Vita shushed him, placing a palm to his cheek before she could stop herself. Verian froze for a moment, but sighed into the touch.
“I’m fine, really. Better than I was with Amulius, I think.”
She glanced around and the only other in the vicinity was a guard she didn’t recognize, though he was out of earshot. She took both of Verian’s hands in hers now, and she realized just how much she’d missed him, even though it had only been a short time.
Two days that had changed everything.
His large hands perfectly enclosed hers, brows furrowed with concern. She cleared her throat, deciding there was no sense in hiding anything from her friend. She could trust him with this secret.
“The High Consul is… well, he’s a vampire.”
Verian’s eyes narrowed with doubt, as if she were spouting nonsense. “A… vampire?”
Vita nodded before continuing, trying to make him understand. “He hasn’t hurt me, has been… mostly polite. And I’m not working for him, I’m just his guest.”
“A vampire? The High Consul is avampire? I didn’t even think they were real.”
The summer sun beat down on them, glinting off his shining armor as a warm breeze ruffled his curls.
“I know. Believe me, I was… shocked. But it’s true. They’re real. I’m certain of it. And the High Consul…” Vita trailed off.
“He didn’t bite you, did he?” Verian asked, eyes roving all over her as if looking for puncture wounds.
She felt the familiar warmth of desire at the thought of Renatus biting her, desperately trying to push that image away while she stood in front of her friend.
“No, he hasn’t. I… well, I saw him bite someone else. People who wanted to be bitten.”
“What do you mean?” Verian furrowed his brows and a warmth rose to Vita’s cheeks at the thought of explaining it to him.
“He, uh, he made me come to his room two nights ago,” she started, and he squeezed her hands as if anticipating the ending, though he said nothing. “He didn’t hurt me, or force me to do anything. Well, not really. Nothing I truly didn’t want, even if I was a bit surprised at first…”
She realized she was rambling, Verian’s eyes getting wider and wider as she blathered on. “Ver, he had two of histhrallssent to him, a man and a woman. I recognized one of them from Aonalia. He, uh, had sex with them right in front of me, and then bit them. He’s got these fangs that extend. I guess when he’s ready to feed.”
He sucked in a deep breath, an unreadable expression flashing across his face. “Did he hurt them?”
“Oh no, no. Well, maybe, but theyenjoyedit, that was certain.”
“And didyouenjoy it?”
Vita’s eyes went wide to match Verian’s, as if both were surprised by the question that had come out of his mouth. But no, she saw no ill intent behind the words, justcuriosity. Heat flushed her cheeks at how easily he could see right through her, like her head was transparent, exposing all of her thoughts and desires.
“I was frightened, but… yes, I was also interested. I don’t know, Ver, there’s something about him. Watching people do that was…” she trailed off, unable to explain the tumult of feelings that observing the act had stirred up.
He just nodded, and relief flooded her body. “Sweet girl, I just want you to be safe. You’re certain he won’t bite you?”
“I’ve been assured that won’t happen.”
Vita left out theunless she wanted itpart.
They stood there for a long moment, hands clutched together, observing each other without words. Though she hadn’t expected judgement from her friend, she appreciated his reassurance. He was still concerned, clear by the furrowed brows, but he hadn’t dismissed her feelings, which meant the world to her.
Finally, Verian broke the silence. “So… you’re his guest? For how long?”
“The High Consul said I’m free to come and go as I please… so I don’t think I’m a prisoner. I really have nowhere else to go, though.”
Before she could say anything else, he pulled her in for another hug, her chest pressed flush to his. He was silent for a few moments and she enjoyed the firm embrace, the way his arms squeezed her as if he never wanted to let her go.
Then, a whisper in her ear. “I will get you out of there, I promise.”