Page 41 of The Second Sight
“Come. meet my family.” I whispered in Kasi’s ear and got a surge of energy to my cock when her body shivered.
As we reached the bottom of the staircase, the passage widened into a grand foyer. Two vampire guards stood at attention, their postures stiffening as they caught Kasi’s human scent. Marcus on the left was turned during the Civil War. He still maintained the rigid military stance of his human life. Lena on the right was barely a century old. Her dark eyes widened as she noticed my human.
“Master Crackstone,” Marcus acknowledged with a slight bow, his gaze never leaving Kasi.
I kept my expression neutral, though inwardly I noted their reactions for future reference. Any guard who might pose a threat to Kasi would be reassigned or worse.
Lena’s nostrils flared as we passed, her hunger evident in the way her pupils dilated. Too young to have perfect control, too inexperienced to hide her reaction. I shot her a warning glance that made her quickly avert her eyes. The message was clear: this human was under my protection.
“They looked at me like I was food,” Kasi whispered as we moved beyond earshot.
“You are food to them,” I answered honestly. “But you’re also something else, something many of them have never encountered. Fae blood is rare, especially diluted through human generations as yours is. They just believe you to be a pleasant-smelling human.”
We approached the massive iron doors that separated the foyer from the main hall.
The main hall opened before us, a cavernous space with vaulted ceilings supported by stone columns carved to resemble twisted human forms. Dozens of vampires gathered in small clusters, some seated on antique furniture arranged throughout the hall, others standing in conversation. Centuries of collected treasures decorated the space. My paintings that would make museum curators weep, sculptures from civilizations long forgotten, and tapestries woven with threads dipped in blood for color that would never fade.
The quiet murmur of conversation died as we entered. Heads turned, nostrils flared, eyes narrowed. I felt Kasi tense beside me, her body instinctively pressing closer to mine for protection. I loved it, even encouraged it by shifting my stance to partially shield her from the room’s scrutiny.
“My coven,” I announced, my voice carrying effortlessly through the suddenly silent chamber. “This is Kasinda Bacchar. She is my human, my mate. She is under my personal protection and will be afforded every courtesy.”
The gathering crowd of my vampires erupted in applause. It was a celebratory statement. I hadn’t claimed anyone as my mate in over a hundred years.
The formal introduction was necessary. It established my claim, my protection, my willingness to challenge anyone who might threaten her. Showing the coven that she was off limitsmeant no one could later claim not to know who she was if they encountered her in the world and wanted to feed or worse, kill her. Touching her would mean death to any vampire in my coven. Even if not written law, it was our way, and now, they all knew of her.
The gathered vampires regarded us with expressions ranging from curiosity, confusion, elation to outright hostility. None dared speak against me openly, but their silence communicated volumes and was duly noted by me.
From the shadows, near my throne, which was a ridiculous medieval affectation I’d kept more for tradition than ego, my dearest sister emerged. Lily moved with the fluid grace of a predator. Her green eyes fixed on Kasi with an intensity that made my jaw clench. As my sister and second-in-command, she had privileges others did not, including the right to question my decisions. I had expected her disapproval. She was protective of me as I was of her.
“Brother,” she said. “What is this?”
She approached slowly, circling my Kasi like a shark smelling blood in water. Her movements were deliberate and calculated to intimidate. To her credit, Kasi remained still, though I could hear her heart racing and feel the slight tremor in her body where my hand still rested at her back.
Lily completed her circle, stopping directly before Kasi. She cleared her throat. “Respectfully, may I ask why you brought her down here?” She said with her voice carrying effortlessly through the chamber. “This is our private place.”
“You may ask, dear sister. The answer is simple. This is my private place. Mine.” I tapped my chest with my open palm for emphasis. “This is my coven. Mine. I am drawn to Kasi, and I have already claimed her physically. That is the answer.”
“As you wish,” she said tightly, the words clearly meaning something other than wishing me anything considered good.
“Please, everyone, go back to your duties.” I bellowed out to my coven. With no more words to exchange, everyone dispersed, everyone but my sister and the few vampires that were in earshot.
“She smells different outside of the club.” Lily announced coldly, her voice carrying throughout the hall.
“It’s because she’s half-fae.”
“That’s why she smells like that?” Her face twisted as if the hint of fae was a bad smell, when that was far from the truth.
“Yes.”
“This is dangerous, Seven. You know our history with the fae.”
“It’s not our history. It’s the Bambara’s history with the fae.”
“We have a truce with the Bambara Brotherhood, and the fae do not.”
The murmurs of a few coven members began, along with a few whispers. No one dared speak up, but soon the word of my mate’s parentage would soon spread throughout the coven. I shifted my position, placing myself slightly between Lily and Kasi in a stance that was unmistakably protective. The move was not subtle, nor was it meant to be. Every vampire in the room would recognize it for what it was, a challenge to anyone who might threaten what was mine.
“I am aware of fae history. I’ve read more books on the subject than you.” I replied, keeping my voice low but high enough to get my point across. “I am also aware that I lead this coven, and my decisions are not subject to public debate.”
