“She’s been researching me for years. And she came here willingly, knowing what I am.”
“Well, she thinks you’re a vampire.”
“To her standards, I am,” I tell him. “But I’ll correct her terminology tonight when I introduce her to my fangs.”
“Pretty sure vampire lore involves fangs, too.”
“Semantics,” I mutter, taking a sip of my drink as I pull up the video feed from Viviana’s room. She’s currently standing beside the bed and running her fingers across the dark red dress I left for her there. “Did she agree to my dinner invitation?”
“I didn’t phrase it as a choice.”
“Good.” Because it wasn’t an offer but a demand. However… “I just want to know how she responded to it.”
“With arousal,” he growls, causing my eyebrows to lift.
“Arousal?”
“Yes.” He takes two healthy gulps of his drink before looking at me. “I’m rather certain your pet has been turned on all damn day, something I would have enjoyed more if she weren’t also doused in your fragrant claim.”
My lips almost betray my inner amusement. But with Marius’s open scrutiny, I manage to keep my stoic expression. “That’s interesting.”
He just shakes his head and finishes his blood martini. “Am I free to leave now that I’m done being your errand boy?”
“Missing your harem?” I wonder aloud.
“Very much.”
I nod. “I think I can handle it from here.”
He sets the glass in the wet bar sink at the back of my office. “Enjoy your new toy, Ciprian. Maybe she’ll be your ticket home.” His silver wings appear as he heads for the mirror that leads to our realm. It’s anchored into the wall and framed by mystical stones from the Strigoi world.
“Ticket home?” I ask, aware of what he’s implying. “She’s not a candidate, Marius.” She’s simply the first mortal I’ve been interested in tasting. It could be thousands of more years before I find someone I feel comfortable enough to bring home for the trials.
And I won’t let the experience become a spectacle.
I amnotmy father.
“Then I hope you enjoy using her,Your Highness.” He gives me a mock bow, then steps through the glass before I can comment.
Sometimes, my best friend is useful.
Sometimes, he’s infuriating.
Today, he was both.
“Typical,” I mutter, then return to my desk to watch the female walking across my monitors. She’s left the dress on the bed and is now looking through the drawers of her dresser. Her eyes widen as she pulls out the translucent fabric waiting for her inside.
“What…?” she whispers, then holds it up to herself like she’s trying to figure out how to wear it. “Yeah, no. I’m not wearing that.”
I snort. “You’ll absolutely be wearing that,” I reply, aware that she can’t hear me. But I’ll inform her of the rules at dinner. “Or you can choose to walk around naked.”
Either option works for me.
She opens more drawers, her lips pinching when all she finds are more lingerie sets.
Then she stomps over to the closet, which is filled with evening gowns and nothing else.
Well, there are shoes, too.
