Page 28 of Greer's Change

My stomach tightens, twisting in knots. I’ve never vomited in my long life, but the churning in my gut makes it seem like a real possibility.

“That leaves little choice to if we intercede,” Reign says. “If not, she’ll die or, at the very least, cease to exist as she is now.”

“You think I don’t know that?” Novak hisses. “At the same time, I’m not prepared to take on the responsibility of a progeny. If she snaps and kills someone, I’ll be on the hook for the fine. Not to mention how needy newborn vampires are. That level of commitment…it makes my brain ache. That’s not even considering what happens if her original maker shows up to make sure his inattentiveness did the job of finishing her off.”

My head shakes.

That’s exactly like Novak. He’s calculating, and any situation needs to benefithimbefore he’ll even consider it.

I back away slowly, and I’m up the stairs before I can stop myself.

Novak will need a concession, and I only have one thing to bargain with—my magic.

I made him wealthy beyond his wildest dreams. Rut took off to the level it did because my magic fueled it. Everyone wants to experience the buzz of lust that comes from being high on incubi magic. It’s the most intense sex they’ll ever experience.

I’ll offer fifty years of servitude, and we’ll likely settle on one hundred. It’s longer than I’d like to commit, but I will to ensure her survival.

My gaze lands on Greer as I make it back into the room. She whimpers in her sleep, and the sound alone drags me toward her.

Crawling onto the edge of the bed, I fight back my own terrible memories. I was her a few hundred years ago—in an unfamiliar place, with no idea of the rules or what was happening to me.

Someone worse than Novak could have been the one to summon me, and I’ve always understood that.

Her original maker was shit.

Novak will treat her with basic kindness. He might grumble his way through every lesson, but he will teach her. It’s in his nature to guide those around him. I just have to ensure he can’t say no.

Once her life is intrinsically tied to mine, he won’t be able to.

Leaning over Greer, I slide my palm between her skull and the bed. I gently lift her toward me, pushing her hair back from her cheek with my free hand.

“Sorry, kitten. I need you to wake up for just a minute,” I murmur, nuzzling my nose to hers.

Her gray eyes pop open, but her blood vessels are so damaged that the white of her eyes is almost completely red. “I don’t feel good.”

“Aww, precious. I know you don’t, but we’re going to get you fixed up.”

“How?”

“I need you to do something,” I say, swallowing thickly. “Accept my claiming bite.”

Her eyes widen, but I don’t allow myself to hesitate.

My magic pulses in the air, and I brush my lips over hers. Her skin is feverish to the point it burns my lips, and that only ratchets my alarm higher.

Vampires are supposed to be cold, not borderline hotter than me. I’m a creature of Hell.

Capturing her lower lip, I don’t hesitate to dig my teeth in.

She gasps as her blood fills my mouth.

I avoid swallowing it, considering the circumstances. Pulling back, I spit it into the trash can next to the bed.

“Me next. Dig those baby fangs right into my bottom lip,” I coo, brushing my fingers over her sweaty cheek.

“No, I can’t. What if I die? I’ll take you with me…”

“I’ve already marked you. Our lives are tied together, but it will hurt my feelings if you don’t claim me back.”

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