Microsoft Word - Blood and Sex from CE.rtf (13 page)

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As Khalil took his place, the other vampires moved into their seats, keeping to protocol.

They sat like a formal courtroom and kept the chatter minimal during the announcements. The hours that followed were filled with coma-inducing speeches from
cosca
heads. New vampires were presented by their creators. Breaches of the laws were discussed, as was the death of Castillo, the
vampiro
leader who was Michael’s predecessor. Overall, it was as exciting as a broken bicycle.

Even after so many years of witnessing these meetings, Christiana still saw the archaic, monstrous side of the people there. Now, of course, it was modern, clean, and shiny. A human walking into the meeting might have no clue that the red stuff in the dessert dishes was a congealed blood dessert, but it made the entire scene even more twisted to her. Beneath the thin façade was a meeting of monsters who dined on the blood of virgins that had been collected by the frightened upper class in Venice as a means of appeasing the horde and keeping their beloved city safe during the assembly. It had been this way for centuries, but it wasn’t getting any easier to comprehend.

Khalil stood and cleared his throat as the last of the dishes was taken away. “I have things to discuss with others in private. Please feel free to stay as long as you like. Our festivities will begin tomorrow at sunset. I look forward to seeing you all there.” He made a small bow and headed off toward a side door.

Victor, a young Egyptian, hurried after him. He was in essence Christiana’s brother, though he missed no opportunity to remind her that her rank, as a woman, was far below his.

With each decade, she was beginning to wish more and more that Khalil had let him die in that battle at Megiddo the way fate would have had it.

“Is your Vincenzo here?” Blane whispered from the seat next to her.

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Christiana turned to see him holding up a blood-filled martini glass.

He took a sip, then continued. “I’m waiting on you to go back to the hotel. Michael and the others are in a private meeting with Khalil.”

“What about?”

“I don’t know. It was a need-to-know thing.”

“In that case, I’m ready when you are. I don’t care to stand around chatting the rest of the night.”

He downed the drink and set the empty glass onto the table beside her. Again, keeping to the protocol they were all trying to pull off in front of each other, Blane helped her from her seat and led her toward the exit.

“Christiana!” a high voice called.

Oh no. Not Isabella. Christiana walked faster and squeezed Blane’s arm. “Let’s go,” she whispered.

They’d just made it out the door when someone grabbed her shoulder. Christiana turned to see the pale face and exquisite brown eyes of Isabella. Her blue-black hair had been chopped into a short bob that accentuated the hard lines of her face and made her look even more predatory.

“I was calling you. Where have you been?” Her Italian accent was as thick as ever and fit with the gauzy purple dress. She seemed almost regal.

“America.”

She glanced at Blane, smiled, and then looked him over from head to toe. “And you’ve been a very naughty girl, I see.”

Blane’s eyebrows arched high. “Who are you?”

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“Christiana’s lover.”

His eyes cut to her, and Christiana fought back a growl. “Don’t tell people that. You are not.”

Isabella stroked her fingers down Christiana’s cheek. “Only because you won’t give in, darling.”

Blane’s lip twitched at the corner. She didn’t have to feel the fascination coming from him to know he was enjoying this a little too much.

“I’m sorry, Isabella, but we have to get back to my room. I have a long day ahead of me.”

“Then I am coming, too. It has been too long since we have talked.”

Christiana turned and slid into the limo. Blane climbed in behind her and shut the door.

Isabella headed toward another limo, and Christiana settled into her seat. She didn’t hide her anger as she glared at him. If he said one word about that woman, she was going to rip him apart right here in the limo.

“So,” Blane said. “That makes perfect sense.”

“What?”

The limo started to move.

“Why you’re so cold to guys.”

“Ugh!” She punched him hard in the shoulder. “I’m not into women!”

“That’s not what Isabella thinks.” He gave her a crooked grin. “Besides, I think it’s hot.”

“You perv.” Christiana rolled her eyes.

“No threesomes, then?”

“Only in your dreams.” She laughed at the thought. He probably
would
be dreaming about it. Knowing Isabella and her ways, it might be more than a dream if she couldn’t manage

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to get rid of that psycho before it went too far.

* * * *

Blane watched from the bed in her room as Christiana pulled the brush through her hair, then double-checked her blue button-up and gray slacks in the mirror. She was beautiful, and he sincerely doubted she knew just how beautiful she was. It wasn’t a cheap, porn star kind of beauty. She was angelic, surreal.

She caught him watching, but quickly looked away. “When she gets here, don’t let her seduce you. That’s her gift.”

“I can handle that kind. She’s not the only one who excels at seduction.”

“No. Seduction’s not her gift. Talking people into doing what she wants is. She’s persuasive.” Christiana turned off the bathroom light and moved to stand in front of him. “That’s why they pull her into their big meetings. She influences decisions.”

“Hmmm.” Blane smiled. “That’d be a nifty trick to have.”

“Yeah, but it’s going to get her killed one day.”

A knock sounded from the front of her room. Christiana groaned and her eyebrows knitted. Christiana definitely wasn’t attracted to Isabella, but there was something between her and the other woman. Something must have happened in the past. Something she wasn’t proud of.

“Show time.” He hopped to his feet. “Don’t kick me out if you two start to go at it. I’m here for your protection.” His brows wiggled.

“God, you’re annoying.”

“Just don’t open the door. Say it’s because she’s a security risk. Khalil will back you up on it. He likes you.” She muttered something that sounded like
For some ungodly reason
.

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Blane smirked, then crossed the large room. He waited a moment to let Christiana collect herself, then opened the door and smiled down at the little curvaceous, gothic woman.

“Hello again, Blane.” She slipped between him and the door, sliding her hand across his chest as she went. “Thank you for not lying to me.”

He closed the door and followed her into the small, warmly decorated sitting area.

Christiana shot him a look, then plastered on a smile. She followed Isabella, sitting on a small chair in the parlor, across from their visitor. Her eyes cut to Isabella. “I apologize. I didn’t feel like entertaining tonight.”

The woman went to her knees in front of Christiana. She wrapped her hands around the other woman’s wrist, kissed it, and planted another slow kiss in the palm of Christiana’s hand. It was a deliberately familiar gesture that only lovers displayed, but it didn’t seem as comfortable to Christiana as it did to the other female. Her eyes were focused straight ahead, as if she were trying to ignore the other vampire’s touch.

“Let me entertain you, then,” Isabella’s voice was just above a whisper. “You’ve had me waiting for far too long. I want to touch you now. Your Blane can even stay.”

Blane’s cock twitched at the sight. He’d been with two women when he was human, but never two vampires. It was a tempting thought, but he tried to think of other things.

Christiana cut her eyes to him.

Shit
. That talent of hers was starting to get annoying.

She looked back to Isabella. “I’m still not ready for that. I—” Christiana’s voice cracked.

“I’ve taken Blane as a lover.”

Wha…?

“I know.” Isabella glanced up to him, still holding Christiana’s hand. It wasn’t a friendly

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look. “I can smell him on you.” The woman turned her attention back. Her face was soft and pleading now. “I don’t mind sharing our bed with him.”

“That is very kind of you. But I just don’t see that as a possibility.” Christiana sighed; her shoulders drooped. She looked almost as if she were being weighed down slowly. Or maybe beaten down.

Isabella waved Blane over. “Come. Sit.”

He glanced to Christiana, who nodded. Blane took the seat beside her.

Isabella nodded in his direction. “He is a man. He would not mind at all. Ask him.”

“I don’t have to.”

Damn
it
. She had felt it.

Christiana glanced at him with her brows furrowed, then continued. “But I’m not. I want to find a
compagno
, Isabella. I need this to secure my position. Surely you understand.”

“I do. But it makes no difference. Khalil has already promised you.”

Christiana swallowed hard, but didn’t look altogether surprised. “To who?”

“Maximilliano of Rome.”

And that broke Isabella’s spell.

“What?” Christiana jumped to her feet, almost knocking Isabella over. “I’m not bonding to that…that pig!” She whirled on them. “Do you know that he has a harem? A real harem.”