“Heat?”
“When she cycles. It will happen very soon. That’s why she’s sick.”
My mind is spinning. Trying to parse all these words into something coherent. She’s coming intoheat?
“And it’s not as simple,” Paul continues, “as just sticking your cock in her and coming. That’s not enough, Ryet. It needs to be done properly. And only I know how to do that.”
“So? Maybe we don’t need a baby.”
“Need as in want, or need as in require? Because whether you want one or not isn’t the issue here. She must be pregnant in her first cycle or she will die, Ryet.”
“Bullshit.”
“In fact, she must be pregnant foreverycycle or she will die, Ryet.”
“You’re lying.”
“Am I? Ask yourself this, if a Black witch could choose to not have a baby—a girl child that she must either hand over to me as a feeder or kill and steal her power—don’t you think that at a least a portion of them would refuse to have a baby and not put themselves into this hopeless position?”
I just… stare at him.
“She doesn’t have a choice any more than her mother or grandmother did. She must be pregnant by the time her first cycle ends or she will fade quickly. Within hours, Ryet. But don’t worry. I’ve changed things. It’s going to be much better for her—and you—in this new way going forward.”
“Explain this, Paul. And do not tell me it’s need-to-know. I need to fucking know.”
He smiles. Like me begging him for information was part of his plan all along. And it is. It must be. Because he is Paul, the vampire. And he knows way more than me. “You’re ready then? To hear the plan I have for you and her. And… me.”
“You?”
“In order to make a Black witch you need two vampires. That’s how Josep and I have done it all this time.Butyou can make something else—something more than just a Black witch—if you havethreevampires.”
“Me.”
“You. And me. And Josep.”
“With Syrsee? At the same time?”
Paul nods, smiling. Maybe even picturing this in his head. Which infuriates me.
“No. I’m saying no.”
“Then you just want me, do you? Or Josep? Because regardless of your feelings on the matter, there will be two vampires involved in the conception of your child with Syrsee. You and I? You and him? Or… all three of us?”
“Fucking her?” I’m growling now.
“No, Ryet. You can be the fucker.” He pauses to laugh. Diabolically, I might add. “She’s yours. Black witches aren’t made with sperm. Notjustsperm, anyway. It’s a blood transfer. Between you, the Darkness, me, Josep, and Syrsee. Josep and Iwill be there, drinking and sharing with her. And you and the Darkness will be there fucking. And sharing.”
“Wait. The Darkness is gonna?—”
“Youare the Darkness, Ryet. Or, at least, you will be. It will be inside you when you take her. It will be the actual one fucking her.”
I just stare at him.
“When we’re all reunited in the physical world Josep will come to us filled with the Dark gift. You will drink him and you will not give the blood back. You will keep it. The Darkness will live inside you for a time, and then, at the proper moment, when Syrsee is in full heat, we’ll all get in bed, snuggle up to one another, and the Darkness will spill its seed inside her, using your cock to do it.”
He reaches for me, placing his hand on my face. I don’t even pull away. I’m not even thinking about him. I’m thinking about all those horrible words that just came out of his mouth.
He kisses me. Then bites his lip, letting his blood spill into my mouth.
