“Your aunt and my lover,” he replied, giving her another smile but this one showed a hint of fang. Lily wrinkled her nose. That was a whole new level of awkward she wasn’t prepared for. “Would you speak with me outside, Petite Louve?” He asked. Lily saw James stiffen with a look of worry on his face but Lily figured she might as well get it over with.
“Why not. But I warn you if you go all Dracula on me cause of this supposed aunt I will nail your ass like I did Silvano,” she warned him. It wasn’t exactly true. The vampire king had bested her and James had killed him but the vampire didn’t know that. James gave her a questioning look and she grinned at him. Lord Etienne smiled fully, sending a shiver down Lily’s spine. She wasn’t sure she would be a match for this guy.
“I wouldn’t dare,” Lord Etienne declared. “Rather insulting to her and to you I should say.”
“Damn straight. Lead the way,” she said, and they stepped outside.. The night air nipped at her arms and she took a breath, giving her vampire side more control and the chill of the night dissipated. Unfortunately, her hunger grew. She felt as if ants ran under her skin which made her rather anxious. She turned to the vampire, not surprised to find he was watching her. They all wanted to see her go vampy. Freaks.
“Fascinating,” he said walking up to look at closely. “How do you feed?”
“At first, Dorin Stancu gave me bottles of blood from, well he said, willing donors. Then when I thought I was working for the Aequivalere they made pills for me to suppress most of my hunger. Now… I’m working on it,” she explained.
“You’ve never fed directly,” he asked her and she cringed.
“I have once,” she lied. Lily explained how one of Silvano’s vampires had pushed her I to drinking from a man. Dorin had stopped Lily from killing him and took the man to the hospital. She also had drank from James when they had been intimate but she wasn’t about to tell the vampire that. Lord Etienne clicked his tongue with a disapproving look.
“Suppression never is a good, young one. It’s dangerous and is the most common cause young vampires lose control,” he explained, surprising her.
“So what are you saying? I risk killing someone with the hope I’ll someday get the knack of it? No thanks,” she said with a scoff.
“No Petite Louve, what I am saying is you have no sustainable source for blood and that makes you unpredictable and dangerous. You obviously haven’t accepted this part of you like you have the lycanthrope side. That needs to change. You need a sire young one,” he explained.
“A sire?” Lily repeated skeptically.
“Yes, a sire is the one that makes us into vampires. They are like a parent to us. They teach and guide us through the beginnings of our new life,” he explained.
“And I bet this where you offer to be mine?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Yes, I am going to offer. As my crow’s child, you already have my protection but I would be honored to act as your sire. However if you don’t want me then I will help you find one. I’m afraid that is a must. The elder council cannot allow an untrained vampire free and unchecked, no matter how in control they seem to have,” he told her and Lily swallowed.
“So I’m back on the chopping block? But the Aequivalere,” she started.
“Doesn’t oversee vampire affairs just as it doesn’t oversee the lycanthropes,” he told her. “It’s not a chopping block you just need to choose a sire,” he added.
“Sounds the same to me,” she told him.
“Considering what you know of us, I am not surprised. A sire is not a master but a mentor, a guide into the new life. There is no bonds or exchange of blood in your case,” he explained. “All I would ask of you is allegiance for a hundred years. To come to my aide when I have need of it. In return I will vouch for you to the council and teach how to feed correctly in such a manner that both you and the donor will thrive,” he explained.
Lily eyed him, not fully trusting the vampire. “How long do I have to consider?”
“How about until we’ve finished dealing with the criminals here?” He replied. “I did not expect an answer tonight. It is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly Petite Louve. Now I must go and see what news there is for me,” he said. Suddenly he cupped her face, bringing her towards him he kissed her forehead in a fatherly manner before going into the room.
“What the hell,” she said, wiping off her forehead with a scowl.
The vampire returned but Lily had stayed outside. James wondered if that was a good sign or bad. Knowing their luck, it was probably bad. The vampire Lord Whatever-his-name talked to Lily’s father while the alpha looked over a map. James didn’t think he’d be missed so he slipped outside and stood next to Lily. He zipped up his jacket, envying her ability to not feel the cold when vampy. This was a lot colder than back home.
“Hey James,” Lily said, looking out over the parking lot. He followed her gaze. It didn’t surprise him to find it almost empty.
“Hey Lily,” he said, waiting for her to start the conversation. She took a deep breath he knew she didn’t need and let it out slowly. James glanced over as her. Her expression twisted from one expression to the next as if she was having a silent conversation.
“It seems I need a vamp daddy,” she said after a moment. James turned away from the empty parking lot and faced her, letting his confused expression ask the question for him. “A sire,” she added and explained what the vampire lord told her. “Apparently the vampires can’t allow even a partial vampire go without some kind of collar. Lord Etienne, of course, volunteered to do it but I don’t exactly trust him yet.”
“What about Dorin? Maybe he would do it,” James suggested. Dorin was the only vampire he had met that he could consider halfway trustworthy.
“I’ve thought of it but we don’t exactly get along. I’m not sure he’d agree,” Lily replied then sighed. “I should eat before I get too hungry.”