He leaned in and spoke in a hushed tone. “If it were bad, there would be another set of men here to collect you, madame.”
She looked into his eyes for a moment longer, searching for any ill will or hidden agenda, then accepted the envelope.
“We expect to hear from you soon,” he said with a wink. He sidestepped her and strolled confidently from the hotel.
She blinked, turned, and watched him leave the premises. Then, she quickly looked at the seal once more and ran a tentative finger over it. The ridges of the official emblem struck a chord inside her. The last time she’d seen this symbol, was the day of her hearing. She prayed it was here, once more, to deliver her the news she’d been hoping to hear.
Rushing from the foyer, she threw herself into a sprint down the corridor toward the elevator. She pressed the arrow up button, and the door chimed and opened. She rushed inside and jabbed at her floor number. The doors didn’t seem to close fast enough.
The moment she felt the ascension of the whisper quiet lift, she closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath.
Does it always move this slow?
Another chime and the doors swished open too soon. A woman with her poodle on a leash clasped in a tight fist stepped into the lift, smiling warmly at Alexia. The woman reached over, then grumbled something under her breath. She pressed the ground floor level.
Are you kidding me right now?
The doors closed and the elevator continued upward. The woman with the dog grumbled again and Alexia kept her comments to herself.
A moment later, the elevator doors opened on her floor and she barreled out, sprinting down the hall toward her room. She overheard the woman with the dog say something in French, but Alexia ignored her.
She scanned her room card key, letting out a breath as it unlocked and she pushed the door open. She stumbled inside, closing the heavy door behind her. She raced toward the desk in the room and tossed what was left of her dessert onto the table, then sat down in the chair. She ran her finger across the seal once more, then closed her eyes. She broke it and opened the parchment.
Taking in a deep breath, she slowly exhaled. She opened her eyes and stared at the paper for a moment but didn’t read the words. Fear struck her and anxiety quickly rose. Her throat felt dry and her palms clammy.
What if they send me back?
She swallowed the sandpaper in her throat and started to read.
Dear Madame Daucourt,
It is not often a contract between a blood demon and their vampire is terminated. However, this letter is to inform you the contract between Monsieur Aubin Leclair and yourself has been concluded. A notice has been sent to his residence as well. He is no longer to have any form of communication or other contact with you.
We expect you to file your intentions with The Covenant as soon as possible. Arrangements will be made upon your behalf regarding your choice. Please call The Covenant upon receipt of this letter and inform us of your decision.
Regards,
The Covenant of Paris, European Division
She let a sigh of relief escape her lips as the anxiety of what could have been a potentially negative situation rapidly faded from existence.
Did she want to subject herself to a life as a blood donor, or look at the potential of a better match?
She’d heard stories of the luxuries given to blood demons who were chosen by good vampires, the love they fell into, often with multiple partners, and how so many ended up living a life truly wanting for nothing.
Did she dare risk it again?
The terror of being locked in an attic struck her like a violin player tightening the cord on their instrument, so much so it broke, flinging the result of said break across the cheek of the person tuning it.
Soon, that could be her.
She shivered as a feeling of ice water sliced down her spine.
Damn it.
She shook off the negative thoughts and pushed them to the back of her mind, determined to overcome the panic and fear, one way or another. If she continued to let the past dictate her fright and future, she would break, and if she did, there would be no way of putting her back together again. She knew could not continue to live her existence in trepidation. She had to take her life back, even if it meant facing her former vampire, face to face. Not that she would ever have to do that, per The Covenant’s letter, but if she had to, she knew she would. She would never allow someone else to fall prey to the man—vile, malevolent vampire—who almost took her life.
She had an important decision to make and sitting in her hotel room wouldn’t propel her to her next step in life. It was time to live again, without fear.
It was time to head to The Covenant.
CHAPTER 3
With a deep breath, Alexia stepped out of the limo that had picked her up as she checked out of the hotel. Today was the day that would determine the rest of her life. With a vague idea of what she wanted, but not one hundred percent set in stone despite days contemplating on the issue, she paused in front of The Covenant doors, still unsure which choice she should make.
Donor or concubine?
She heard the distant sound of the driver closing her car door and then the vehicle’s exhaust faded into the distance. She could still run if she chose, but the counsel would find her. They had ways of finding rogue blood demons.
She gazed upon the steps as a lavender hue settled over the archway. The building was tall, at least five stories, a cream color in appearance. Two statues the size of a small person sat on either side of the grand doors. Gargoyles with a single horn each, wings, and legs of a goat stood guard.
Alexia briefly wondered if they awoke during the night and prowled like some of the vampires that were not so humane.
She cleared her throat and drew up to the doors entrance. She glanced up the height of the building again and wondered why vampires needed that much space.
Alexia nibbled on her lip and raised her hand to the door. Her thoughts raced of allowing vampires to feed on her and live her own life, or chance another pairing with a vampire, or vampires, and live a life of luxury, not wanting for anything, and possibly falling in love multiple times.
The fairytale was just that, nothing more than a schoolgirls dream of growing up and getting married. Maybe one day, have a family.
Not Alexia, though. No, her destiny was to become a concubine. As a blood demon, there was no other choice. Become a donor or concubine, that was it. If she declined both, she could face potential arrest and persecution. Freedom wasn’t a thing for blood demons. She was born into this life, not gifted it.
She’d read stories on other women who had made drastic changes to the community of vampires and their chosen mistress. It wasn’t all bad. No. But in her case, it wasn’t all good, either.
The doorman stepped out from inside the building and greeted her with a nod, then held the door open for her entry.
Whether she chose this life as a donor or concubine, it would take place behind these doors.
“Merci,” she whispered.
The man simply nodded and she walked through.
As the doors closed behind her, she took in the surroundings. She’d been here for her first pairing. She was a different person then, young and naïve. Now, she was jaded.
A pair of staircases on either side of the room led up to the second floor, and steps leading down in the middle, between the upper stairs, led to a holding room. She spied other blood demons waiting for their turn at being a concubine. The women paced the floor and a few texted on their phone, maybe checking social media.