Page 46 of The Star's Sword

I hesitated, but then nodded. I didn’t want to keep any secrets from anyone, but as Simon had never asked it of me before, and he’d always been there, I decided that he must have good reasons in mind.

“Good,” he said. “If I find you have ever told, I shall be very angry.” He led the way up the spiral staircase. “Up here, where we can close the door. We should have at least a couple minutes.”

I followed him, utterly curious what he could have to say.

16

“Cayne asked you to spy on me, didn’t he?” Simon asked, the second we reached the top floor and walked into a small circular room, where he closed the door behind us. “That’s why you’re here, right?”

I hesitated, not wanting to betray my trainer, but my expression gave it away.

“I knew it,” Simon said. “He’s become too nosy since coming back from the dead.”

I sat in a soft chair, noting there were about a dozen in a circle around the room, and there was a round bed in the center, with a canopy of crystals above, hanging from the ceiling.

The chairs had teal velvet cushions and were painted white.

“This is your room?” I asked, looking at the clothes strewn about.

“This is where I entertain,” Simon said, sitting down on the bed and facing me, crossing his legs and then crossing his hands over his knees. He looked slightly nervous.

“If Cayne was checking on you, would it be that bad?” I asked. “After all, we need to visit and impress vampires anyway.”

“Not me,” Simon said. “I’m already firmly on your side. No, it’s the rest of the court you need. Unlike Vasara. She’s already winning vampires over. You know, even my humans seem to like her. She’d never feed on a lowly human so she is safe around them.”

“I thought humans tasted the best,” I said, confused.

Simon shook his head. “She’s a celestial, so she prefers attention and adulation. Celestials outgrew human attention once paranormals became more common and bred with humans, creating blood that goes hand in hand with magic. Whereas pure vampires like myself prefer lowly human blood.”

“Right,” I said. “Or demon.”

Simon nodded. “I can feed off anything, really, as long as it bleeds. The effects, however, vary.”

“I see,” I said. “What happens if you feed from a demon?”

“I get a strong bond with them. And sometimes other things happen,” Simon said. “Depends on the demon.” He eyed my neck, and I felt my skin crawl slightly. I didn’t hate Simon, but I was super afraid of being bitten and fed on.

Being raised in the havens, it had always been put forward as the worst thing that could happen to you.

“Look,” Simon said, laying on the bed and rolling on to his stomach where he propped his cheeks up with his hands while facing me. “I hear you’re opening the relationship. You know, between you and Samael.”

I nodded. “Maybe.” I still couldn’t fathom a relationship with more than one person.

“It’d be smart,” Simon said. “Every bond you have will strengthen you, and nothing strengthens bonds like sex or biting.”

I laughed. “So you want to feed on me, is that it?” I shook my head. “Because I still can’t see myself feeding a vampire that way.” I rubbed my arm, which was scarred consistently from all the donations. “I give until I can’t give anymore, but the fangs.” I shuddered.

“But it’s me, Cleo,” Simon said, looking disappointed. “You can trust me, right?”

I eyed him side-long. “I hear you’re the most dangerous.”

Simon laughed. “Who said that? Mark?”

“No,” I said. “Mark doesn’t like you though.”

“I know,” Simon said irritably. “How can he hate my free-range humans?” He frowned. “What’s so wrong with getting consent before feeding?”

“We all have different opinions, I guess,” I said, at a loss for words.

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