Eternal Seduction (Darkness Within #1)

“Okay, well, I didn’t necessarily want to know there were people out there who considered me food. I’d use the meat analogy Odin used on me earlier, but I’m not sure if an animal really knows it’s someone’s food. I, on the other hand, have the mental capacity to feel a little weirded out by the whole thing.” She cast a tentative glance to Kerestyan. “Are you going to eat me?”

Amusement flashed behind his eyes before he gave a more thoughtful look. “Heroin thins human blood and leaves a rather bitter taste in its wake. In all honesty,” he raised a hand, “and I mean no offense, but it’s not a flavor I particularly care for. Besides, as I told Odin earlier this morning, I never viewed you as food.”

Logan shivered as a chill skittered up her spine. There was something seriously disconcerting about being referred to as food. “I guess I never thought about what chemicals might do to my blood. But then again, I wasn’t really trying to make myself taste better.”

Kerestyan laughed a warm sound, which only caused Vouclade to shoot him a nasty glare. “You intend to allow her to continue using that vile substance while she’s in your care?”

She watched intently as Kerestyan shifted again. Only this time he appeared much more uncomfortable. “If that’s her choice, so be it.”

Vouclade didn’t look pleased. “And exactly how do you intend to supply the drug for her?”

Kerestyan glanced around the room before returning to his brother. “I’m fairly certain I’d be viewed as a poor Lord if I didn’t know where and who sold illegal drugs in my city. Besides, if need be, you can provide her with the clean, natural version.”

Vouclade’s hand smacked hard against the table, sending a small crack spidering across the dark wood. “Absolutely not. If she wishes to fill her body with all manner of putrid substances when she’s on the streets, then so be it. I, however, refuse to be party to what appears to be a very intelligent young woman, murdering herself in small doses.”

Tired of watching the verbal ping-pong match in which her life was the little plastic ball, Logan leaned forward and jabbed a finger in Vouclade’s direction. “No one has the right to tell me what I can put into my body, but me.”

“Incorrect,” he snapped. “You relinquished your freedom the moment Kerestyan ushered you into his home. Your life is in Nelek hands now, subject to Nelek whims.” He stood and faced Kerestyan. “He will not condone it, and you well know that.”

Logan unfolded her legs and stood as anger bubbled up inside her. “No one needs to condone anything. I’m an adult. If I choose to inject anything into my body, it’s my choice. Not yours, or Kerestyan’s, or anyone else’s for that matter.”

When Vouclade completely ignored her, as if she hadn’t spent the last half-hour politely answering his rapid fire questions, she started around the table.

Maybe if she got in his face, he’d be more willing to acknowledge her.

She was half way around the large table when Kerestyan appeared in front of her, blocking her path. She moved to push past him but winched as his cold fingers clamped around her shoulders. “Let me go, Kerestyan.”

He stared down at her, concern etched into the faint lines around his eyes she hadn’t noticed before. “I’m sorry, Logan. I can’t do that.” His deep voice took on a soft, calming quality. “At this point, I have to ask that you return to your room.”

Logan tried to pull away, but when she realized he wasn’t going to let her, she straightened and stared right back at him. “It’s one thing to tell me I’ve seen too much and make me come with you until you decide what to do. I don’t like it, but I know when I’m in over my head…that I can at least accept. It’s another thing to tell me what I can and can’t do with my own body!”

His fingers tensed, digging even deeper into her shoulders as Vouclade’s voice rose from behind them. “Perhaps one day when you have more respect for yourself, you’ll start treating your body accordingly.”

She was fairly sure if she had a pissed off gauge, Vouclade had just broken it. “Fuck you!”

“No thanks, Bones. After God knows how many years on the streets, drugs probably aren’t the only foreign thing you’ve put into your nasty little human body.”

Logan thrashed against Kerestyan’s hold as Odin’s snide voice filled the room. “Oh, great…the Tin Can’s back. Maybe the stick figure over there has a scientifically advanced can opener up his ass that I can use to pry you out of that shit you call clothes!”

Odin’s loud laughter echoed all around her. “That was a good one, Bones. I think I might’ve just gained a little respect for you.” His fat head disappeared behind the refrigerator door.

She ground her teeth as Kerestyan crushed her against his hard body then pressed his soft lips to her ear. “Please. It’s not my wish to force you, but I think it would be best if you returned to your room for now.” Her earlobe tingled from the sting of his cool breath.

“Not your wish to force me?” She focused on her anger, anything to help lessen the impact his tangy scent had on her racing heart. “That’s all you’ve done since I met you.”

His body went rigid. “I’ve done my best to offer you as many choices as possible, which is a courtesy not many in this life are given.” His jaw flexed like cold stone against her cheek. “Don’t make me regret the decision.”

Kerestyan released Logan when she attempted to pull away again, and then watched as she disappeared down the hallway in a flash of black satin. The only sound that followed was the door to her room slamming shut, hard enough to rattle every painting in the hall.

This was not, in any form or fashion, how he’d hoped her conversation with Vouclade would end. He’d half expected she’d be irritated with his older brother by the end of the discussion, but he’d hoped her anger wouldn’t encompass him.

“She doesn’t need therapy.”

Kerestyan spun around and stared at Vouclade. “What?”

“She displays no signs of mental illness. She’s a competent, functioning adult who understands her own actions have brought her to this point, and she takes responsibility for them. I agree there is a past trauma, but it’s my opinion if you press her to reveal it, you’ll find she’s come to terms with her past and it doesn’t hinder her daily life.”

“And her obvious detachment?”

Vouclade gave a bored stare. “Is to be expected considering her lifestyle. To be blunt, she’s the product of too many years spent alone, and too much time experiencing the worst the world has to offer. Her heart may still beat, she may still need oxygen and food to fuel her body, but at her core she’s more vampiric than most of the Fledglings running around your city.” He moved to retake his seat, a vicious smile twisting his mouth. “Tell me, when you found her, how deep into her memories did you delve?”

“Not very far, I only skimmed the surface of her mind to ascertain how long she’d been exposed to our kind. Once I realized the length of time I withdrew, knowing the chances for reconstruction were minimal.”

“You’re more correct than you know,” Vouclade said, sounding slightly amused. “Having fully perused her memories during our exchange, I think it’s important you know that she’s had a number of encounters with your Fledglings. Some of whom completely ignored her when she interrupted them feeding.”

Fury roiled in Kerestyan’s gut, but he wasn’t sure what bothered him more. That Vouclade had so casually traipsed through Logan’s mind; or that the younger vampires of his city would be so ignorant to the presence of a human.

Unfortunately, because Vouclade was older, Kerestyan had no right to question his use of blood magic on Logan. However, he could pick his brother’s Ancient mind regarding the stupidity of Fledglings and hope it lead to more answers about her situation.

He inhaled a deep, unnecessary breath. “Why would they dismiss her if she interrupted their feeding? Why wouldn’t they report her or call for assistance if they couldn’t contain the situation? I have an Enforcement Team for that very reason.”

“I suspect the reason she’s gone undetected for so long is the strong detachment in her eyes. After viewing her memories, it’s clear to me that your Fledglings assumed she was already a vampire, or at the very least, a Servio of substantial age. Otherwise she’d have never gotten away with throwing fruit at the three she found last night. No Fledgling could believe a human would be so brazen.”

“Wow!” Odin gleefully interjected. “Bones threw food at vampires? You should take her to see Dad.”

Kerestyan rubbed a hand down his face. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I do,” Vouclade said. “She displays a number of traits which suit our blood.”

Kerestyan lowered his hand and stared at Vouclade. “You can’t be serious. Need I remind you how Father feels about modern humans?”