Bitten By Magic (4 page)

Wilhelm’s fangs ached and his tongue swelled as he opened his mouth over her fragrant neck. Her scent and the soothing beat of her blood pumping just below the surface of her skin called to him to bite her. His fangs touched her soft skin just over her jugular, but his stomach plummeted as if he was about to vomit. Nausea made his head spin as one fang sank into her skin. A soft murmur of delight echoed in his ears as she leaned into his bite.

The taste of her blood on his tongue was all wrong; his fangs lifted as every instinct he possessed urged him to spit out her blood. He tried to force himself to finish the bite, but couldn’t. Some compunction made him pull away from her. All eyes in the room were fixed on him, including the shocked gaze of the little blonde. He’d barely put a small pinprick in her skin. This was not good.

“Elder? Is something wrong?” Warren came forward to tilt the girl’s neck for him.

“I have decided to wait for my beloved’s blood,” he announced to all in the room. Several brows rose in surprise. “I will not go to her with another’s scent on me, but I would be greatly pleased if my second in command took the privilege of this special offering.” Warren recovered quickly, a wide smile on his face as he looked at the others in the room.

“I would be both pleased and honored, Elder.” He bent his head and bit the woman without hesitation.

Several minutes later, settled into his throne, Wilhelm sneered as he lifted the glass of warm blood to his lips. Maybe there was something wrong with the woman’s blood? He hadn’t survived as long as he had without trusting his gut, and his gut told him to bite her was wrong. He’d gone long periods without feeding before. As an Elder, the longer one lived, the longer the period between required feedings seemed. He hadn’t had a drop of blood all week. Well, not since the small drops of the Keeper’s blood.

He couldn’t stop his lips from pulling back into a semblance of a grin at the memory of her sweet blood. There was something so different about the taste as it coated his tongue. Not only had he felt incredibly alive and virile, but he’d experienced a jolt of power and energy unlike any that ever came before. It was no wonder he hadn’t hungered for the rest of the week. He could only imagine how it would feel to sink his fangs in her soft flesh—one lush breast would do—and suck the life from her.

His eyes flicked around the room to land on Warren, who was suckling at the girl’s throat. His big hands rubbed her back and buttocks as he held her firmly. The room was filled with the carnal sounds of hunger and pleasure. It didn’t tempt him, didn’t touch him, as he twirled the red goblet in his strong fingers. Damn, he was thirsty. He raised the glass to his mouth; the metallic smell of fresh blood rose to his olfactory senses. He closed his eyes as he tipped back his head and let the warm liquid slide into his mouth.

“Uck!” He choked and spit as the taste of the blood hit his tongue. He spat back into the glass to spare the hardwood floor. Moving with the speed of his kind, he bent over the nearest flowerpot to retch the taste of blood out of his mouth and throat.

“You all right, Elder?” Darby Best, one of his Enforcers, asked behind him. He flung out a hand to warn the man away from him. “Can I bring you a goblet of a different type?”

“Will, what’s wrong?” Jaxson’s calm concern washed over him, but Wilhelm grunted in disgust. He had never retched up blood before. As an Elder, his constitution was strong enough to take a body full of arsenic-enhanced blood. What was wrong with him? He wiped his mouth on his sleeve and pushed himself to his feet. Weakness was not tolerated in an Elder.

“I’m fine. Find out who prepared my goblet, Jaxson.” He straightened his jacket as he pushed his shoulders back and glared down at Darby, who handed the goblet to Jaxson and stepped away.

“That won’t be hard to find out.” Jaxson took a whiff of the goblet and frowned. “It doesn’t smell bad...”

“Obviously, I wouldn’t have taken a sip if it smelled off in any way.” Wilhelm grumbled quietly as he wiped a hand down his face.

“I’ll have a fresh glass brought to you and test it myself.” Jaxson turned away.

“Forget it. I’m off my appetite now. I’ve had enough for tonight.”

“Will, what about Mistress Alexa and the cutting of the cake? Plus there’s the ball you must attend with her.”

Wilhelm hissed as he turned away to move toward the door.

“When I’m needed you’ll find me in the conservatory...alone.”

He needed the solitude of his plants to regain his composure. She’d looked every bit the beautiful bride as she glided down the aisle on Jaxson’s arm. Her dress clung to curves that were firm and full enough to draw the eye of every male in the room. She was dark, enchanting, but far too cool for his liking. She hadn’t smiled once throughout the entire affair. He might as well have tied himself to a mannequin for all the emotion she’d shown while the Witch priest bound them in unholy wedlock!

He should be thankful she hadn’t backed out of their arrangement, or heaven forbid, took to crying like a child who’d lost her way. She’d been composed and eerily calm throughout the ceremony, even taking his kiss in stride. His kiss. He’d wanted to take a page out of the Vampire’s binding of souls and sink his teeth into the tempting flesh of her neck, but there were certain things one didn’t do in the presence of the humans who worked for you. Oh, they knew what was occurring in the altar room, but knowing and witnessing it were entirely different affairs. He kept the two separate as much as he could for his own peace of mind.

Wilhelm’s long legs took him to the conservatory door in minutes. He grabbed the handle on the glass door and yanked it open. The room was dark, with only the dim light of the stars shining down on his beloved plants and flowers. It was a contradiction, a Vampire’s favorite room being entirely made of glass. One second in here with the sun shining and he was dust particles. Not a bad way to go, he’d often thought as he inhaled the sweet scent of magnolias mixed with roses and flowering trees. Perfume never smelled sweeter.

His dark eyes snapped open as the scent of hot blood laced with adrenaline and a slight hint of fear whispered through the night air. Where was she? His eyes scanned the darkened room. He knew his prize was here, hiding among his favorite possessions, and the excitement of the chase was making his own blood heat. Here was the temptation and distraction he was looking for.

He stilled as only a Vampire could. The throb of her heart was easy to pick up as well as her hands gripping the fabric of her satin gown. Her silken hair was brushing against the glass of the window. Oh, yes. There she was. Hello, sweet thing! Taking her quickly would be easy, but it wouldn’t be half as much fun. Blood laced with terror was an aphrodisiac to his kind. He’d play with her a bit to get her there before he took her for his own. Dark brown eyes flashed red as he reached back and locked the door behind him.

***

Alexa swallowed hard as she heard the click of the lock. She clutched her gown above the knees in preparation to run. Any hope of escaping using her magic was now gone. One ingenious lockdown spell and any Witch inside the house was trapped. No escape for Priest Levi Pierce, and no escape for Alexa herself. She was trapped in the conservatory with an unknown Vampire. She knew it was a Vamp by the rich earthy smell mixed with a hint of sage. The undead should smell of death and decay, yet they smelled so damn good that Witches and Humans alike could be attracted to the scent of them alone. Predators, Allison had called them, handsome and attractive with a pleasing scent to draw their prey to them. It also helped that every damn one of them screamed of sex. Oh, yes. Nature had equipped them well to survive.

Alexa heard him moving toward her. He must know where she was. Could he smell her as well? She squinted into the dark, trying to make out his form through the leaves and flowers surrounding her. She ducked and knelt on the floor to slowly crawl beneath one of the tables. Her heart was pounding fast in her chest, which would not be to her advantage. He could hear it, she was sure. A deep breath to calm herself, her emotions shoved down deep in the way she’d learned a long time ago, she started crawling with a slow confidence. He moved to the far end of the tables; a soft male hum began. Was he seriously humming “Beautiful Dreamer?” Seriously? She slid under the next table just in time as he turned and walked to where she had been standing against the glass wall.

She was almost to the first table in the room now. His humming shattered her nerves as he moved through the bushes and plants at the back of the room with a lazy stroll. He was toying with her; she knew it. Anger slowly replaced her fear as he moved with a bolt of speed, still humming as he placed himself between her and the door. His soft laughter cut into her self-control.

“Laugh, you blood-sucking devil!” She pulled herself up as she stood before him. “I’d rather hear you laugh than have to listen to that sadistic humming a moment longer!” Alexa gasped as heat lamps suddenly lit the room with a soft blue glow. Wilhelm Chambers, her new husband and mortal enemy, lowered his hand from the complicated controls next to the door he was casually leaning against. Her hands clenched as tightly as her teeth as she glared back at him.

“I’m surprised a little humming could be the straw to break the Keeper’s back.” His eyes flashed red as he eyed her with a fascination she didn’t invite.

“I’m surprised in a couple millennia you haven’t learned to hum in tune.” She folded her arms, standing her ground against him. Show an ounce of fear and the monster before her would easily control her for the rest of her short life. He was going to kill her soon, so what did she really have to lose?

“We both have much to learn, then.” He angled his head as he took a deep breath. “I didn’t expect you to be hiding beneath my roses. Why aren’t you dining with our guests?”

“I was looking for the restroom, but the plants drew me. I was enjoying their ambience when you decided to interrupt my peace and chase me around like a mouse.”

***

Wilhelm’s lips itched to smile, but he pressed them firmly together as he watched her. Alexa lifted her small chin at him in a move that was so like his maker’s way of putting him in his place that he came away from the door at once, his Vampiric speed moving him in a blur to a position right in front of her. She didn’t move, didn’t step back or retreat in any way. He focused on the creamy white flesh of her breasts, plumped up as they were by her lacy bodice, and the arms crossed beneath them. Hell, she smelled delicious. His gut ached as he clenched his jaw. Sharp fangs emerged, ready and waiting to take a bite of her. How a Witches’ blood could call so strongly to his demon side was a real conundrum.

“I would not compare you to a docile mouse,
felesage
.” He reached out a finger to trace the faint blue veins running from her neck to the enticing swells of her breasts. She remained still until the warm pad of his finger reached the top of her breast. A hand whipped out to slap his away.

“Really?” Wilhelm caught her wrist in an iron grip before her hand could make contact. He leaned closer until her quickened breath brushed his face. “You are my wife, now, Keeper.” His voice lowered dangerously as he glared down at her. There wasn’t a trace of fear in her stoic expression, but the moss green eyes flared until the green was only a thin line around her black pupils. “Use your magic, I dare you.” He pulled back his lips in a sneer that flashed his sharp white fangs at her. The scent of fear flashed for only a second before she turned her head slowly, baring her neck with a bravery that took his breath.

“Do it,” she commanded in a tone of authority that had irritation whipping through him. Wilhelm shoved her away from him, his strength sending her back against the table. She caught herself on one of his prized rosebushes, steadying herself with the big pot it was planted in.

“You don’t control my actions, Keeper. I control you.” He watched her shiver even as her elfin chin rose in defiance. “You’re bleeding. Come here.” His own command was low and controlled. As his wife, she would have to learn to obey him. He waited patiently while she lifted her palm to study the scratch in surprise. She was barely bleeding, but the strong scent of her blood called to him to taste of her. His stomach grumbled disturbingly.

“I won’t ask you again. Don’t make me come after you.”

Alexa seemed to consider her options as her green eyes held his gaze. Pride in his choice of bride sparked to life within his chest as she refused to cower before him. He watched her move closer one small step at a time, the move a small victory. One he wouldn’t be foolish enough to hold over her.

Wilhelm took her small wrist as she stopped in front of him. Pulling her closer, he lifted her hand to look at the small scratch. Her eyes narrowed as he lifted her hand to his mouth. His tongue slid across her palm, the sweet tang of her blood teasing his hunger, sharpening his need to bite as his fangs pricked his upper lip. A current of heat and power snaked through his system as he continued to lick her flesh. Wilhelm knew what was happening to her. Oh, yes. She would be begging him to take her in a minute. He could hear her cold little heart pounding fast beneath the soft flesh of her tight breasts. A sharp hitch in her breath made him smile as he grazed his sharp teeth against her sensitized palm. He wished the sweet taste of her blood didn’t have the exact same effect on him, but he was fighting himself, holding back from acting on his own urges.

All he needed to do was hitch her dress up past her hips, lift her up onto the edge of the table behind her, and take what was his to possess and hers to give willingly. Wilhelm savored the last taste of her blood as the small cut closed. Another curse of his saliva was its ability to close wounds, bite marks to be exact. Puncturing the jugular of his Poppets would be fatal if not for his ability to heal the wounds quickly. His dark eyes closed as he assessed her flavor. There was something...off about her blood and the way it stayed on his tongue. A shiver of power shook him from head to toe as if he’d plugged himself into a live outlet. What the hell was that?