Page 4 of Crimson Mourning

“Till there’s a change,” I answered and headed towards the side of my gym. There was a towel rack and water station within a few feet. I grabbed a towel, wiped my forehead and wrapped it around my shoulders before I reached for a chilled water bottle in the bucket of ice on the floor. “You know council leadershiponly changes when one of them dies. A clan leader dies, the next strongest takes their place and the council reforms. Until someone decides to make a move against them, we are on the outside.”

I lifted the water bottle full of blood and squeezed, squirting a strong stream onto the back of my throat and swishing the thick nectar around my tongue.

“Well, maybe it’s time someone did.”

The contents in my mouth spewed forth and splattered the wall. It was as much from the treasonous statement my brother uttered, as from the vile liquid itself.

“Alessandra!” I roared.

Seconds passed like hours as I waited on my familiar to return, and with each passing moment the inferno within me raged hotter. When the door cracked open and the delicate flower emerged from behind it, my skin was on fire.

“Yes, master?” She asked.

Alessandra was my most trusted of familiars. She was the first one I’d taken on and had been with me for years. I’d used her every way I wanted and filled her holes at my leisure. She was loyal, worthy, and a damn good lay.

“How many times have I said, ‘fresh blood,’ is to be prepared for Damon and myself during our sparring matches?”

“Plenty of times, master,” she answered, her head low.

I threw the water bottle of blood at her feet and watched as it rolled until it touched her toes.

“Thatisnotfresh,” I informed her.

In all the time Alessandra served me, she’d never once given me a reason to doubt her. But as my brother watched on and spoke of dangerous things, I was reminded of the inescapable truth. We were kings, free to pursue what we wanted.

Alessandra picked up the water bottle from the floor and raised her head to mine, her eyes widened. She softly shookher head and stepped back, trembling as I pounced. I drank deep from her until I had my fill, and as I tore out her throat something stirred within me. I didn’t know what Damon wanted but I knew what I did. It was what I’d always wanted and if he was ready to make moves, then so would I.

CHAPTER FOUR

CASSIE

I lounged in the antique clawfoot tub in the en suite, my right leg seductively stretched over the side, as I soaked in a mountain full of lavender bubbles. Lavender was one of my husband’s favorite scents on me and I wanted to make the occasion as special as I could. It was our tenth wedding anniversary, and it would be one for the history books.

Normal couples celebrated it as a milestone. We were not normal couples. For us, it was bigger than a milestone. Our marriage was not the conventional type. It wasn’t unusual to see humans and vampires, but itwasunheard of to see humans and vampires in the bonds of marriage. We were different.

We had obstacles to face from the beginning. The marriage was frowned on from every corner of society, but we made it work. Through all the dirty looks and all the whispers of vampires and familiars alike, we were happy. I was happy. But, I also wanted more. More than what my husband was willing to give me.

Leaning forward, I pulled the plunger out of the tub and stepped out, letting the bubbles flow down my body. I didn’t bother to grab a towel. I walked naked to my closet and chosehis favorite dress; black, backless and tied around the neck at my shoulders. He wouldn’t be happy when he saw me in it. I didn’t care. I was going to make this night special for us both, dammit, even if it killed me.

Damon was a patient man, so I moved with care as I dressed. The extra time was needed to get ready. I wanted to be perfect for him. Making sure everything was in place, down to the blindfold in my clutch purse, I started the primping regimen. I left my hair down to spill over my shoulders and down my back. Damon liked it this way, and I was damn sure going to give it to him the way he liked.

I looked at myself one last time, grabbed my clutch from the vanity, and walked down the hall to the staircase. When I reached the landing, there he was, looking out the French doors of the living room. The brilliant white light of the moon streamed through and illuminated the vast room in an otherworldly aura.

Perfect.

It was his favorite time of day. Damon pulled energy from the moon most nights but sometimes all he did was stare at it and reflect on things. I paused for a moment to soak it in. I loved him like this. Being the head of his clan, these moments were few and far between for him. He was quiet, humble, and calm. And he was mine.

As soon as the heel of my “fuck me” stilettoes clicked on the first step, Damon shifted his stance and watched me descend. He drank in every inch of me, exactly as I wanted. I wanted him to relish me, salivate over me, and want me more than he ever had before. I had a mission, and I needed him in the right frame of mind to carry it out.

Was it a sneaky, fucked up way for me to do things?

Yes, but it was necessary. This was the only way I could think of to sway my husband.

This had to work.

“Ready to go, babe?” I asked as I stopped in front of him and kissed his cheek.

“I guess, but with you looking likethat,” he growled and pulled me in close. A well-placed kiss on my forehead made my leg quiver. "I say we stay in," he said, lust falling from every syllable.

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