Part 24 (1/2)

She's right, I could, but it would take longer. Not willing to waste anymore time on chit-chat, I ignore her. I reach out to brush her long hair back off her neck, flipping it over her shoulder. We're almost the same height. I lean in, gently tilting her head to the side with my hand. The hunger overwhelms all else.

My lips settle firmly on her skin. Something trickles through the ache within me. Her smell. It feels off. The red haze in my mind clears enough for me to register an important fact-she's been marked.

The scent of Antonio drifts up to tease my senses. The self-centered jerk must have given her some of his blood when he emerged from the gym this afternoon.

It's considered a grave offense in the supernatural community to feed from someone's servant without permission. The insulted vampire could issue a challenge if they felt the deed was meant to poach. Will he flex his right or will he bend, understanding my need?

Knowing in my mind what awaits me if I do this. Knowing I need to regain my strength before Ivan attacks again. Knowing all of it doesn't change a thing. My teeth nip the taut flesh. Olivia's blood rushes forth to coat my tongue. I greedily drink down the glorious red life force.

d.a.m.n the consequences.

Chapter Twenty-four.

I'm not going to pleasure Olivia with my bite. It was obvious she's uncomfortable with the exchange, based on her comments. There's no need to freak her out more by having her enjoy it too. Instead, I help her feel a sense of comfort. Giving her the feeling she has done a charitable act.

In a way, she has. I could have taken what I needed, but that isn't me. Or at least, it isn't me anymore. I refuse to ever go back to the mindless pit I put myself in prior to being an enforcer for the tribunal. That darkness is a cloak I can comfortably wear. One I must always be on guard against slipping back on for convenience sake.

I've consumed all that I can safely take from Olivia. I pull back, licking the small wound to seal it.

”When did you drink from Antonio?” My voice slips out like a purr.

Olivia's body is no longer tense with fright. During my feeding, she relaxed against me. She stands back a bit, the awareness creeping back into her gaze.

”I... umm... after lunch. He asked me if I'd be his. It's what I've always wanted, so I gladly accepted.” She looks a little confused now. ”Was I allowed to let you bite me?”

Hmmph. Fool thinks she had a choice. ”I'll handle it, Olivia, not to worry.”

And handle it I will.

”Asa?” He snaps to attention. ”Take Paul and lock him in the bas.e.m.e.nt. We need to wait to hear what Bunny says to decide his fate.”

Asa nods as he walks over to where Paul lies sleeping on the ground behind me.

I project my next directions to Rafe. Hon, can you catch Olivia and carry her? Without waiting for an answer, I lock gazes with the beautiful blond.

”You need to rest after donating all that blood.” I push my will over hers. She promptly falls asleep where she stands, tipping back into Rafe's waiting arms.

Rafe picks her up. ”Was that necessary?” He asks.

”Yes, it was.” I answer. ”I need to talk to you and Asa on the walk back. I had some time to think during the last twenty minutes.”

Asa comes up next to me with Paul slung over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. The three of us head in the direction of the main building. ”One thing is very clear to me now,” I say. ”It's going to be impossible for the four of us to catch Ivan on the property.”

”I don't think it's impossible,” Asa's tone sounds speculative. ”It will take us a long time. And possibly, more weapons with lots of planning.”

”Yes.” I answer. ”At what cost in lives?” I glance down at my watch. It's almost nine. ”In thirty hours, he's managed to rape and mind-wipe Sheba, kill John Pierre, sabotage the power for the whole resort, slaughter one of Jon's dogs, and drain Paul to near death.” I allow the disgust and frustration I'm feeling to leak into my tone. ”Right now, I could care less about tribunal retribution.” Another thought from earlier occurs to me. ”We don't have time to wait for Romeo with backup wolves either.”

”Where does that leave us?” Asa asks.

Rafe answers the young vamp; this time he's on the same page as me. ”We'll have to tell the guests what's going on and enlist their help.”

”How?” Asa asks. ”These people are on vacation.”

I laugh out loud. The irony of the plan is not lost on me. ”We'll organize a hunt. What else would you do with a bunch of predators who never get to have fun at home?”

The cacophony of excited voices in the theater overwhelms me. The sound presses in at every side. Rafe, Asa and I have explained all that has happened and who we need to hunt. The one redeeming point since we walked in was Antonio not giving me any s.h.i.+t about Olivia. I think I would have gone bonkers on him if he had. Instead, he graciously attributed me with helping him to see the light and bind the young woman to him before another vampire could.

I've had a hard time taking part in the conversations swirling around me due to the fact that I'm ready to leap on someone and feed. While I'm happy to see the other vampires are eager to go on a hunt, I'm dismayed to find none of them have ever been enforcers at any point in their undead lives.

The ensuing proclamations confirm that Liam was a warrior prior to being turned. Jet is a martial arts expert. Salvador was a general at one point in his life. Drew has his rage powering him to avenge Angie's death. Antonio wants to prove himself to Liam and Olivia. And Joanna, well, she sounds like she can handle herself. I hope.

The hunger recently satiated with Olivia rears its ugly head again, screaming to me that I have not had enough to eat. The servants and companions crowded into the media room start to look incredibly appealing. I realize I must consume more or be a risk to everyone in the coming hours. My arms wrap around my middle, while I try to shove the hunger back down into a cage.

A touch on my shoulder brings me whirling around. My nostrils flare, my eyes bleed black and I feel my canines push down to feed.

”Vivian, are you okay?” Liam inquires gently.

”No,” I answer bluntly. ”I had to turn Paul, our chef, when Ivan drained him to die.”

His face shows surprise at my admission. ”How much did you have to give him?”

”Maybe half of my blood.”

”Good G.o.d, woman, with no ingestion of his blood prior? I've never heard of that being successfully done.”

I shake at the thought of Olivia's warm blood flowing down my throat. ”Yes, with no blood. It can be done.”

”How much have you recouped since then?”

I think back to the last time I did something so risky. When I turned Cy years ago, I was able to slip into his bar and prey on a dozen or so happy drunks walking to the bathroom. No such luck tonight. I answer Liam's second, more important question.

”About two and half pints.”

”You'll be a danger to us out there if you're weak. You need to feed.”

”I know!” I shout. ”That doesn't mean I have to like it!”

Liam jerks back at the vehemence in my voice. ”I don't understand. You have plenty of employees here. What's all the fuss?” Light dawns in his eyes. ”You don't feed from them? Ever? But I have smelled you on them...” Understanding comes quick on the heels of his last statement.

Rafe! I need your help. My inner cage of power starts to stretch thin. Get the humans out of here as fast as you can.

Rafe looks at me from across the room. He nods his understanding, motioning to Asa for help. They spread out into the room to fulfill my request.