Page 41 of Club Blood

I recognized Narcissa’s sharp lean figure and horrific scowl, just before she slinked back into the shadows.

24

WARREN

The smell of blood,sex and alcohol filled my nostrils as I walked through the gyrating bodies atAmbrosia. My fangs elongated on their own accord, itching to sink into the tender flesh of someone here and feel the sweet nectar of human blood coat my throat. But I couldn’t do that – I was here on duty and I wouldn’t let Mercy down.

It had been a surprise to see her enter the club with little Cecelia on her arm, bringing her directly into the lion’s den while Carlisle and his people were visiting. Though as I looked at her lounging across her throne with Cece buried in her cunt, I knew what kind of message she was trying to send.

Mercy had been vying for power for so long, her entire second life building to the moment where she conquered everything, taking the Authority on her own. The deception and bloodshed along the way would have turned anyone else ugly, betraying their monstrous nature for all to see. But not her.

Mercy Petrova was only ever meant for ruling and as she sat before her Queendom, I knew that there would be hell to pay for anyone who dared to go against her. She would slaughter them, and I would be the hand helping her do it.

I motioned to the bartender to bring me a bottle of beer and took a swig as I propped up on a stool, turning to watch my assignments.

They were seated in the middle booth lining the left wall, giving them full access to watch the doors. Vampires were suspicious people – we had literally beenkilledto become what we are – so, if given the option, you would most likely find them facing the doors and windows, ensuring their backs were never turned to possible enemies.

While the lights flashed and sweat dripped from every orifice, I silently watched as Carlisle leaned over, yelling into the ears of his entourage. It was a bit dramatic, in my opinion, considering the heightened hearing capabilities of our kind, but each to their own. The man to his left—Henrik, a tall, mean-looking fucker with ice-blonde hair and tattoos across his entire body—looked almost bored, gulping down drinks and nodding in response to Carlisle whenever he spoke directly to him. That was strange.

I had met Henrik a few times over the years, though I couldn’t say Iknewhim. Henrik was quiet, closed-off and, as much as I hated to admit it, intriguing. He had participated in more than one positively delicious fuck with me and my favorite bloodbags, but sometimes he got a glint in his eye when he was feeding that made me want to run from him until my feet couldn’t carry me anymore. If Mercy had been born for power, Henrik had been born for chaos. Carnage ran in his veins, and he was unwaveringly loyal to Carlisle.

Even my divine dick and magic mouth wouldn’t be able to persuade him to change his allegiances.

I was almost six beers down by the time my hunger started to irritate me. It was difficult for vampires to get drunk, though not impossible. If you consumed enough, probably enough to make a dainty little human comatose, you’d get a pretty good buzz. But the biggest impact alcohol had on our bodies was amplifying our thirst. What was temptation slowly turned into something more dangerous.

It was one of the reasons Mercy had chosen to openAmbrosiaand made the stipulations she had when our kind became Known. Only willing humans with branding on their wrists were allowed to be drunk from. Those with the branding were monitored to ensure that noaccidentsoccurred under the influence of alcohol. It wasn’t an easy task, but Mercy ran a tight ship and had less casualties than the human clubs.

Sitting in a booth beside the bar, branded donors were eagerly awaiting someone willing to drink from them. A pretty blonde with big brown eyes and lips plump with artificial filler caught my eye. My dick stirred as I imagined those lips wrapped around me, sucking me off so well that I would have to feed on her, just like she wanted. I didn’t have time for any of that, but I did need to feed if I was going to concentrate on the job at hand.

“You look ravishing, doll,” I purred in her ear, the satisfied shiver down her spine stroking my ego. There was no higher compliment to my kind than being both feared and desired in the same breath. Humans loved to flirt with danger, and the Known were as dangerous as it got.

“I taste even better.”

I raised my eyebrow at her, admittedly turned on by her boldness. “I think I should be the judge of that.”

Leading her by the hand out to the edge of the booth, I sat down with her on my lap, letting her shift until she sat comfortably against me. She smelled of sweat and smoke which made my nose twitch, but it was the underneath scent that intrigued me; the honey and spice of the blood pumping through her veins, the smell of her arousal as I brushed my mouth against her neck and let my fangs nick the skin.

She opened her mouth to speak but I pierced the layers of skin and began to suck, taking my fill of her. Her words turned into a moan on her tongue and she pressed back against me, tilting her head for easier access. These donors were so willing and pliable, taking pleasure in the fact that they offered something we could simply take. It made them feel like they were in control, though their bodies’ reactions always taught them the truth in that.

Her blood tasted sweet and satisfied my urges, wiping away the buzz and arousal that the beer had created. I let myself take more, though I was careful to make sure it wasn’t enough to weaken her, until I felt full. Vampires were never satiated for long but it was a nice feeling, if fleeting.

The blonde sighed when I pulled my fangs from her, licking over the wounds and watching as my venom stitched the tiny holes back together like nothing had happened. Vampirism was a disease that nobody had been able to understand, but it would be a hell of a day when a scientist was able to figure out just what sort of parasite made us this way.

“Well, darling,” I cooed into her ear, “you were right. You really did taste good.”

Delirious and daring, she took my hand and trailed it down her front, rubbing it against the aching pussy beneath her short little dress. “I taste good in other places, too.”

I chuckled, and pulled my hand away, lifting her off me by the waist so that I could stand. “I’m afraid I have other things I need to be doing right now. Though I don’t doubt you would be such a fun feast to take to my bed.”

Winking at me, she pointed towards the door which led to the stairs and office space above. “I don’t need a bed to make it fun for you.”

I tutted and took her hand in mine, leading her through the sea of bodies. “You don’t want to get entangled in my brand of fun tonight, love. But let me introduce you to some other people who would be more than happy to assist you with your pressing problem.”

Carlisle’s eyes lit up in glee when I approached his table, his grin looking more predatory than welcoming.

“Warren, it has been far too long since I saw you, my friend.”

He reached out to shake my hand and I clasped it in mine, feeling the sigil on his ring dig into my palm. I pulled my hand back and nodded to his table, offering simple greetings to the ones I had met before.

---