Page 37 of Blood Descendants
“Then my son can help clear the table with me,” Augustus says, standing and beginning to stack the plates, much to my surprise.
I simply give a nod and catch Ares’ eyes for a moment. He’s every bit on guard as he was earlier, but he tips his chin up at me, and I cross to the door.
I find the only publicly accessible bathroom on the top floor. I take care of business, wash my hands, and observe myself in the mirror.
I’m pretty damn proud of myself for holding up the way I have. I’m facing down a damn vampire. One who is most definitely involved in shady things. One his own son described as borderline mafia status. And that determination in my eyes is one of my greatest accomplishments in life.
Just a few more minutes, I internally tell myself.
I twist open the doorknob, but before I can step out, Augustus fills the doorframe.
He takes a step forward, forcing me to take a step back. With his dark eyes fixed on me, he crosses the threshold and pulls the door to the bathroom closed behind him, locking it.
“What—”
“You’re an impressive woman, Lana Kincade,” he cuts me off, his gaze absolutely focused. He’s studying my face, memorizing every line and plane. “I’ve been pushing you the entire night, and you haven’t tripped once.”
He takes a step forward, and I take a matching one back.
“My son is impressive in his own right,” Augustus says, looking me over like a predator. “But you need to understand the difference between rich and wealthy. The financial difference between my son and myself is vast. The power and influence we hold on this city isn’t even a comparison.”
“Why are you saying these things, Mr. Lonan?” I ask. My throat feels tight. Sweat breaks out over my skin.
Any normal man and I’d be confident I could fend him off. Enough to get myself out of this tight situation.
But Augustus is a damn vampire.
He could take me straight to the floor. Pin me down. Do whatever he wants to me. Or he could just sink his fangs into my neck and drain me dry. Dead. No more Lana.
“Because I want to make you a different kind of proposal, Lana,” Augustus says. He takes another step forward, and finally, I run out of space. With a step backward, my ass hits the edge of the counter. “I have no interest in marriage like my son. But bear me another child, and I will set you up for the rest of your mortal life. Here in this house, preferably. But anywhere you like. So long as you show up to those events I mentioned and stay on my arm. Spit that venom you’re so good at. I can make you a very comfortable woman, Lana.”
My mouth opens, but no words come out.
The fuck?
Augustus wants me to bear him a child? In exchange for being, what? His kept girlfriend? His incubator put up in a shiny tower?
I might be at a physical disadvantage here, but I’d bet there’s one aspect where a vampire shares weakness with a human man.
My hand darts forward, and through his pants, I fist Augustus’ balls, giving them a vice-like squeeze and twist.
He lets out a wheeze and caves forward, catching himself with a flung-out hand on the counter.
“That would be afuck no,” I say through clenched teeth. “And you look at me like that again, you proposition me once more, you insult your son like this ever again, and I’ll make sure you never make another single heir.”
For good measure, I squeeze harder, letting my fingernails dig into his tender flesh.
I shove past him, leaving him hunched over at the counter, unlock the door, and step out into the hall.
Just then, Ares walks up the stairs, on his way to get another load of dishes.
“It’s time to go, darling,” I say, catching his hand and turning him as I head down the stairs.
Ares’ brow furrows at me for a second, and he casts a look over his shoulder, but Augustus, clutching his genitals in pain, is just out of his sight.
He lets me drag him down the stairs and doesn’t say a word as we walk out the front door. There, the black SUV waits, Billings in the driver’s seat. He scrambles out, opening the door for the two of us.
“What happened?” Ares asks the moment we’re seated and pull out onto the road.
