The Relic (Cradle of Darkness #2) - Addison Cain Page 0,17

of the city. No stubbed toes for my bride. “As I said, it was a different time. Earlier than even the Egyptian pharaohs western culture so obsesses over. So ancient that everything about our people was absorbed into new people. Into budding cultures, kingdoms, religions. But I digress….”

And she’d had enough. “I’ve never had a gentleman caller, but from couples I’d observed at the Super Club, umm...” Toying with her fingertips as she mustered the courage to explain whatever this was, Pearl took a deep breath. “These would not be considered appropriate topics for courtship. Especially unchaperoned courtship.”

Canting my head to the side, I puckered my lips, considering. Then I stole a peek—a little one. The fantasy sweet Pearl had daydreamed was of a man who wanted to talk to her, to introduce her to his parents, who didn’t care that she was half-starved, disgusting, and poor. Where she could pretend she was human and wouldn’t have to watch him slowly age and die.

How sad to have lived a life never knowing she had a whole family waiting for her. A family who would never age. Who would love her.

Uncharacteristically pensive, I murmured, “I see that I was right.”

It would be that first baby that would make her love me. A beautiful, perfect cherub that would nurse at her breast and drink of my flock.

But this I could not say, because it would just stir the pot. Pearl was already half-mad, and it would be centuries before that damage might mend.

Fuck you very much, Darius.

Oh, was I going to have another long talk with my son. The nightmares I would inflict on his mind. And I knew exactly what his next torment would be. Poetic justice.

I would make him relive every single night Pearl suffered in the crypt as if he were she. The perfect sentence. One I could carry out over and over and over until the sun ate this planet and my people repopulated a new one.

Tapping her foot in a feminine gesture passed down through the ages, I came back to the present to see Pearl’s arms crossed under her breasts. Her lovely lips turned down.

“I was right.” I amended, “In saying I’d follow where you walked. But I was wrong on other counts. Screw the Yelp. I should have asked you where you’d like to be treated on our first date.”

That threw her for quite a loop. Shoulders relaxing, my darling one lowered her arms. “I don’t even know what street we’re on, what year it is, or what I would have liked.”

“Quite right. Furthermore, no more talk of Jade, or ancient history. It was uncouth to assume you’d be thrilled about children as if you’d waited an eternity as I had.” I was salvaging this beautifully, despite the way she unconsciously clawed at her forearm.

So beautifully, in fact, that she said, “Well… we shouldn’t let the food get cold.”

Offering my hand like a proper gentleman, I said, “Despite my failure to ask, which I won’t repeat, I do think you’ll be pleased. The Yelp is a hilarious mishmash of human snark and assholery. But, it has its uses. If you like, I’ll teach you how it works so you might live dangerously and pick where we eat next.”

“I want to try fast food. Like from the commercials.” What a lovely glow came to her eyes before she announced, “Tacos!”

My love was completely insane, but even I was aware of humans’ delight and the necessity of tacos. “Done. And then I will introduce you to something so popular I don’t even know how to describe the human reaction to it. A taco truck.”

Our dinner was lovely. Pearl drank wine and ate her fill. So content that she let me feed her from a vein when we returned to our temporary home. Albeit the vein was in my wrist. And, unfortunately, she closed the door to her room on me when I tried to follow her in.

I was only going to hold her, and maybe steal a kiss.

Between her legs….

So instead, like a mongrel without a world begging to fuck him, I took my member in hand and stroked out a release. My thoughts full of Pearl, listening in on her dreams and lightly inserting the arousal I felt as my seed sprayed my chest.

Her mind responded in kind. In sleep, she orgasmed.

Chapter Seven

Pearl

Back bowed, I woke to a symphony of sensation that left my gasp punctuated with a shameless cry. Pulsating from my pelvis, another wave