“I am at your service,” a voice spoke as a male I recognized as one of the ghouls feeding on the werewolf days ago sank to his knees at my side. “My name is Archer.”
There was no way for me to respond but I managed to utter one word. “Help,” I whispered weakly, my throat burning and my neck throbbing with pain. There was a blur of movement. A scuffle. Somehow, I ended up on the ground, my body trembling as the shock of the last few minutes took hold. I couldn’t stop trembling.
Archer lowered his head and pressed a finger to my neck, slowing the consistent trickle of blood as it leaked from my vein while another ghoul tried to make me comfortable on the ground. A pillow was placed under my head and a blanket draped over my body as the chills increased. The rest of the ghouls turned as if one entity and rushed forward. I wasn’t sure if what I was seeing was possible. All four were attacking Salem!
“Master, you must heal her,” Archer pleaded, “Please.” His tone was surprisingly distressed. “Master! Now!”
Salem was Archer’s master? What did that mean?
Archer instructed the other ghoul to keep pressure on my wound as he stood and plowed into the man who stood in total surprise, knocking a stunned Salem to the floor next to my side. “Save her!” Archer roared, shoving his master in the back as Salem obeyed.
The vampire slit his wrist with one fang and held it above my lips as Archer leaned forward and rested his hand lightly against my cheek. “Drink, milady. Please.”
While the thought was disgusting, I knew I didn’t have a choice. I’d grown so cold, so numb that I knew my death was only seconds away. My lips parted as Salem’s blood began to drip into my mouth. Several drops fell on my tongue before they trickled down my throat. The metallic taste was unpleasant, and I tried to turn my head but both men kept me firmly in place. After about thirty seconds, I had swallowed enough to restore my vitality and Archer pushed Salem’s wrist away.
Archer lifted my hand and pressed a kiss on the top, ignoring the hard stare from his master. “Rest.”
It was sometime later when I was coherent enough to sit up, my fingers gingerly touching the side of my neck. Cautious, I was afraid of the pain and scarring I knew I would find. The skin of my neck felt tight and smooth, the exact opposite of what I imagined. There wasn’t a wound. I didn’t feel any pain either. Vampire blood was an astounding cure.
Salem was standing above where I lay, looking down with a frown as his arms crossed over his chest. I was moved to a nearby sofa and placed gently on the cushions with my head propped on another pillow. Archer covered me with the blanket as he lowered to one knee.
Salem wasn’t impressed. He seemed positively flustered. “You should know something, precious. Ghouls do not attack their masters, ever. It’s not only forbidden but impossible.”
What was his point?
Before I could ask, the ghouls all fell to their knees and lowered their heads as I gasped at their actions. Was everyone here crazy?
“I will leave now, master. Please call if you need me.” Archer didn’t apologize but made his way to the door where the other ghouls met him and gathered. “I will send in tea.” The door shut behind him with a soft click as I met Salem’s solemn expression.
“They honor you with their allegiance, Piper. It’s never been done with your kind before.” Salem paused and shook his head. “I should have realized this sooner, but you’re a syphon.”
“A what?”
“A syphon. You can see the supernatural truth. No glamour can fool you and none can hide from you. That’s why you draw immortals to your side. You’re like a beacon.”
Wonderful. Might as well slap a ‘hey, come kill me’ tag right on my forehead.
“There’s something else about Syphons. They can expose the true nature of all immortal and supernatural beings. You’re like a mirror. You can absorb power too but that’s a different discussion for another day.” Salem sank into a nearby chair, his fingers twitching as if he was restless. “This is dangerous, Piper. You hold power over others who won’t be delighted to have a syphon in their midst. We must tread carefully.”
“You’re forgetting my stalker,” I reminded him, yawning. “I’m quite sure that’s why I was attacked. They already know.”
“This is a blessing, darling.”
I ignored his use of endearment. “You mean I’m cursed.”
He chuckled lightly. “No, I meant what I said. You’re an untapped reservoir of power. It’s incredible.”
“I still think it’s a curse.”
My eyes fluttered and I didn’t have the ability to argue any longer.
I didn’t know what possessed me to bring Piper Vanek into my home, much less into my private sanctuary and personal library. The volumes here were precious. Centuries old in most cases. Texts worth a small fortune in the wrong hands.
She didn’t believe my words. Didn’t think I was telling her the truth.
Piper was immortal, at least half. Mixed blood that was potent and powerful. That was why she’d been marked and why she was chosen for destruction. A threat to the Brotherhood and the Alliance.
We stood in my study, squaring off as my irritation rose. My rage had taken hold and I was lost in the moment as her bright and frightened gaze channeled the inner demon within. My darkness was always close, but with Piper, it was nearer to the surface. Maybe she called to the beast that hunkered down inside, chained to my whims. Many vampires felt this presence and fought against that control when they fed. But it was rare when rage and lust and mating combined into a volatile cocktail that tested our restraint.
Piper’s defiance chafed at my pride but also spurred on my sexual need and frustration. The anger quickly morphed into something deeper and harder to explain. My senses came alive as her scent wrapped around my body and tugged on my hunger. I had to possess her. I had to taste her sweet plump lips.
I needed to know if she was as delicious as my previous feeds. If her blood was as potent as I remembered. My taste buds yearned to know her intimately and I hissed when the image of her legs spread wide open as I sank into her wet heat surfaced. I knew she’d be tight and would hug my cock snugly in her core. The need for blood and sexual gratification rose higher. My control slipped.
That was when all hell broke loose, and I gave in to the temptation.
My growl launched from my throat as I took what I wanted and owned her mouth, delighting in the fact that she kissed me back. My strength held her still as my lips moved to the pulsing vein running down her delicate throat and I placed a single kiss on her heated skin. Such perfection.
My fangs pierced her skin and I no longer had a coherent thought. Blood coated my tongue and spurted in waves of crimson euphoria. I felt intoxicated, drunk on her essence as I pulled from her vein and sucked harder. Rationality was gone. All I knew was the need I felt in every bone in my body. I wanted to throw her down and sink my eager dick into her tight wet pussy and thrust hard with every beat of her heart.
Snarling, I realized I was draining her to the point of death.
Mission accomplished, I fought against the hold of the beast within and slowed my rate of consumption. Piper’s skin paled and I felt her body weaken. Her expression calmed as her eyes took on an odd sheen. If I didn’t know better, I would almost think she was a ghoul. Her fingers had clutched at my shirt but now her hands fell to her sides limply as she tried to fight one last time.