Page 71 of Vampire's Choice

Yvette glanced toward the pines. “This is the Circus, Adan. The rules here are different than in the vampire world, as much as I can manage it. It’s a large part of why she’s here, right?”

When her golden eyes came back to him, his expression had shuttered. “Yes.”

“Merc’s incubus side was in control from the beginning, because demon blood doesn’t miss an opportunity to take the lead, particularly if nothing else is nurtured,” Maddock noted. At Adan’s censorious look, he raised a quelling hand. “However, Marcellus has often believed the angel is stronger within Merc than Merc has accessed. Over the years, he’s encouraged him to explore that. With how much success, it’s hard to determine. Merc doesn’t reveal much.”

Charlie lifted her head from Maddock’s thigh. He shifted his hand to her back, tracing the bumps of her spine under her thin shirt. “Most people’s energy changes as they interact with others,” she said. “Over the years, his has always gone opaque around Yvette, Marcellus and Maddock. As Maddock says, there may be a great deal going on behind it, but the impression is he’s being what he’s required to be, to stay alive. What lies behind the wall… My gut says something has changed for him, these past few years, but I’m not sure.”

“Have you noticed what his energy and auras are like around Ruth?” Yvette asked.

A slight smile touched Charlie’s face. “Chaotic. A little frightening, but beautiful too, like a storm. I don’t think he knows what to make of her, but she brings out the Master in him, something I’ve never seen him overtly exercise, though it’s always been there.”

“Really?” Maddock tugged her hair. “You’ve never mentioned that to me. How do you know?”

She shrugged. “How does any submissive know? We feel it, from the way you conduct yourself, the way you talk and act. Even though he’s suppressed it, it’s there.”

Maddock glanced between Adan and Yvette. “Is that what all the subtext between you and Adan is about? You’re saying Ruth is a natural submissive?”

“Goddess help us, he finally catches up,” Yvette murmured, shooting him a look.

“Give me a break. I’m not around here as much as I’d like to be.” His glance went to Charlie, lingered. Then he glanced at Adan, who had stiffened. He locked gazes with the wizard.

Maddock rose, his respect for the other male evident in the formal gesture. His hand stayed on Charlie’s shoulder, conveying his understanding of the drive to protect and care for one he loved. “What’s discussed here goes no further, Adan. You have my word.”

“Marcellus is already aware,” Yvette added. “He and I have discussed the need for discretion. He knew the first time he met her.” She arched a pointed brow at Maddock. “How can such a smart male be so clueless?”

“I will put lice in your mattress.”

“I will remove your testicles with barely a thought.”

Charlie interjected a distracting thought, still aimed at reassuring Adan’s concerns. “Merc isn’t a vampire, and he’s far stronger than one. In terms of your world’s acceptance of the situation, doesn’t that help?”

“Yes and no. It has to do with her, not him. A vampire capitulating to a stronger being because they’re stronger is an accepted part of our natural order. A vampire wanting to be topped, wanting to submit, isn’t.”

“Your concern is if it gets revealed by her relationship with Merc, but the relationship ends…”

“She’s been outted,” Adan said tersely.

“She has allies here already.” Charlie accepted Maddock’s hand to stand at his side. “We’ll do all we can to protect her, Adan. The same as we do for all the Circus family.”

Yvette met Adan’s gaze. “She’s already proven herself willing to work hard and be a contributing member of this troupe. She’s a good fit. We recognized what she is, Adan, because we’re all misfits here. Aren’t we?”

Adan couldn’t summon a smile, but he inclined his head. “She’s…she’s in my soul, my lady. Don’t hide anything from me that will help me protect her.”

“I have not and will not. But I will respect her independence. As you and your father have done, by facilitating her job here. Life is not safe, Adan. Not if you’re doing it right.”

“Yeah.” After a silent moment, Adan nodded to the Circus Mistress. “Glitch is fixed. Let me know if you have any other problems. With anything.”

When he strode away, Maddock looked at Yvette. “I’m not sure we helped.”

“Because he knows the vampire world too well,” Yvette said, her expression grim. “But my primary concern is Merc. To have a submissive female trust him, not afraid, curious, willing to play and test him, is entirely new. It remains to be seen how he will handle that.” She glanced toward Charlie. “And what will be revealed behind that wall.”

“Motown is a treasure chest,” Ruth told Merc. “The Temptations, the Supremes, the Jackson 5...”

They’d been in the tree for an hour, sharing music through her earbuds. “‘I’m gonna make you love me,’” she sang. “I like the part where he says he’s going to shower her with love and affection. I used to tease my brother with that song when he claimed to like me less than shoveling cat dung. Mum liked that song. When it first came out and was always on the radio, she and Da would dance to it.”

She swung her feet, brushing her bare toes through the trailing ends of his feathers. She’d toed off her shoes and let them drop down to the forest floor. “Do you sing?” she asked him. “Dance? Tap your feet?”

So far, he hadn’t engaged that way with the music, but his eyes flickered with intrigue on every song she chose.

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