"That is what we do here. Mostly, we hunt down drifters within the two regions, Raphael's and Lucia's. Once captured, they have the opportunity to stay within our covens or be sent to the Order for punishment. Doesn't sound too exciting, but every once in a while, the elder's recommend death," Xavier said with slight excitement. "That's when it gets interesting. There are too many rogue vampires to keep track of them all."

"And that is what you want me to do once I'm well, slaughter vampires?" I drifted my gaze back towards the ceiling. Something inside me couldn't imagine killing drifters. They were the same as me.

"I believe you will do well here."

I didn't. I hadn't the need to take out rogue vampires, those like Dante and me. I'd only recently been introduced to coven life, and I hadn't felt at all guided. Seeking and running had been difficult-this would be much more of a challenge.

I knew I wouldn't care for coven life. Though the Order had placed some kind of protective rules against all vampires, I already missed my old ways. Bar hopping. Hunting.

Staring into the wanton eyes of h.o.r.n.y men and women while I drank their sweet liquor. I couldn't live here. This was no life for me, even if it meant I'd be with Dante.

The door cracked open. "Xavier. How is he doing?" Raphael asked, calm and collected.

He stepped inside, a pair of tinted sungla.s.ses covering his eyes.

"He's awake. That's enough, right?" Xavier stood at Raphael's side. "Master," he said quietly. "It would be best if we start to-"

"Shh," Raphael breathed. "All in due time." He approached the bed. "Malachi, I've brought you a gift. A donor."

The donor hesitated at the open door. A female, cloaked in the coven's white robes with beautiful blonde hair spread across her neck and down her chest. I sensed her blood*

91.

travelling through her veins and struggled to sit up in the bed. Alive. Breathing. Beautiful.

Unlike Marco and Lucia's donor.

Raphael reached for her hand and led her inside the room, close to the bed. "She's not been here long. Treat her well."

I trembled, listening to her heavy, nervous breath. The vein in her neck pulsated with her flowing blood. Beads of sweat tickled down the sides of my face. I wanted nothing more than to strike at her, sink fangs into flesh and taste her warm, delectable blood.

Caught up staring at her lean figure, and listening to the rising tide of hunger within, I didn't notice Xavier and Raphael leaving. With her, this was the first time I'd seen any privacy for days.

"What's your name?" I asked as I stretched my bare feet on the cool tiled floor.

Control.

"S-Samantha," she stuttered.

I nodded. Samantha. She could speak. I'd thought they weren't allowed to do much of anything, including converse.

I tore the blankets away from my lap and stood on shaky legs, about a head taller than her. Nervous eyes scrutinised me with fear and condemnation. She knew what I wanted from her-I could smell, see and even taste her and I hadn't even broken her skin.

"Did you make this choice?" I needed to know more about their operation, so I tried to prevent my hunger from controlling me for the moment. Besides, Marco had once been free before he'd chosen this life.

"Y-yes." She swallowed hard. "But I-I'm not so sure now."

"Why is that?"

Her focus dropped to the floor. "I-It's painful. Lonely. My friend wanted it too, but they denied her."

"Did they?"

She nodded. "Her blood isn't satisfactory."

Of course, they tested all their donors before deciding who stayed and who didn't.

"Everyone here is so quiet. Like they're dead."

I breathed a laugh at her observation.

"I-I'm scared."*

92.

I gently embraced her, feeling her back tense as I closed the gap between us. A moment pa.s.sed then her breathing relaxed. She laid her moist cheek on my shoulder. Warm tears wet my skin, slid down my chest then cooled. She pressed tighter into me, hiccupping as she cried.

Stroking her hair, I set out to soothe her before I fed. Her confession confirmed my suspicions-this entire thing was a sham. People were treated as food, whether found on the street or made into donors. I'd done the same thing when I was a rogue. There was no care for the living. The Order, the covens and even Carmella had only cared about themselves and their gains.

Unfortunately, I had to live, just as they did.

I pulled away, cupping her face in my hands. "I must feed."

Her eyes widened a moment before her expression turned to understanding. Like the obeying donor, she tipped her head to the side, revealing several fresh, reddened wounds on her neck. They stretched on to disappear underneath her robe.

I brushed my lips against her swollen skin. Her breathing faltered, her heartbeat erratic.

I bit through her flesh and she lost her footing, forcing me to hold her upright. Savoury blood rolled onto my tongue and, though I felt at ease feeding, her sorrow broke me.

For the first time in eight years, I felt like the monster Raphael had tried to destroy. I no longer cared to thank him for ending my human life, nor to thank the random drifter for giving me a new one. Though I hated this new world I was a part of, I still loved Dante. That was the only good thing to come from it. The only thing I wanted was to go back to my previous life, taking Dante with me. To feed, to f.u.c.k, to live our time without a coven and without ridiculous jobs and rules.

Once her heartbeat slowed and her body coiled in my arms, I pulled away and gently laid her upon the bed. A breath faltered in her chest and it was a moment before she took another, more steady, breath. I wasn't greedy, like Raphael had warned against before. I'd only taken enough to sustain.

Stranger still was that I'd just fed, but only on blood. During the time I'd had her in my arms, I hadn't felt her energy, nor mine, spike in delirium like before. Maybe what Raphael had done last night helped?

Stepping away, I couldn't look at Samantha. I couldn't think. I wiped at my face, at the cooling beads of sweat, and stilled in the middle of the room.*

93.

"Malachi." At the open door, Raphael glanced at the woman on the bed, then back to me. "Is everything okay?"

I nodded. "Just tired."

"It is distressing. Believe me. Once you've lived as long as I have, you get accustomed to routine." He stepped in and picked up Samantha, swinging her unconscious body over his shoulder. "Let me take her to her room and I'll return. We still have much to discuss," he said as he left the room.

Alone. Again. To ponder my thoughts.

I'm getting tired of a.n.a.lysing.

An hour later, after I'd dallied and tinkered with everything inside the lonely room, Xavier gave simple knock before entering the room. "I thought you could use some company."

"What about Raphael?" I asked, still nervous around Xavier after our chaotic introduction.

Xavier smiled and plopped himself on the edge of the bed. "He's busy at the moment, but has asked me to provide you companionship for the night." He patted the mattress next to him. "Come, sit down over here."

I moved away from the dresser, where I'd been drawing lines in the unlit candle with my fingernails, and stilled before I reached him.

Xavier's cunning, all too playful smile provoked my nerves. I remembered how he'd tried to seduce me before, and the trouble he'd received for such rudeness. There was no way Raphael had agreed to allow him to join me alone. Was there?

"What's wrong? I do not bite, normally." Xavier narrowed his brows.

I swallowed hard and slowly sat down beside him. I'd have to be attentive to his every move. Folding my hands on my lap, I let the quiet settle in.

His sigh came loud and bored. I followed with my own, shifting my uncomfortable legs. It seemed it going to be a long night.

"So, how is it?" he whispered.

"How is what?"*

94.

"Being a rogue? I've been a faithful member within this coven since my birth. I haven't the slightest clue what true freedom means," Xavier said with another long, drawn-out sigh.

I clutched onto my fingers, missing my freedom. "It's great. No regulations. No donors-"

"You get to feed whenever and on whomever you want?"

I nodded.

Xavier huffed. "In all my years, I've known rogues to be uncivilised and unemotional.

Even barbaric on occasion. I'd thought it was the freedom that created them that way. But you? Malachi, you're surely extraordinary."

I focused on the wall ahead.

"I wish to ask you something," I began. "You've been a loyal member within this realm.

Certainly you know the tale between Raphael and Dante. Am I right?" I turned to gaze into Xavier's challenging eyes.

His flirty smile turned to a scowl. Somehow, I'd hit a sore spot. "I know nothing except that Dante is a rogue who fell into Raphael's arms long before I had. And why do you care?

Dante would beguile anyone given the chance. He's nothing but a brute," he said, his tone sour. "And a liar."

Do I sense some jealousy?

Uneasiness in the coven, jealousy among members and difficult rules meant this coven was on its knees. Another reason I had to get out soon.

"Raphael is the very livelihood of the Order. If not for him, the Elders would be at a loss. Dante only disrupts his growth. Love upsets success." Xavier drew his hands into fists, until his knuckles went white.

"Don't tell me you loved Raphael. That's the oldest story in the book." I chuckled.

"Love?" His eyes narrowed into hateful slits. "I admire him, but never have I loved him. He's destined to greatness, if only the council could see it." The anger lifted from his face and a smile returned as he unfolded his hands. "So you are a believer that love conquers all. Young one, you have a lot to learn," he breathed, leaning closer.

I attempted to scoot away, but Xavier curled his fingers around mine. "You're so naive.

And cute. That's a dangerous mix." His muscles twitched and there was a l.u.s.ty stare in his eyes.

"Stop," I warned, turning my head.*

95.

"Stop what?" His heated breath grazed my skin. "I can't help it. You are too much for anyone. Why do you think both Raphael and Dante want you so badly, they would battle each other to the death if needed?"

I paused. "Because of my psi energies?"

Xavier chuckled. "That's part of it. You're young. An eight year fledgling. A rogue. But you're bendable. Raphael needs your energy, yes, but he's also interested in your youth. You will do wonders by being a member of this coven. Dante... h.e.l.l if I know what he wants, probably another rogue to enchant."

Is that really what Dante wanted of me?

Xavier leaned closer. I slipped my hands away from his and braced myself before he could have me completely on my back. His gasping breath tickled my ear. Xavier brushed his fingers against my crotch. I hadn't thought I'd been feeding on his energies until my heart thumped hard in my chest, almost taking my breath away.

"Raphael used to do the same thing, you know. It makes me h.o.r.n.y as h.e.l.l," Xavier whispered.

Control...

But as much as I wished and fought for discipline, in that moment, I couldn't find it. My body trembled at his touch as he cupped my half hardened c.o.c.k. The headache came on strong, overpowering.