“Escort me to dinner.”
The smile that tugged his lips was sensual, and I felt a measure of my bravado slip as he stalked toward me.
Crap on a cracker, I should have kept the younger one.
Knowing Adira’s scrutiny wouldn’t miss a single crack in my façade, I steeled my resolve and rested my hand on his forearm. Then, I breathed in deeply.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Caldre. Forgive my brother, Aurvandil. He has more charm when he puts his mind to it.”
I smiled sweetly.
“You most definitely did not leave your charm at home. Dinner will be divine tonight.”
As he led us to the dining room, Caldre chuckled. My stomach clenched at the sound, and I had to rein my hunger in. Tonight wasn’t about feeding. It was about my power of seduction.
Ashlyn’s words about my missing spark had been in the back of my mind since she said them. At the time, I’d been glad to hear I was nothing like the other succubi. However, Fenris’s pestering about learning what I could do had gotten in my head, along with his love for causing trouble and doing things on his own terms.
Tonight would be about finding out how seductive I was without that spark. While I hoped to incite more than mild attraction, I was worried about how I would react to anything stronger since, despite my nap today, I was hungry.
Mrs. Quill was already in the dining room when we entered. Once again, there were three chairs on the near side of the table.
“Aurvandil, be a darling and move your chair to the other side of the table so I can look at you.”
He immediately did as I asked while Caldre helped me into my seat.
“You’re different tonight, Eliana,” Adira said, moving around the table to take her place beside Aurvandil. Suspicion lit her gaze.
“Of course I am.” My smile remained perfectly in place, and I turned my attention to Aurvandil.
“Are you missing manners as well as charm? Pull out Adira’s chair for her, darling. Show her the man you could be if given a chance.”
The boy immediately stood and held Adira’s chair for her. When she sat, his arm brushed her chest. It was so subtle I doubted anyone else noticed. But I did. And that dark thing in me noticed far more. The way Adira’s pupil’s dilated ever so slightly and the tiny hitch in her breathing. The much larger twitch in Aurvandil’s pants. The subtle hint of blueberry that bloomed in the air.
“That is perfect, Aurvandil. Well done,” I purred. “Remain attentive to Adira’s needs tonight, and I may change my mind about you.”
“Eliana, perhaps you would prefer to take Caldre for a walk,” Adira said, taking the napkin from her setting.
“Perhaps I’d rather hear why you haven’t yet selected a druid to perform a location spell on Ashlyn. Is it a complex spell?”
“Vetting a druid enforcer takes time. The position carries a lot of responsibility for a race that isn’t inclined toward loyalty. You wouldn’t want us to trust Ashyln’s safety to just anyone. Leave the problem of her disappearance to the Council, and concern yourself with the task at hand. It’s time to feed, Eliana. Take Caldre for a walk.”
While she spoke, Aurvandil watched her mouth. I could sense every dirty thought he was having, and my hunger gloried in the ease in which the boy had been manipulated. But, the way I felt toward Adira was something else entirely. I would relish the challenge of breaking her.
My razor vision swept to Mr. Quill as he entered the room.
“Impeccable timing,” I said. “Based on what I’m smelling, this isn’t a dinner you’ll want to miss.”
His steps slowed as he glanced at Mrs. Quill, who stood by her chair. The subtle scent of oregano and sage mingled with the sweeter notes of the blueberries.
“Manners, Mr. Quill,” I admonished. “Do help your lovely wife. I’m sure you’ll be rewarded for the consideration later when you fly together.”
He immediately veered to her.
Caldre’s hand settled on my leg, stroking my bare skin. The touch ignited my hunger, and I turned my head to look at him. His lips parted, and he leaned closer to me.
“You’re exquisite, Eliana, and I’m boiling with need. If you’d rather skip the pretense of dinner, I’m more than ready to be your meal.”
My smile turned from sweet to sultry.
“Caldre, I didn’t give you permission to touch me. Remove your hand and your chair. You can kneel throughout dinner.”
While he hurried to ditch his chair, my gaze swept the table. Mrs. Quill was seated and slightly flushed. Mr. Quill had found his place as well and was shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Aurvandil’s hands were on the table, and his desire-glazed expression pleaded with me.
“I didn’t know how much I could ache for a touch. Please,” he begged.
“Such sweet words. I will allow you to touch yourself, but you may only give yourself the same pleasure you give Adira.”
His pupils dilated, and the rich scent of his lust coated the air at the same time Adira’s breath hitched again.
“Eliana, what are you doing?” she asked. I could hear the strain in her words. Strain she was so desperately trying to hide from me.
“I’m playing with my food. The boy is curious about what pleasures an older woman can offer him. I can smell his desire for you, and yours—” I inhaled deeply, “—isn’t nearly as potent as it could be. Don’t worry. We’ll fix that.”
Aurvandil’s hand left the table. Adira jumped and reached her own hand under the table. I knew she was blocking the boy’s touch and preventing her desire from growing. The dark thing inside of me writhed angrily at her attempt to deny it what it wanted.
“I brought them here for you to feed, Eliana. Take them to your room and finish what you’ve started.”
My smile turned lascivious.
“I’ll finish what I started when I please. And, at the moment, it pleases me to continue as I am. I can feel your resistance. Let go.”
Aurvandil’s whispered appeals for her to release his hand and allow him to pleasure them both brought a flush to Adira’s cheeks. I could feel her resolve weakening and leaned back in my chair.
Caldre made a sound of need beside me. Taking pity on him, I ran my fingers through his hair. He groaned, his eyes rolling back in his head.
“Just a bit more patience, my darling.”
I looked at the table’s two other occupants. Mr. Quill was staring at Mrs. Quill with enough heat to light a fire, which, based on the way Mrs. Quill was fanning herself, he was doing.
She met my gaze.
“Eliana,” Mrs. Quill said. “This isn’t you.”
“No, but you didn’t want me to be me, did you? This is what you all wanted. For me to be like my mother. Public feedings, remember? Mother did so favor her orgies.”
“Perhaps you’d like to join her at her club, then?” Adira asked. While she appeared to be ignoring Aurvandil’s pleas, I was very aware of the struggle going on under the table. Aurvandil was gaining ground.
“Is that what you want for me, Adira? To feed on my mother’s scraps instead of learning how to fend for myself?”
“Enough, Eliana. You’ve proven your point.”
“I don’t think so. But I’ll give you a chance, as the person in charge, to tell me what you think I’m trying to prove here. Enlighten me, and I’ll release you, Adira. Disappoint me, and we’ll all discover just how like my mother I can be.”