Page 95 of Club Blood

Cecelia closed her eyes, pained, “Please do not ask me for any more. I’m not sure I can take it.”

“Please don’t die,” I whispered. Vulnerability flooded the words and I couldn’t help but choke on them, “I cannot take another breath if there is noyouin the world.”

She was quiet for a long moment.

“I’m still angry.”

“You have every right to be.”

“And this doesn’t mean that we’ll betogether.” My mouth turned into an incredulous smirk.

“Of course not. You are free to do as you please, although I do hope you stay in our coven. Someone with this much fire, someone who could kill the nastiest of our kind is worth keeping around.”

She leaned in close enough to kiss me, but didn’t. Her breath was hot on my mouth.

“I will show you just how cruel and wicked I can be, too. You created this demon, you might as well be around to witness the consequences of it.”

“While the offer is tempting, Cece, I have something I’d like to show you first.”

* * *

Ambrosiawaswhere this all started, and it felt only right that I brought her here again. It was different this time, having Cecelia stand beside me in the tinted windows of the office about the dance floor, the sound of music rattling the walls. She stood against the pane, arms crossed, gazing at the clientele below.

“Were there always so many vampires here?” She asked casually, eyes flitting across the open space.

I nodded, “Mortal eyes are accustomed to ignoring what it is they don’t want to see. I’d always been shocked that so many humans come here, with so many of us present. Even the donors, who believe they want the rush, would run in the other direction if they knew.”

“SoAmbrosiais for what? Dancing and killing and feeding?” She winced, and I knew that once again she was thinking about her friend Laura. The pain of her loss would affect her for years to come. I put a comforting hand on her shoulder, and was delighted that she didn’t shrug me away. That was progress.

“Ambrosiawas created as a means to keep my coven safe, and watched over. I give them pleasures, yes, but ultimately my kingdom is centralized here. I created this place to watch over them.”

“So you are like their mother,” she laughed.

“Of a sort, I guess you could say. But this kingdom needs more than just a watchful eye. They need someone to look out for the humans, too. Sin City and its lustful affairs are quite in need of protection, more than I can give on my own. I need a partner to rule beside me.”

Cecelia turned to look at me, her brows furrowing at the suggestion, “You wantmeto be that person?” I nodded.

“I think they need you, much like I do.”

She bit her lip and uncrossed her arms, putting both palms on the glass. I watched as Cecelia contemplated the offer, her eyes a swirling mess of relief, fear, and indecision.

“We would need to take this to the council,” I added, “While many High Lords take mates, there are very few that take business partnerships. Someone who has an equal share in the region’s decision-making. You would be my equal, obviously. And I believe that you taking the seat next to mine would help keep Carlisle from making any stupid decisions.”

She turned to look at me again, her vision becoming clearer. More excitement than anything else.

“I cannot guarantee that they will approve of your spot on council, as it’s never been done before. But they are more lenient than one would think. I have been known to be a little…chaotic. Perhaps they’d see it as a way to keep me from ruining this for the rest of them.” I laughed at the thought, before adding, “Plus, they’d know I would make their lives insufferable if they refused.”

Cecelia’s rumble of a chuckle surprised me, but made the jolt of electricity start in my center again.

“And this would mean what?”

“That you would be a High Lady. The second of our kind. And you would get this,” I gestured towards the throne and my subjects below.

“A kingdom,” she breathed.

“You would get the entirety of Las Vegas, Cecelia. To do with as you pleased.”

She mulled it over for a second longer before popping her lips; I took her hand, squeezing gently. Cecelia had told me that her living would not mean that we would be together, but I didn’t believe her. There was a gravitational pull that could not be denied. I would allow her time to pretend otherwise, but we were created for one another, and I knew that she would see that in the end. I might have been the villain, but she loved that part of me.

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