“This is more than blood,” I grit out.
She tips her head. “Hmmm. It’s possible the potion I’ve been taking to increase the bonding effect of my blood is to blame. At any rate, you’ll find it difficult to disobey me. Sadly, because the potion’s efficacy is untested, you’ll have to stay in this room until we settle this mate situation.”
“I will kill you,” I growl, and I mean it. I grasp for her throat, but when I try to squeeze my fingers, they won’t comply.
Her full red lips part into a smile worthy of a lunatic. “No, you won’t. You can’t. I made sure to enforce that command while you were sleeping. You cannot hurt me as long as my blood is in your veins, and the only blood allowed in this room is in my veins. It’s me or nothing, Damien. The more you drink, the tighter our bond.”
I shake my head. “Why are you doing this? Let me go,” I mutter for the three thousandth time.
“Tell me the name of your mate,” she commands.
Eloise’s name almost slips from my lips, but I hold it back, shaking violently. “My little bird,” I blurt. The magic is satisfied.
“Little bird?” Valeska seethes. “Don’t play games with me, Damien. What is her name?”
“My beloved,” I bark. I can keep this up all day, although I fear Valeska will get better at phrasing her questions if I do.
Slap! My chin snaps to the side with the force of her blow. “You will tell me, Damien. Eventually.” She stands and heads for the door. “I will expect you to be more compliant in the days to come, my pet. Starting tomorrow, you will accompany me on my visits to the coven masters in this hive, and you will not embarrass me.”
“I’m a shade,” I say quickly. “I need food other than blood to meet my nutritional needs. If you want me strong and not falling asleep at your side, you need to feed me as you would a human.”
“Fine. I’ll have Chef bring you the same dishes I serve my human blood donors.”
Excellent. Food will be served by someone other than her. Someone who may help me.
She stops at the door, looking annoyed. “Get your shit together. Whether you want to fight me on this mating or not, whether I kill your mate or not, you will spend the rest of your days by my side. It’s only a matter of time before you give her up, one way or another.”
I keep my mouth shut because the last thing I want is for her to change her approach and ask me again about Eloise. But I hold my head in my hands. My body might be healed, but inside, I’m praying I find a way to escape or die before Valeska can force Eloise’s identity from me.
20
Nexus
ELOISE
Phantom hasn’t been eating his food. I haven’t seen the fox in almost a week, and by the looks of the still-full bowl on my stoop, he’s moved on from this part of the woods. At least, I want to believe he’s moved on and hasn’t met a less romantic end. I clean up the bowls and say a silent prayer that wherever the critter is, he’s okay.
Later that night, Maeve arrives with a massive oblong roaster in her hands. I open the door for her and she carries it into the kitchen.
“Is that like a cauldron or something?” I ask. “Are we working on potions today?” I’m not against it, but it’s hard for me to guess a scenario where brewing a potion would help me during the challenge.
She laughs. “No. It’s Thanksgiving! It’s a turkey with all the fixings.”
When she removes the lid, the scent of roasted bird makes my mouth water. I spot red potatoes, carrots, and green beans too. “That smells so good, but you didn’t have to do this. It looks like a lot of work.”
She tosses her hot pads onto the counter and turns toward me. “You leave to descend into the vampire city in six days, Eloise. We are going to celebrate Thanksgiving tonight, and when Cassius gets here, he’s going to join us. You’ve worked nonstop for weeks. Tonight you’re going to rest, and we’re going to celebrate all the things we’re thankful for.”
My stomach grumbles, and I realize I haven’t eaten anything today but a yogurt. “You’re the boss,” I say through a tight smile. Just the thought of celebrating Thanksgiving with Damien still in that horrible place seems frivolous, but she’s clearly gone to a lot of trouble and I need to eat. “If you insist this is part of the training regimen, who am I to argue?”
She grabs me by the shoulders. “Good. You find a knife and a cutting board. I’ll get the wine out of the car.”
An hour later, I’m stuffed so full of turkey and vegetables I have to lean back in my chair to make room for my stomach. I’m also feeling a bit toasted from the wine. Toasted and sentimental. “I haven’t had a meal like this since before Grams died.” I look around the kitchen with its pale yellow countertops edged in shiny silver, its mint-green-and-white-painted cabinets, the crocheted sling with its overgrown spider plant, the wall phone with the long coiling cord I used to wrap my fingers in. “This kitchen has seen so many meals. So many Thanksgivings. Thank you for giving me one more before I go.”
“It was as much for me as for you.” The full truth passes silently between us. We both know this might be our last formal meal together.
“You’re the only family I have left, Maeve, and we aren’t even related.” I sniff, my vision going a bit blurry.
“We’re as good as family,” she says, swinging her glass through the air until her wine sloshes. “I’m closer to you than any of the Gowdies.” She takes a sip and points a black nail at me. “I swear to the goddess, Eloise Harcourt, if you don’t win this fucking challenge and return to me, I will find a medium to call up your ghost and slap you with whatever magical element hurts ghosts.”
