Galyc’s eyes widened, the most human thing about him he’d shown all night. It didn’t seem forced, like his laughter. He snapped his fingers, and the butler came over to Snoe with an empty glass. Snoe took out the small amount he’d brought. He poured just enough for a sip into the glass. The moment the glass was in Galyc’s hands, he took in a deep breath. His body visibly shivered as he tipped the glass back and sipped a small amount of blood.
Galyc’s eyes opened and he groaned, scooping out the remainder of the blood from the glass cup and sucking on his finger. When it was all gone, he looked disappointed. His eyes had a hint of a pinkish glow to them. Snoe would have thought he was seeing things because just as soon as it had appeared, it vanished.
“You have a deal,” Galyc said.
If Snoe didn’t need his help, he might have backed out of the deal. There was no telling what the demon blood would do. But that was a worry he wouldn’t concern himself with.
“Then we agree you will now enter a partnership with the Whyte coven,” Snoe said.
Galyc nodded.
“I will need you there as proof,” Snoe started.
Galyc raised his hand, interrupting Snoe. “That won’t be possible. I have a territory to run. However, my daughter will go. She is the princess, and she isn’t to be underestimated. Morri,” Galyc said.
A woman with the same platinum hair as Galyc walked in. Her skin was just as pale and her eyes the unsettling glowing white.
“Yes, Father?”
Galyc looked to Snoe. “She will join you.” To her he said, “You’re moving to the witch territory.”
Morri had a blank look on her face, as if it didn’t matter to her. Was it a vampire thing to just look so impassive and unwavering?
“I don’t want her there if she doesn’t want to be,” Snoe said. Before Galyc could get the wrong impression, Snoe kept talking. “I come from a home where there was no choice but to do what you’re told. I am now destroying that very place. If this partnership is to work, then I need someone who will climb and destroy along with me.”
It was Morri who spoke. “My father may be the king, but if I truly did not wish to go, I’d refuse.” She turned from Snoe and looked to Galyc. “I shall pack. I can pick those who go with me?”
“Is there a limit on how many vampires she can bring?”
Snoe wanted to say yes, but if he wanted the partnership to last long and help him rule, then there was going to have to be some trust.
“No, bring as many that will make you comfortable,” Snoe said.
Galyc clapped his hands. Standing up from the table, Snoe did the same. Galyc raised his glass, and the butler from earlier brought Snoe a wineglass. He sniffed it to make sure it was wine and not blood. No matter how much blood Snoe had seen of late, he still didn’t want to drink it.
“Here is to an alliance,” Galyc said.
Snoe raised his glass, saluting to the toast and taking a sip of the bitter, tart wine. Snoe walked over to Galyc and handed him only a third of what Ezyrah had given Snoe.
“Here you are,” Snoe said.
Galyc grinned, his fangs showing, and Snoe disregarded his instinct to run away. Galyc’s icy hands brushed against Snoe’s as he took the offered blood. Snoe stayed polite, no matter how much he wanted to snatch his hand away and wipe it clean.
“Stay and enjoy the party,” Galyc said. He walked away, leaving Snoe and his men alone.
“Master, do we stay?” Dox asked.
“There is a hotel a little ways away from here, but I will call ahead and have your room ready,” Morri said.
“Thank you,” Snoe said.
Morri headed toward the door. “It will only take me a day or so to get everything ready.”
“That’s fine. I’m sure we can think of something to entertain ourselves with while you get everything you need. It’s a big move.”
Morri nodded before leaving the room. Snoe followed her out, drinking the rest of his wine. He was going to need it to face the room of eyes once again. He steeled himself while the guys all shifted back to human and made their way out into the front room. Again, the chatter stopped, and eyes were glued to Snoe’s every move.
The butler appeared out of thin air. For a human, he moved more like a vampire, quiet and creepy.
“The limo is waiting for you, sir.”
Snoe couldn’t wait to get out of there. They piled into the limo, and the moment the door closed, Snoe let out a pent-up sigh and sagged further against the seat.
“Holy fuck, it worked,” Snoe said. Laughter bubbled up out of him at an uncontrollable rate.
Dox pulled Snoe to his chest, and Snoe clung to him like he was a lifeline.
“You did good, Master,” Dox said.
Snoe’s hands trembled, and he tried to make them stop. He’d walked out alive; he’d succeeded in his plan. That was true, and yet the fear he’d kept at bay came rushing through him all at once. More hands touched him, and the heat of other bodies crowding him calmed Snoe. He succeeded because he had them. He was alive because they were there to protect him.
Snoe’s laughter died down, but even as he opened his mouth to talk, no words came out. He just closed his eyes and hoped they could feel the words that echoed in his heart.
Thank you.
Chapter Twenty-One
Joker
Sitting back in the large tub, he had to agree with Master—hot water felt better than the icy cold of the creek. Joker’s first taste of a hot bath was when they moved away from the cottage and to the hotel in New Spark. He rarely had time to enjoy a nice bath, but since they weren’t going anywhere until the vampire princess was ready, he took the opportunity.
Master walked into the enormous bathroom of the hotel suite and stopped dead in his tracks as his brown eyes raked up and down Joker’s body. Joker had forgone the bubbles, and now he was glad for it. His body was on full display in the clear water.
Joker’s cock thickened at the sight of Master standing there. Joker could practically imagine the feel of Master taking his cock and squeezing down on it ever so beautifully, bringing them both pleasure.
“Care to join me?” Joker asked.
Master bit down on his lip. He had to know what it did to Joker.
“The water is nice and warm, just how you like it,” Joker said, wanting Master in there with him more than anything. Master walked further into the bathroom.
“You woke up at the ass crack of dawn to take a bath?” Master asked with a smile on his face.
Joker shrugged, sporting his own smile. “What can I say that will convince you to join me?”
Master shook his head, pulling off his underwear and making his way toward the large tub. Joker groaned as he watched Master dip his toes in and then slowly sink all the way into the water. If the sight hadn’t been so tantalizing, Joker might not have kept his hands to himself as long as he had. But the moment it was over, all bets were off. He wrapped his hand around Master’s upper arm and pulled him to his chest.
“You look and…” Master’s hand dipped into the water, lightly caressing Joker’s aching cock. “Feel happy too.” Master batted his lashes, trying for innocent, but there was nothing innocent about the man in Joker’s lap. “Joker, do I make you happy?”