“But we can’t always go out and feed on humans. It’s not always practical, or safe. In the vampire world, there are females called feeders. They’re born to this purpose, so vampires can feed from them. Because of the warrior camp, and the number of vampires that reside here, they can’t be running around all the time trying to find food. So, we have a feeder compound here, where the females live. The warriors all go there to feed. And if a warrior gets hurt badly, in battle or training, they need blood to heal. Full-blood vamps don’t eat or drink mortal food. They only consume blood. And the more they expend their energy, the less effective their skills are, so they need to feed often."
Madison emptied her glass and reached for a refill. There was nothing in the movies about feeders. This was new territory. "I've seen you eat, Cory. Do you have to, uh, feed as well?"
Cory raised his eyes to hers, gauging her response before he spoke. His heart was pounding like a drum, his whole body thumping to the beat. "Yes."
Madison put the glass on the table and stood to pace. What did this mean? That he’d feed from her? She’d seen the razor-sharp fangs in Shade's angry growl and couldn’t imagine she’d ever want that. "So, that's where you go? To feed? You go to the feeders?"
He kept his eyes glued to her as she paced. "Yes. Because I’m a half-breed, I can do human food and drink, but I also need blood, and I can drink the Midnight."
Picking up his glass, he held it up. "My dad makes this special blend of wine and blood. He’s the only vampire in the world who has patented this mixture. It looks like a thick red wine. They sell it all over the world. It will substitute for feeding for a while. It’s like a hit to get you through until you get the real thing." Draining his glass, he sat it on the table. "And I know you’re wondering, yes, I have fangs."
Madison walked over to a window and looked out at the night, seeing her own reflection in the glass. "Yeah, I was wondering. I don't think I'm ready to see them yet, though. Can you control it? The fangs, I mean?"
Walking to her, he slid his arms around her waist and she didn’t flinch or reject him. "Yes, I can control it. Mine are actually easier to control than those of a full blooded vampire. We’re all ruled by the beast. The beast is that part of us that is more vampire than human. I have a beast, but since I’m only half vampire it’s much easier for me. You saw the beast when you saw my dad tonight. The beast emerges in anger, or when the vampire is in a fight for his life. I can adjust to both worlds, live in both, but I prefer living here. It’s the first time I’ve felt loved and accepted. I know all this is more than any human is supposed to handle. But I need you to understand something. I want to feed from you, only you. I want to make love to you, and only you. I didn’t make love to you because I wanted you to have the choice to love me and make love to me, only after you knew what I was. Now, you know. It’s up to you now whether we’ll be together."
Madison allowed herself to be comforted by his embrace as he stood behind her. "I'm not sure, Cory. I do love you, but the feeding thing. I don't know. I mean, does it have to be me? If you have feeders, can't we be together without you feeding from me? This is just a lot to take in right now."
Cory sighed softly, laying his head on her shoulder. "I can feed from the feeders, but you need to understand there’s a sexual component to our feeding. It’s instinctive and part of our survival. If I feed from you, you’ll feel intense sexual pleasure. I know you’re scared, so am I. To be honest, I’ve never been with a mortal girl before. Before my dad found me, I pretty much lived in an underground community of vampires and half-breeds.
“So, I think if you have questions about sex with a vampire, you should ask Kate or Shannon, or maybe my father. Kate was mortal once, and Shannon is still mortal. You don’t need to be embarrassed with them, Maddie, they want us to be together, and they want us to be happy. They’ll help us in everything. Does the feeding scare you? Are you afraid there will be pain or anything like that?"
Madison laughed nervously. "I seriously don't think I can discuss sex with your father. Kate and Shannon, maybe. But yes, the feeding scares me a little."
Cory laughed with her. "I can only imagine how scary it must seem to you.” Spinning her around in his arms, he kissed her gently. He had to find a way to make this work. "Madison, I love you. I know you love me. This is all very complicated and insane. But it’s who I am, nothing has changed about me, nothing has changed about you, we’re still the same. We have some decisions to make, and they’re life changing, but there’s something much more serious we need to discuss."
She looked at him confused. “What could be more serious than this? There's more?"
Cory slid his hands along the side of her face, letting his fingers slide through her beautiful long blonde hair.
"Maddie, my dad is giving us time. But right now, he’s in a precarious position. You know we exist, where we are, what we’re capable of. That’s a dangerous thing to my family. This isn’t your fault, but fate put you here. He won’t let you leave this property until he knows where you stand. You know everything, and that makes you a danger to us.
“He wants this to work, and he told me that. He gave us time to decide if you accept all of this. I know what I want, I want you. But if you choose not to keep these secrets…”
Cory laid his head on top of hers. “I don’t know the outcome. You can never tell anyone, Madison, no one. Not your family or your friends. Do you understand the magnitude of this?"
Madison was stunned by the revelation and had no doubt Shade would never let her leave here if he thought for one moment she’d expose them. "Cory, regardless of what happens between us, I love you. I’d never do anything that would hurt you. I promise. I mean, I understand the risks to the family. I’d never..."
He pulled her to his chest, crushing her tight into him. "I love you so much, Maddie, so very much. I hate this, I hate that my life is so messed up. I never meant to put you at risk, to scare you, and I hate that." His voice was full of pain, full of all the agony his life had brought him. He had to be strong for her, but he could feel his body shaking with the fear of losing her.
"He needs to hear you accept this, accept all of us, and you’ll never expose anything, not a word of this to anyone."
"Cory, this is a lot to digest. I know I love you, and I’d never betray you or your family. If your father needs to hear that from me, then I’ll tell him. But I need some time to figure all this out. I feel overwhelmed with it right now. I want to be with you, but you’ve thrown a lot my way. Can we just take it slow, please?"
He nodded. "Yes, that’s what we both need. I’m exhausted, this has been a crazy night and it’s almost 4 a.m. Let’s sleep, rest our brains, if that’s possible. Tomorrow night, we’ll meet with my dad again, say just what you said to me and I’ll back you up, Maddie. Then we can see what he says. It’s the best I can tell you, right now. My dad makes good decisions, he doesn’t make rash judgments. Do you want to stay here on the sofa? Or do you want to snuggle in bed with me?"