It must have been true-he'd asked me if I was the one, as if I were there to give him the life he'd always dreamed of. But was this really what he wanted?

"I guess it will take a while for him not to feel attached," Dante's partner mocked.

I turned swiftly and found him unravelled from Dante's body, standing face to face with me. His eyes flickered the usual hearty red as a vampire's should.

His blue hair curved over his ears, but I spotted shiny silver moons dangling from both lobes. With a skinny waist and baggy jeans, he looked kind of grungy. What did Dante see in this loser?

"I'm not attached. Only curious," I said. "Besides, how would you know a d.a.m.n thing about me?"

I glanced towards Dante then back to the vampire in front of me.

"Dante doesn't tell me a thing. I can see it in your eyes." His skinny lips stretched into a drawling grin. "We've never really been introduced. Name's Brice."

Brice extended his hand and I went numb.

h.e.l.l, no. I'm not shaking your hand.

"Come on, Malachi. Show some compa.s.sion." Dante stepped forward.

"f.u.c.k you." My cross retort made Dante furrow his brow.

"Is that any way to address your suitor?" Brice tilted his head.

"And what the f.u.c.k is that supposed to mean?" I asked.*

64.

A chuckle rose from deep within Brice's throat. Before I could speak another word, a crack from Aurora's whip broke the tense air.

"That is enough," she commanded. In her high-heeled boots, she stood tall between us.

"Anymore of this and I'll be sure to whip all three of your a.s.ses."

I felt compelled to ask her to try. But I kept my mouth shut and turned back towards Marco. I certainly wasn't attached to him. Far from it. Who gave a s.h.i.t what Brice, that skinny-a.s.s punk, said. All I wanted to do was get the job done so I could go back to my room and... What? Melt in Dante's succulent touch like a little s.l.u.t?

"So where are we going?" I asked, desperate to change subjects.

"I'll get some major slack for this, but," Aurora started, "I've appointed you, Dante and Brice to the job. It's a seventy-five mile drive."

Oh, no. Please tell me you're kidding.

"Come on. It won't be that bad." Dante threw his arm around my shoulder.

I lowered my head in defeat.

We'd been ushered into a blue van that looked like it had come right from the seventies, with colourful swirls of greens and purples painted on the outside. Layers of red s.h.a.g carpeting ran up and down the interior, covering the floor and ceiling. A mirror was plastered next to the oval tinted window and a refrigerator sat opposite a small back seat.

Aurora had walked Marco to the vehicle and helped him inside. At least he could move with help, but he wasn't much company as I sat next to him. His head remained down, eyes closed. He sat in the same praying stance I'd found him in earlier.

"Well, this is nice," I sneered.

"Don't be so sour. This is the perfect job for us." Dante looked back from the pa.s.senger seat.

Brice focused his attention on the dimly lit road ahead of him. I couldn't understand why I'd been forced to sit back here with the stiff.

"Yeah. This is really the way I wanted to spend my night." I jabbed Marco's shoulder with my forefinger. Yep, stiff as a board.*

65.

It had been a h.e.l.l of a lot more exciting last night when I was on the hunt. Although I had f.u.c.ked up, I had loved every minute of it. Maybe being a seeker wasn't h.e.l.l after all.

It hadn't been half an hour before I was on my knees in the fluffy carpet, plucking the strings between my fingers. I couldn't keep my hands off things. Boredom had struck and struck hard. I peered at Marco's closed eyes in antic.i.p.ation of him moving or flinching, but nothing. And why couldn't he talk? The constant hum of the wind moving past the van was starting to irritate me.

My stomach churned and it dawned on me that through all the excitement, I hadn't fed at all. I eyed the fridge and sneaked over to open the door.

The inside amber light came on and a swathe of cool air blew past me. At least twenty pouches of donor blood filled the small chamber. I slid open the small bottom drawer and there were two more, only those had some weird hot pink tag stuck on them.

I opted for a pouch from the upper shelf and closed the door.

"Hey, stay away from the bottom drawer," Brice yelled. "They're bad."

I knew my instincts had been right on that.

I examined the pouch of liquid and squeezed open the small tab at the bottom. When I held my lips there, blood filtered through onto my tongue, and I lavished in the refreshing taste.

"Dante, make sure your boy is okay back there," Brice said.

Dante turned and glided out of his seat then crawled towards me. I huffed on the blood, drinking until a slight sucking noise came from the plastic.

I antic.i.p.ated the need for energy, but it didn't come. Once I'd emptied the pouch, I sat still with my hands folded on my lap.

"Are you going to be okay?" Dante asked, brushing his hand over mine.

"Yeah. I'm fine, Dante."

I was. There was no burn, no tingle. My fangs didn't ache once through the entire feed.

There wasn't any reason to get all worked up.

"I guess we should have taken care of that back at the house." Dante cupped the back of my neck and pulled me to him.

"No." I jerked away in discontent. "I don't need your help."

He furrowed his brows. "What are you saying?"*

66.

"Who's he?" I motioned to Brice who remained focused on the road as if he couldn't hear a thing.

"He's none of your concern, love. Just a fledgling who needs guidance."

"Letting him hang all over you?" A raging burn rose up into my cheeks.

"There is no sense in getting jealous here, Malachi. We all extend our hand at one time or another. I was ordered to teach him. It's not my fault he has a thing for me." He slid his cool hands around mine. His face softened. "You're truly the only one. You should know that."

"We share our property..." Xavier's warning whispered from my lips.

"What?"

"There's nothing true in this world."

"That's not quite right. We're true. I have fallen head over heels for you and I know you have for me." Dante squeezed my hand. "But I was given a duty to look after the young just as you will, once you prove yourself to the Order of Vampirs."

Brice moved in his seat and coughed. I knew he'd heard every last bit of our conversation. The apparent smile that spread out the sides of his lips said it all. "You'll learn all these things in the coven." Brice chuckled. "Rules, regulations, the whole bit. Now, Dante, get your a.s.s up here, we're entering town."*

67.

Chapter Nine.

Into the Embers On the highest hill overlooking the small town, the van putted towards a large private mansion separated from the rest of the world by black, steel fencing. Once inside the property, I took in the beautiful stone fountains that adorned the driveway, with colourful lights illuminating the water pools in spectacular shades of red, pink and gold. Full bushes were abloom with golden flowers, and the yard was well-tended Kentucky bluegra.s.s.

I'd never known such luxury. Xavier's home was one thing, but this was breathtaking.

When we walked into the entranceway, I gasped at the decorations. Gold streamers hung from the ceiling, dotted with tiny amber lights, as if we'd stepped into a masquerade ball.

Statues adorned each side of the room and were laced with the same streamers that hung above. The decorated tile under our feet was polished delicately, allowing it to reflect everything in its range. The room was blinding.

The woman who came to greet us didn't lack the same allure. With her full, blooming white gown with golden lace trim, I wondered if this was a costume party. But her elegance, pinned up hair with amber strays flowing down to her neck and her ageless skin, told me this was no party. This was a lifestyle.

"Countess Lucia Valentine, it's a pleasure to see you again." Dante placed a kiss upon her hand.

At least someone had some grace. Brice and I looked like two young punks from off the street walking into wonderland.

She curtly nodded and a gorgeous smile graced her full pink lips. "Dante, it's been too long. May I enquire as to where you have been all this time?"

"It's quite the long story." He pulled his hand away and stepped back to my side. "Let me introduce to you a couple of new a.s.sociates. This is Brice." He motioned to the young vampire, still standing with his mouth agape at his surroundings. "And this is Malachi." He grasped my wrist, forcing me to extend my hand to Lucia.

"It's a pleasure," she said.*

68.

She clasped her soft hand to mine and warmed me straight to the bone. I caught a glimpse of red sparkle from her brown eyes.

"Likewise." A tremble ran through me.

"You have done well, young one." She squeezed my hand then pulled away to motion to Dante. "Please see our donor inside."

Dante turned swiftly back towards the door and retrieved Marco from the vehicle.

I stood, staring at the woman in front of us. Fear made me tremble, but I softened at her beauty. I couldn't quite understand what she had done to make me feel like this.

Brice shook the woman's hand then returned his attention back to the decor. He poked at the statue of a woman draped in a gown, mumbling something to himself. Then he turned his head upwards to study the dangling chandeliers.

Dante appeared in the doorway with Marco at his side. Lucia immediately stepped towards him and began examining his features. She nodded as Dante spoke something in a foreign language, then curled her arm around Marco and led him slowly across the hallway into a separate room.

"Follow me, gentlemen," she commanded.

The side room was decorated in the same style of the grand foyer. Full shelves of books were displayed on the wall. The only thing that looked out of place was a computer desk- the drab wood and metal stood out as cheap and modern.

Another donor was kneeling on the carpeted floor, a red silk robe draped around her pet.i.te feminine body.

Lucia helped Marco down to his knees, then lifted the girl to her feet and walked her to us.

"Would you three care for a drink?" she asked, sliding behind the donor and brushing her long blonde hair behind her ears.

The donor couldn't have been older than twenty-one. Her hair spiralled down her shoulders towards perky b.r.e.a.s.t.s framed by the loose robe. I could imagine she was naked under those silks. There were no signs of life-no twitches, no squirms, unlike the donor I'd met at Raphael's.

"Oh yeah. Now that's what I'm talking about!" Brice said as he stepped forward.*