Page 45 of Of Blood and Smoke

I witnessed her doing it with the swans in the park. Before engaging the large birds, she figured out how to make them most comfortable, so they’d not panic. We’d watched a small child yelling and running toward the birds, sending them into frantic wing-flapping alarm and she’d managed to comfort them.

She’d approached them calmly, avoiding eye contact, and spoke softly to them, using gentle words. I was going to charm them so she could have an enjoyable experience, but she’d surprised me and done it naturally with minimal effort.

Maybe she didn’t need magic because shewasmagic. Her genuineness seemed miraculous to me when I’d been surrounded by games and subterfuge my entire existence.

At some point, and soon, I’d have to let her know I wasn’t human. So far, she’d accepted my quirks, but I knew that wouldn’t last. As time went on, she would notice more and more things about myself and my lifestyle that were unnatural.

Surprisingly, she hadn’t questioned my eyes beyond an initial “what are you” that I hadn’t yet answered, and she hadn’t pursued.

The more I fell under her spell, the more concerned I became. My behavior wouldn’t be tolerated for long, and I knew there were watchers, beings in the service of the High Court,that specifically reported Third Realm happenings to them for evaluation. They were certain to have a file on my current activities at this point. I was risking everything for a human, including perhaps the human herself someday.

I was sitting in my office at my home in Scarborough, contemplating my concerns when Micha walked in. He closed the door behind him and strolled across my space, eyeing my empty glass. “Refill?” he asked.

Holding the tumbler out, I answered, “Thank you.”

“Beautiful night,” he remarked, handing me the wine and blood mixture I’d been drinking and following my gaze. A full moon reflected off the rippling water of the Hudson River, bordering my property. Placing my glass down, I refilled it, passing the bottle back to my friend afterward.

Micha took a seat in a leather chair, resting an ankle on his knee before sipping his own beverage. “I’ve been hesitating to make any remarks about your behavior.” He took another, slow sip. “I trust you’ll back off my own situation.”

Irritation swelled within me at his flagrant defiance of my authority by questioning me, and I tamped it down. I had no leg to stand on; he was correct. I’d have to back off if I meant to keep Della—which I did. Nothing would dissuade me; I’d found the one I would keep for eternity, despite my unease over the extenuating circumstances and the war within me.

“Even your men are talking.”

I glanced at him quickly. “What do you mean? They know better.”

Lowering my defenses, I allowed the onslaught of atmospheric sensations to flow through me. Regret needled at me, I’d been too distracted as of late, the near entirety of my focus on Onychinus and Della.

The new product my company had created was due to release, and I’d been spending nearly all my time with my woman. Everything else had fallen away.

There was curiosity in the atmosphere, an anxious tone, trepidation. Mild fear. It tensed in the air, waiting to softly shatter. It wasn’t as overwhelming as I expected, but it was there.

I closed myself off. “I will deal with them.” Tossing back the remainder of my drink, I placed the glass down in front of me. I couldn’t wait to drink from Della’s vibrant crimson veins. My cock hardened at just the thought of a single drop delicately coating my tongue.

There was an important conversation to be had, first, as much as I desired to just take her. Perhaps I would do just that, she’d quickly realize resistance was futile. I knew she wouldn’t truly want to turn me down.

Stroking my chin, I asked, “What would you have me do?” While I’d made my own decision, I valued my best friend’s input.

Micha uncrossed his legs and loosened his tie. “What can we do? You know it is not allowed. We can’t procreate with humans and the collective expects heirs. That has never changed. All we can do is create either more demons or more vampires perhaps, through mating. A female human can’t carry a crossbreed.”

What Micha wasn’t saying was that it was an altogether novelty for any human to carry a demon or vampire baby to term. It’d only happened once or twice that I’d heard of. The best mates outside of the demon or vampire species were witches, their magical blood aiding in successful pregnancy.

It was similar to how other vampires were created—a human had to possess magical blood. But demons originated from one sole bloodline versus the various starting lines of blood-bound creatures.

Standing up, I walked around my desk and leaned against it, facing my friend. “I’m leaving for the Court tonight. I may broach the subject, depending on how the meeting goes.”

Micha stayed quiet for several seconds, contemplating my words. “Do not be disappointed. I imagine you’ll be soundly chastised for the mere thought of entertaining any sort of permanency with Della.”

It was expected, no doubt. “I apologize for any harsh words I had toward you. I was unaware what it was like to be bewitched by one of these creatures.” A self-deprecating chuckle left my mouth. “I had no idea.”

While I’d indulged in more than my fair share of human women, never had I been caught up in one’s web to the degree in which I was now. It was unnerving but turning into a beautiful experience.

The harshness of my demonic genes, coupled with the vibrancy of my vampiric genes, worked together to delight in Della’s presence. The coldness and extreme control I’d operated under while attempting not to lose myself in an explosion of sensations and feelings was something every crossbreed such as myself underwent. If one wasn’t careful, it was both homicidal and suicidal if left to roam free and unchecked.

The demon within me demanded I consume souls with reckless abandon while the vampire demanded I drain every precious ounce of blood from any being who dared cross my path. Harsh was my reality.

Both Micha and I were trained at a very early age to master our impulses, as were the other crossbreeds, by the Ancients. Thankfully, my parents exercised wisdom and did not put up a fight when I was taken away for specialized schooling.

At the time, I’d hated to leave them, but in hindsight it was for the best.

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