“I put you into the new Hotel position of Art Curator, not just because you are entirely qualified for it,” Quinn spoke with a deep knowing, “but also because Vampires are vastly obsessive when they are first Sired. Though you are Dark Fae, I feared the tendency might be the same – although you seem to have less obsessiveness than a true Vampire. But the signs are there, Ariana, growing these past weeks – and quite a lot today.”
“Such as?” Ariana asked standoffishly, though she instantly berated herself for it just like she had being nasty to her parents earlier.
“Details become engrossing, emotions become overwhelming and trigger flushes of power.” Quinn spoke calmly. “Time is lost as one obsesses over minutia with an almost animal fascination. If that obsession turns to bloodlust, it can be dangerous. So we distract new Vampires with engrossing tasks as per their interests. Your interest is art – and so cataloguing everything I have collected fits both my aims of keeping your obsessions and power controlled as they open, but also because my collection really is immense and needs to be addressed.”
Ariana knew it all made sense. But she was still stewing as she tapped her buffed nails on her arm. Suddenly, the movement gave her an intense vision of scratching her nails into Quinn’s back as they had sex. It was only a fantasy; but the vision was so hot it heated Ariana hard, her body on fire with dark power as her eyelashes fluttered.
Her cheeks scorched as Quinn lifted an eyebrow and sidled in close behind her. His breath was on her neck as he slid his long hands up her arms, easing his lips beneath her wild red hair. It left him breathing with a cold-hot intensity upon her neck, and Ariana shivered from head to heels as his dark Vampiric power curled all around her, pouring into her from his touch.
Shivering like a blown horse, Ariana’s magic rioted now, a sensation like dark starlight blossoming all through her. That beautiful cold-hot eros was silver and gold as it cascaded through her, sparkling in the air as she failed to get control of it. Dark rainbows flooded from her as she gasped. But though she could feel how much Quinn wanted to kiss her neck and pour an answering passion deep inside her, with a soothing sound, he merely stroked his smoke-black aura through her with his long fingers.
Corralling her massive tide of magic back.
“Easy, Ariana. Be calm.” He breathed at her neck as his own power settled also. “I can feel your lust raging all through me, wanting me to satisfy it… and though new Vampiric obsession can be for blood, it can also be for sex. The hedonism of either act causes us to lose control… and though losing control is pleasurable, it is deadly in Vampire or Fae society if it happens in the wrong moment. Focus on your breath. Become the ground you stand upon; become the stone. Become the cool darkness of the midnight hour and the gentle silence of the land. Become those things as your power riots. And you will never lose control when you don’t mean to.”
As he spoke, Quinn’s energy bonded to Ariana’s through his Master’s Kiss, pouring through her like a midnight wind. As he mentioned the ground, she could suddenly feel it beneath her stilettos, the stone of the marble hall cool and old. As he entreated her to feel the midnight hour, Ariana felt how late it was, and the gentle silence of the city of Florence beyond the Hotel, stars shining above.
As he spoke of the land, Ariana’s eyes fluttered open, alighting upon the painting before her. Cool and calm, the dreamy Italian Renaissance landscape eased her with its shadows and deep blue hues. Suddenly, she could feel the land beneath her feet as she stared at that painting. As she blinked, she realized why Quinn loved these pastoral scenes – because he used them to calm his power when it rioted. And as she understood that, she also realized that he used the power of the land to calm him like a Fae.
Rather than the quiet of the grave like a Vampire.
“The land, not death.” She spoke as her flush of power finally eased. “You use the land to calm you like a Fae when your power gets out of hand, rather than death like a Vampire.”
“Well done. And it seems that trick will work for you as well.” Quinn gave her a pleased nod as he finally stepped back to her side. Extending his arm, he smiled. “Walk with me, Ariana. It is nearly midnight and I notice you often skip food when you are working. While it is slimming for one’s figure, Vampires and Fae do not generally fatten in any appreciable way. Food helps ground the body and contain the power. So would you like to have dinner? And discuss what’s on your mind?”
“Sure. I guess I could use a bite.” Ariana spoke with a sigh, recovering from her magical outburst as she picked up her tablet and took his arm.
“Be careful how you use that wordbitearound Vampires.It means many things you do not realize, yet.” Quinn chuckled with a flash of amusement in his eyes as he turned down the long hall.
“Oh! I didn’t—” Ariana stammered, flushing hard though Quinn chuckled.
“It is nothing. There are a thousand details of Vampire and Fae society for you to learn now that you live among us, and we will get there. In the meantime, I have a certain matter to discuss tonight that involves you. Though hearing about your conversation with your parents takes precedence.”
As Quinn gestured to a curved marble staircase leading to an underground wing of the Hotel that contained his Master’s suite, Ariana kept pace, escorted on his arm. She had her own rooms in the Hotel but had spent quite a lot of time in Quinn’s quarters of late, eating meals and discussing Vampire and Fae society, doing exercises to contain her newly awakening Dark Fae power, and getting notes on his art collection.
But though Ariana had spent a lot of time with him these past weeks, she realized suddenly that they had not been intimate. Ever since they’d bonded with his Master’s Kiss, they’d not had sex again or even shared so much as a real kiss.
Quinn did nothing about their mutual attraction but calm any flare of ardor around her these past few weeks, just as he had done tonight, keeping her at arm’s length for some reason. Even if she got aroused around him and felt him heighten as he’d done tonight, every evening had ended with him walking her like a gentleman back to her rooms, just like this. And though she enjoyed their time together, something frustrated her deeply now.
That Quinn was being almost too cordial since their bond.
It made Ariana stew yet again as they walked down the underground hall to Quinn’s massive ebony apartment doors. As he raised his dark nimbus of magic to push them open, she was silent. Entering his cathedral-like suite with its towering windows all around, Ariana saw the stars were bright tonight, though the moon was only a slim sickle in the midnight sky. A fire crackled in one of the three ornate fireplaces as Quinn gestured to a beautiful spread of chanterelle tortellini in a white sauce, marinated octopus crostini, and mini pizzette margherita upon the ebony dining table.
And though Quinn’s onyx and crystal chandeliers were luminous overhead, lighting his private cathedral with its glass ceiling up like a dreamy ballroom, Ariana found herself frowning as she sat. His manners were perfect as he pulled out her chair and poured an expensive red wine. But still, she scowled as she placed her napkin in her lap. Reaching out, she tried to take up her wine glass – and ended up smacking it instead, sending it flying.
Shattering it as red wine dashed all over the marble floor.
“Ariana!” Quinn’s dark eyebrows lifted as he stared at her. “Does something upset you?”
“I—” Blinking, Ariana glanced from her smashed wineglass to her hand. As a deep wave of energy passed through her like a raging torrent of darkness and light all at once, her hand trembled fiercely, jerking. It was unlike anything that had happened yet with her opening powers; inhaling in shock, Ariana shook her head as she massaged out her hand. “I just meant to pick up my glass. Not smack it halfway across the room!”
“Perhaps. Perhaps not…” Quinn spoke thoughtfully, his frown concerned. Rising, he came to her; as Ariana set a hand to her temple, feeling like she had a fugue again, he took her face gently in his hands, making her look at him. “Ariana. Have you heard a single word of everything I was telling you just now as we walked here to my rooms?”
“You were talking as we walked here?” She blinked, suddenly feeling like her world was devoured by the starlight that came in through the vaulted windows. The hot-cold sensation of her magic swirled; like a vortex, it spun deep inside and the sensation tilted Ariana so hard that Quinn had to catch her by the shoulders to help her keep her seat.
But even as that dark, luscious feeling outlined everything with stark shadows in the night, it made Ariana vastly disoriented like a high. As all that power suddenly sharpened into a thousand daggers of lust upon Quinn, she felt an enormous rush surge from her spine, singing with power and sound. Unfurling through the dining area, massive wings seared from her with silver and gold magic as they shimmered with swirling black rainbows, humming with power. As that power flowed over Quinn, furiously unrestrained now, Ariana felt his quick inhalation.
His full lips falling open and his onyx eyes burning in the night.
