Page 62 of Thicker than Blood

“Where is this?”

“The town square. The mortals are behaving strangely.”

I watch the throngs of people running through the streets—fighting, kissing, vandalizing. “As I suspected. Something is happening.”

“Something, sir?”

I shake my head, pausing the video. “I don’t know what, but I feel it too. An urge, if you will.” I twist my head back and forthto stretch my neck. “It seeps through my veins, stirring my most feral instincts.”

“What?”

I clear my throat, shifting in my seat as my cock swells and my fangs drop. “Gods, what is happening to me?”

Benicio steps forward, touching my forehead, but I swat his hand away. “You need sustenance.”

I focus on his every movement as he hurries over to my credenza and pours a glass of blood for me. As he gets closer with it, the scent turns my stomach.

“No.” I shake my head. “I can’t drink that. It’s poison.”

“It is absolutely not poison. Shall I call the witches?”

Rising suddenly, I tear at my shirt until the buttons fly off, skittering across the wood floors. “I need Geordi. Now.”

“But, sir, you shouldn’t?—”

I don’t hear another word he says as I dart from the house, moving at a speed I rarely bother with anymore, allowing the scent of my delicious mortal to carry me to him. All I can see is his face.

I send my desires to him, knowing he must feel the connection as strongly as I do.

Come to me, Geordi. Come be with your vampire.

I pause in the town square, catching his scent but losing it again. I sort through the masses of people, tossing bodies out of my way as I search for my consort. Two people stabbing each other stumble into me, and I end their fruitless battle by ripping out their throats.

Finally, I spot him.

Geordi.

He’s alone, his nose buried in a notebook.

I stalk behind him, scooping him up effortlessly and tossing him over my shoulder.

“Hey! Oh, Elias. P-p-put me down. I’m working.”

“Mine,” I growl. “Consort.”

“Elias?”

“Safe.”

“Why are you talking like this?”

I launch into a run, arriving back to my house in mere seconds. Geordi groans as he vomits down my back, but I don’t care. The beast within me is pleased. Geordi is here. He’s safe.

Benicio opens the door just as I get to it, closing it again quickly behind me and locking it.

“Clear out Paradiso. I want to be alone with my consort.”

“Elias,” Geordi groans. “What’s going on?”

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