoughts in that direction, which led to a consideration of how it might benefit you both, if you chose to go down that road.”
“If Merc fully embraces his angel side, he will be yet another warrior on the side of the Goddess,” Marcellus noted. “While you, Ruth, will be protected and able to live your life fully. That is a separate matter from your relationship. If you two end up not wishing to be together, I do not foresee Merc turning his back on his protection for you. Ever. Even if it is ultimately in the service of honor and friendship, instead of love.”
Her expression held mixed emotions at that evaluation. She was already pretty gone over the guy. Adan would have classified it as infatuation, except he knew his sister. She didn’t give her affections lightly.