She’d been searching the sea of guests for a glimpse of Jeffrey Leroy, when an insistent prodding in her thoughts had drawn her attention to Marius. He remained as arrogantly proud of bearing as always, his presence wordlessly conveying his power—a power it had taken her years to learn to resist. Still, Sable felt a deep fear and foreboding. She remained so untutored in the ways of vampires. She knew nothing about what rights Marius held over her.
Sable, my love, he drawled in her thoughts. What an unexpected pleasure to see you again.
She eyed the handsome blond man who came to a halt in front her. Her pulse kicked into overdrive, and her skin grew cold and clammy. “Marius,” she returned in an icy tone, as she ruthlessly shoved him from her mind. “What are you doing here?”
He laughed and the bitterness in the sound was harsh on her nerves. “You’ve gotten stronger. It took you no time at all to evict me from your thoughts. Have you missed me, my sweet novice? Are you tired yet of chasing the sewage of the universe? I am more than ready to have you come home.”
“Never going to happen,” she assured him. “I much prefer having my own thoughts and feelings. I enjoy living my own life.”
Deep green eyes caressed her face with emotionless possession. “Your life was my gift to you. You would have been dead years ago had I not infected you with the virus.”
“Your gift came with too many restrictions,” she snapped, looking away as she searched the crowd for Leroy. She’d felt beholden to him for so long. Even now, she felt guilty for leaving him. “Go away, Marius. I’m not here for you.”
“You live for me!” he hissed furiously. He gripped her elbow in what would have been a bone-snapping vise to a human. “You knew what I asked of you. I never deceived you. And you agreed to the terms.”
Her head whipped toward his. “Bullshit. I was young, barely a woman, and foolishly infatuated with a handsome man who promised me the world and an eternity of his love. But you don’t love anyone or anything besides yourself. You don’t want me. You want a puppet you can control. I was alive before I met you. You didn’t create me.”
“I love you,” he growled as he dragged her toward the crowded dance floor. “I’ve always loved you.”
Sable attempted to shake off his grip, but couldn’t. “See what I mean, Marius? You just do whatever the hell you please without regard to my feelings. If you truly loved me, you would see how miserable you make me and try to change it. Instead, you just want to change me.”
Pulling her into his arms, Marius began to twirl her around to the ancient music he’d often enjoyed while they were together. He’d taught her how to dance, how to eat, how to have sex. He’d been grooming her to take her place at his side in the highest echelon of universe politics and prestige. But she had never wanted any of it. She’d only wanted him. But he was, and always would be, completely self-absorbed and unavailable. Nothing like Derek, who offered himself so freely and wanted her just the way she was.
Marius dipped her and kept her bent over his arm. His head lowered and he licked along her throat while taking a deep breath of her scent. Suddenly, he faltered, nearly dropping her. He yanked her upright abruptly, his emerald gaze shooting sparks in his fury. “You reek of another man. Another vampire,” he spat. “You swore you didn’t want to be with a vamp.”
“No,” she corrected smoothly as she stepped out of his now lax embrace. “I swore I didn’t want to be with you.” She jumped in surprise as a strong arm encircled her waist.
“Is there a problem here, baby?” Derek asked in a casual tone that didn’t hide the possessiveness.
Sable glanced at him with relief. He had changed his clothes and stood at her side in an antique black-and-white ensemble that she thought was called a “tuxedo”. He had never looked as seductively handsome.
She curled into his side. “Not anymore,” she assured him.
“Introduce me to your plaything, Sable,” Marius growled.
“Derek, darling,” she cooed, deliberately goading the bristling blond man. “Meet Marius. Marius, this is Derek.”
Marius extended his hand. “I am Sable’s Master,” he said with a satisfied smirk, watching with glee as his rival stiffened at the news.
But Derek recovered swiftly and smiled a purely male smile. “Well then, I must thank you. Your infection of Sable allowed her to live long enough to become my mate.” He bowed. “I am in your debt.”
“She’s not your mate, so enjoy her while you can,” Marius snapped. His hands clenched into fists. “She won’t be able to avoid my calling forever.” He looked at Sable. “Have a care, love. For yourself and your toy.”
Sable took a quick step toward him, the murderous expression on her face causing the Master vampire to take a step back. “Don’t threaten me and don’t threaten Derek. Trust me, you won’t like the way I handle threats.”
Derek grabbed Sable around the waist and pulled her backward. He bared his fangs in a territorial warning as Marius stepped toward them. The blond man wisely backed down—for the moment. Derek knew he would have deal with Sable’s past eventually, but tonight was not the time and the RetroBall was not the place.
Once they had retreated a safe distance away, he set Sable down and linked his fingers with hers, dragging her from the room. “Have you lost your damn mind?” he muttered.
“You heard him,” she said crossly. “He was threatening us, the slimy bastard! He’s lucky I didn’t rip out his balls.”
Derek looked at her over his shoulder and winced. “Ouch. Remind me not to get on your bad side.”
She grinned. “Don’t get on my bad side.”
“Point taken,” he said dryly, then he turned serious. “You leave Marius Drake to me. You’ve got guts, baby, but you’re a novice and you’re his novice. You don’t have enough control yet to be tangling with a Master.”
“You’re a Master,” she pointed out. “I think I’m pretty good at tangling with you.”