Again he paused as though considering his answer carefully. She wanted to kill him for taking so long. “I am not fully healed from yesterday. In a day or two I will be whole and that should be enough for me to prevent,” he threw her an irritated glance, “this, from happening again.
Bad Valerie, no more orgasms for you. That’s good, right? Val frowned. “So you think you can block it from me?”
“I do.”
She thought of something important, “Does being an empath affect my humanity in anyway? Am I even human?” She felt sick just asking the question. He took a breath and she wondered if he could feel the pain the question caused.
“You are human. Being an empath has never made a noticeable impact upon humans. They have no susceptibilities to empaths nor empaths to them as far as I am aware. You get no extra strength or powers, no longevity or protection.
“What do I get? Sounds like a bum gig so far. How do you know for sure that I even am one?”
“If this were five hundred years ago it would give you safe passage among the Fey, vampires and wolves. You would be sought after and involved in our...politics. But the wolves and Fey are probably gone so your only appeal is to vampires. Young vampires still have emotions thus your impact is limited. The older and more powerful a vampire is the more...interesting you become. Your kind was a moral compass. I've seen an empath kill a vampire from emotions, drive them to suicide. Or inspire them, give them joy and passion. It can be a wondrous thing.”
“Can I do that? Is that why you don't want my blood?”
He made a dismissive gesture as though it were irrelevant. “Do not get ahead of yourself. I need to tell you what is occurring before I leave. A Challenge has been called. Any vampire who seeks to take my place must answer and be victorious.”
“There is going to be a fight for control of the vampires?”
He agreed with a slight movement of his head.
“When?”
“Tonight.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Why so soon? Why not wait until you have your power back?”
“That is not possible. Marion attacked me in the open. My supporters fled. It is too tenuous to wait.”
“What happens if you lose?”
He actually smiled at her. Like a parent to a child, a reassuring smile. It was sincere and she could see little lines appear at the corners of his eyes, laugh lines bracketing his mouth, as though he’d smiled a lot as a human. “A fair contest is impossible for me to lose. That is why Marion attacked me as she did.”
“Why would she go along with a Challenge if she cannot win?”
“I suspect she believes she can.” He looked mildly disgusted with himself. “Vampires are very hierarchical, they do not respond well to chaos and change. Things are unsettled. The Challenge is designed to settle leadership disputes quickly.”
“What am I supposed to do?” she asked worriedly.
“Nothing. This has nothing to do with you. I only wanted you to know that when we next meet your safety will be assured. This situation will be resolved. I will be unavailable for a few days.”
He turned and walked to the door, unlocking it. “Why are you leaving that way? Shouldn’t you just poof on out of here.”
He paused, one large hand on the door handle. “I shall try to conserve as much strength as possible for the Challenge.”
“You said it was nothing to worry about. I didn’t realize dematerializing took that much strength.”
“I do not know how many Challengers there will be and who is still loyal to me, if any of the vampires are. It could be a long contest. Why tempt fate?” He said, closing the door behind him.
She wanted to tell him to wait, to stay and explain more but part of that was the lust talking and the other part of it was because she was afraid for him. And that was stupid.
She'd watched him talk and could barely listen she was so desperate to let him take her. All the kissing and fondling had only made the craving for him worse. It was like giving a hungry person a bowl of soup, really good soup, but then not having a main course.
She really wanted the main course.
But maybe she didn't. Maybe it was just him who wanted her and his feelings made her feel