Page 8 of Addicted in Blood
Asshole.
ChapterFive
After I leftSergi in the closet, digging for who knew what, I spent an hour in the gym until my arms and legs felt like tall grass beaten down by summer hailstorms.I dragged my feet up the stairs and fell into a tub of Epsom salts, continually draining and refilling the tub to keep the water hot.When my skin was pink, I added cold water and soaked until my pruned body shivered from the chill.
Once I dried myself off, I rolled into bed and slept, thankful no dreams came.Not that I’d slept long enough for dreams.I’d been down for maybe fifteen minutes when Ginger slipped into my room.She was uncommonly reserved, and I only knew it was her from the scent of her floral perfume.She slid into bed and grasped my hand.
I squeezed back.She was worried for Lucas.I understood, and we laid quietly for some time before a knock sounded on the door.
I sprang up.Simone must be back.Ginger popped up beside me, and I blew out a disappointed breath when Anna poked her head in.
“Did I wake you?”She pushed the door open, seemingly not caring whether she had or not.I considered forgiving her since she was holding a large tray with domed lids and a bottle of wine with three glasses.She kicked the door closed with her foot then placed the tray on the dresser.“Sorry for the intrusion, but Sergi said you needed to eat, and with all the tension in the manor, I thought this might be a good time for a chat.”
She shook out a small tablecloth and spread it on the floor before placing the tray in the middle of it.The wineglasses were arranged in strategic locations followed by napkins, plates, and utensils in what I recognized as one of the casual social settings I’d learned during the first week in Devon’s employ.
Ginger hit the floor before me.I rose slowly, testing my spent muscles and relieved to find the bath did the trick.I wasn’t ready to run a marathon, but I’d be able to walk down the stairs without falling like a limp doll.
I sat cross-legged and watched as Anna laid out warm roast beef sandwiches, homemade potato salad, and a desert of fresh fruit tossed with one of Cook’s signature light sauces.Anna opened the wine with the expertise of a sommelier and poured a small amount in each glass before sliding in a stopper.
“Wow.I’ve never had a picnic in a bedroom before.This is perfect.”Ginger gobbled the potato salad.
She was a stress eater.I was more of a stress drinker, so I started with wine while nibbling at the sandwich.
“This is certainly my first indoor picnic.”Anna tittered as she moved her utensils around.“But it seemed more exciting than leaving a tray at the door.I know Cressa well enough that if she doesn’t want to come down to eat it’s almost impossible to find the proper lure.”
Ginger laughed.“Yeah, manipulation is the only way.”
When I gave her a sour look, it only made her giggle more.
“And you needed to stick around to report to Sergi how much I ate.”I took another bite of sandwich, knowing I sounded like a harpy.
If Anna was hurt by my comment, she didn’t show it.“That’s easy enough to see by the leftovers.Though he is worried about you.”She shrugged, scooping up a fork of fruit salad.“We’re all overwrought by the situation.Worry for Devon, his House, and family.”
“I know that.”Although I questioned whether Sergi was truly concerned or had been given orders to keep an eye on me.“I get a bit snippy when my world’s been turned upside down.”
“And let me tell you, I usually grab my headsets and run for my room until she drinks her way out of it.”Ginger stuffed her mouth with a huge bite and still managed to give me a devilish smile.
“I’m aware.”Anna nodded and pointed her fork at Ginger.“I admit, it took me awhile to figure her out.At first, her taunts bothered me until I noticed she was like that with everyone.If she can do that with Sergi and Simone and get away with it, I figured she doesn’t really mean anything by it.”
“Hey, guys.I’m right here.No reason to talk about me like I’m invisible.”
The two of them winked at each other like co-conspirators, and I shook my head.Once most of the food was gone, and Anna poured more wine, we leaned back, rubbing our bellies like satisfied elves after Christmas dinner.I might not have been hungry, but it was impossible to pass up Cook’s food.
I turned to Anna.“I apologize if you covered this in one of our lessons, but I don’t remember talking about succession within a House.”
She tilted her head as she considered our recent sessions.“No, we really haven’t.I might have mentioned succession but not how it works.You’re wondering about the rules if the leader of the House leaves no heir.”
“In part.But I understand after Devon’s parents were killed in the accident, he had an issue with Magic Poppy.Would there have been a question of succession then?”
Anna’s face paled, but she shook her head.“Devon was the first born.The House would immediately be his.It doesn’t matter what mental condition a leader is in.It’s only if he or his family can’t keep the House running that the Council would step in to seize and dismantle it.So his incident with the Poppy, while frowned upon by the Council, had no impact to the House, but it did lead in part to his censure, as it would any of the members.”
I considered what she said.“So why is it different now?”
“If it were only the Poppy, it would make removing his censure twice as hard—almost impossible—but not eliminate his leadership.”She ran her hands over her slacks before playing with an errant string from a seam.“In this case, a Council member was killed.Murder of another House leader calls for execution.”
I couldn’t breathe.I was thinking vamp prison, not death.I swallowed the rest of the wine and poured myself more.“Doesn’t it have to be proved?”It was a reasonable question, though we all knew it didn’t look good for Devon.
She nodded.“It has to be proven without any doubt, otherwise the leader will be imprisoned until a final determination can be made.”
