Page 37 of Smoke and Lure

“Will she be ready?Already, it has taken her longer to transition for you to complete the claiming than if she were Vampire-born—”

“Enough!”he thundered, his voice reverberating down the halls as he halted before the door leading to his favorite room.

He could hear dishes rattling across the mansion where servants set the dining room table.

Amaros slid a hand over his hair, slicking back the disobedient strands that had always fallen to his temple since he was a callow youth.In all things, he liked order.

He shifted so he faced his Coven’s Vice, who pressed her lips together, forcing herself to remain silent even though he could see the multitude of questions shadowing her eyes.

“I’m fully aware of my mate’s limitations and complications,” he stated, referring to the young ones she carried.If it weren’t for them feeding from Michaela, Amaros could have sped her process along faster and awakened her sooner in a controlled environment simply by bringing in a few humans and letting her feed and feed and feed until her bloodlust was sated, and the transition was complete.That way would run the risk of human sacrifices being mutilated.

But he wasn’t as cruel a Sire as those who reigned at different times in the past.

“However, it is vital that all members of the preternatural council play by the same rules if this relationship will work long term.Especially if the human government is being deceptive shits.”

Marceline frowned and stepped closer to him.She lowered her voice so that her lips did not even move.“Have you learned something new, Sire?”

Amaros knew she did it not because of the Prime, who had good hearing because of the light traces of serum in their blood, but mainly because of the Vampires within.They could hear a mouse expel gas five miles away.

Like him, his Vice knew it took all of Amaros's control and diplomacy to keep vamps in his Coven outside the human-walled territory.All they needed was a reason, and pillars of black smoke would creep over the high walls, set on a feeding frenzy and devastation.

But he could trust his Vice to have his back, and now, with his mate's life.“Yes,” he answered in kind, then mouthed.‘She carries.’

Marceline gasped.

He knew his Vice was unaware of his mate's condition because when Marceline had entered the room, Michaela had been in the stage between life and death, and so had the little ones.

“Yet, she is untouched,” he continued in her same low tones.

The furrowed brow was set so deep it marred Marceline’s beautiful features.“What...?How?”

“I will discover this soon.”With that, Amaros reached for the doorknob and entered the room alone.

Marceline retreated in the opposite direction toward the formal dining room.

Waning sunlight poured into the room, painting the sky above in shades of violet and orange.Amaros could find beauty in the colors even as he missed the true-blue hue of the sky and longed for the day when the wartime chemicals no longer tainted the atmosphere and marred the ozone layer.

The heat from the sun filling the glass room enhanced the scent of the humans gathered within the space.He could smell their perspiration, bottled fragrances, styling products, and even the cleaning solutions clinging to a couple of them that they used to keep the converted cathedral gleaming and in order.However, the sweet, warm scent of their blood drew him in, and for this reason, he enjoyed feeding in this space.

He slid his hands into his pockets as he stood still in the center of the room, closed his eyes briefly, and inhaled.Breathing in the delicious aroma caused his gums to tingle, and a shiver of anticipation danced along his spine like a connoisseur of select wines, fine bourbons, or culinary cuisines would lust for the first taste.Even after centuries, the raw, unmitigated desire for blood never vanished.He was a Vampire.

Shifting his gaze to the four gathered, he smiled to calm them.He’d drunk from a frightened source before, too many times to count when he was young and hasty, but the delicate yield of a willing vein was almost more pleasurable than the tight pinch around his fangs of a terrified provider.

When he entered, they stood around the table where they had been seated waiting for him—three women and two men.

Amaros gestured for one of them to step forth.He didn’t want the process to take too long because he wanted to get back to Michaela.He reached out mentally as one wide-eyed girl took the initiative and moved expeditiously toward him.

When she paused before him with a smile brighter than the sun that would set soon, he arched a brow at her expression.When a servant was too eager, he felt the need to set them straight and caution them if they believed somehow they had an opportunity to become Prime, those who had been carefully selected.

The other volunteers in the room with her were individuals he or others had fed from.However, he’d never seen this young lady provide blood before, so he asked, “What’s your name?”

“Zita,” came her eager answer as she bounced once, then on the balls of her feet a second time.

Amaros speared a look at her periwinkle flats.

Catching the hint, the girl settled.

“How old are you?”He lifted his gaze but made no move to touch her.

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