Page 30 of Rock Bottom
“I can, yes,” Marco admitted, “but I’ve only given you three suggestions. The first is that you wouldn’t notice he’s colder than human, the second to keep you from realizing you only see him at night, and the third to keep you from telling anyone about Julian not eating around you. That’s it. Nothing more. I’ve taken no memories from you, and I’ve inserted nothing else.”
I pressed my palm to my chest, as if I could quiet the hope fluttering there. She knew everything now — my failures, my humiliations, the secrets I never dared voice. And she hadn’t fled. She hadn’t demanded to forget me.
The memory faded, and Marco’s voice was back in my head.Kirsten flashed Silver home to get some clothes and the things she’ll need to spend possibly as long as a week here, and now she’s dressed as a man, and is upstairs eating. Let me know when you’re ready for Silver to come down to you.
There’s more, Master. You didn’t show me the whole conversation.
I did not. Your Silver gets pissed when she’s afraid, and I very much approve of her attitude. I left her to Cora and Kirsten for about thirty minutes while monitoring the conversation, and then I returned and answered some basic questions. She demanded to see me feed from someone, so I took a few sips from Cora’s neck in her presence.
He paused a few seconds before adding,Cora told your Silver more than she usually shares about her personal experiences, a great deal about how orgasmic a bite can be.
Thank you for telling me the rest, Master.
You can return to calling me Marco. You asked your questions respectfully. We’re good, faithful servant.
Thank you, Marco. I showered and dressed before death took me. Shall she come to me in my room, or can we perhaps have use of one of the sitting rooms?
I’ll have her taken to the teal guest suite.
I should feed before she arrives.
I don’t sense a hunger you can’t control. Talk to Silver, let her decide whether she wants to watch you feed from someone else, or her. I believe it will be the latter, but she hasn’t completely made her mind up, yet.
Thank you for your advice, Master.
I can give you three hours, possibly four. I’ll let you know about thirty minutes before you need to be finished.
Again, thank you.
I believe in rewarding those who are valuable to me. Go, enjoy your Silver.
I got out of my hidey-hole, straightened my clothes, and looked around my room once again. Everything was put away. No clutter. No mess. I double-checked my restroom and put a towel into the hamper. I didn’t know if I’d be bringing her back to my room or not, so it was best to be prepared.
The teal guest suite was a good distance from my room, so I checked for any active minds in the hallway and then made my way vampire-fast when I saw the path was clear. The outer room of the teal suite is a living room, with a separate bedroom. I closed the door to the bedroom, checked the bathroom, which can be reached by both the living area and the bedroom, and then turned the smart television on and maneuvered it to the kinds of songs I know Silver likes and would find soothing.
Silver arrived by himself, unescorted, and that’s a rarity in this house. People don’t get to go about without an escort in the underground until they’ve proven their trustworthiness.
Clearly, Marco was comfortable with whatever is in Silver’s head.
Silver stopped six feet away from me, wearing jeans, high-tops, and a deep-indigo shirt. His hair was in a ponytail without adornment, and he was masculinely beautiful. The distance between us made my heart hurt, but Silver needed to come to me. If I went to him and he recoiled, part of me would die.
“You’re a vampire,” he said, voice low and steady though I could hear and scent his strain and unease.
I’d come to the conclusion Silver is slightly more woman than man. Her natural voice sounds like a woman, but she doesn’t have to alter it much to slide into a more masculine register. It seems totally natural, and maybe I’m wrong about the whole thing and neither is the standard. Doesn’t matter. Everything about Silver is perfect.
But there were more urgent things between us. He’d said it as a statement, so I nodded slowly. “I’m relieved things transpired that allowed you to find out. I’ve wanted to tell you for so long, but your fame made it complicated. Marco advised me to wait before we pushed the issue. Things came to a head because Micca pressed to tell her men what she is. Will and Davy’s lives are in danger, and I didn’t want that to happen to you.”
I could see and scent the anger coiling in him, feel it shimmering in the air between us. I lifted a hand in a calming gesture. “Micca didn’t fully understand the ramifications. Under normal circumstances, she followed the accepted path to ask permission, but nothing is normal now. Only the vampires are aware of the balance between the old council and new one, which is keeping it from most supernaturals, everyone but the Strigorii, so most shapeshifters have no idea what’s looming.”
“That’s why we all had to go to Alfheim? Mikey and I are in danger because someone might take us to try to draw Will and Davy out of hiding?”
I nodded again, wishing I could close the distance between us. “Yes. But Kirsten, Marco, and Cora can keep you safe here.”
Silver shook his head, incredulous. “Cora is the alpha werewolf? That’s just crazy.”
“Cora is a worthy mate to Marco, certainly.”
He grinned back, and for a moment, it felt like the first time he’d looked at me without suspicion. “Yeah, and it sounds like he’s a worthy mate to her as well. Where are Will and Davy now?”
