her blood in the artery.
Volod traced the vein with his fingertip. “Feed, Nyx.”
“No,” the Doppler female whispered and began a futile struggle as I lowered my face to her neck. “Please, no.”
Every word she said and every struggle she made only made me want what she had to offer even more.
Like the way prey running from an attacker only heightens the instinct to attack. I wanted to attack. Wanted to jerk her to me and ravage her neck.
Instead I moved my head slowly toward the spot and drank in the smell of the sweat of her skin and her lifeblood.
I slid my fangs into the vein Volod had shown me. The taste was incredible. Better than anything I had imagined.
The Doppler female had gone slack but was making soft, almost erotic whimpers. The power of a Vampire’s bite was not only mesmerizing but sexual, too.
“Stop,” Volod said after I had taken only a few long draws from her.
The command brought me up short. I didn’t want to stop, but I couldn’t help myself. I had to do as he ordered—it was built into me somehow.
“I want you hungry for later,” Volod said. “This is only a dining lesson.”
As I drew away I noticed the two spots leaking blood. Hunger made me lick up the blood. The two holes sealed over, like they had never been there.
“Very good.” Volod’s tone held a note of approval. He turned to the Vampire paranorm, whom I had forgotten about. “Take her back to the holding cells.”
The Vampire paranorm bowed again. “Yes, sir,” he said before guiding the now dreamy-looking Doppler away.
“Find Monique,” Volod said to me, his tone dismissive. “She is to start your training at once.”
“Yes, Volod.” I bowed my head in acknowledgment. It was as if I had no control over my thoughts or my words or even my actions. “I’ll go to her now.”
“Most likely you will find her on the third floor in the bedchambers, the sitting room, or the library.” Volod returned to his seat.
“Yes, sir.” I got to my feet and left through the door I came in.
I had to pick up my long skirts to make my way up the stairs. As I went I thought about the Doppler female and how good her blood had tasted. Volod had left me hungry, wanting more.
When I reached the landing I heard voices down the hallway and paused at their intimate sound.
With curiosity, I peered around the corner and saw Monique and Rodán standing in the hallway just outside the door. Monique’s hair was a little messy—it had been perfect when I’d seen her earlier.
Rodán looked at her with an expression that was so familiar to me. Sexual and satisfied, in a way that was entirely sensual and always made a woman want to go straight back to bed with him.
The scent of sex met my enhanced senses and I felt myself grow warm. I felt like I was invading a private moment, and I started to turn to go back down the stairs, but stopped and pulled a glamour.
“Monique,” Rodán said, “I know I can trust you and I will.” She cocked her head, and he continued. “I’ve planned a coup against Volod.” At her surprised look he said, “We must stop him. The destruction he wants is not who we are, Vampire paranorms or not.”
“A coup?” Monique sounded stunned, but I couldn’t gauge how she felt about his statement. “What do you mean?”
I felt drawn to the conversation. I didn’t want to be seen watching, so I pulled a glamour then peeked around the corner again.
Rodán held both of Monique’s hands. “All Vampire paranorms are in danger. Volod does not plan to let any of us live once he attains his goal of taking control of the paranorm world.”
Monique frowned. “Why do you think this?”
“I have heard what he has said and I’ve read between the lines. I have watched his disguised disgust for Vampire paranorms. More than that, though, I have seen a vision of it.” Rodán reached up and brushed her hair over her ear. “If we do not stop him, it will happen.”
“Do you think he is powerful enough to destroy Vampire paranorms?” She was still frowning. “What are you going to do about it?”
“We can talk about all of that later,” Rodán said. “There is no time now. We are having the meeting on the first floor in the conference room. I will give you the details after the meeting.”
“Should I be at