Lover Mine(57)

"Unladylike? Inappropriate?" Payne cracked her knuckles. "What a pity."

Layla exhaled long and slow. "I have been properly trained, you know. As an ehros."

"And that is what you don't like--"

"Not at all. That is what I don't know, but wish to."

Payne frowned hard. "You are not used?"

"Verily, I was denied by John Matthew on the evening of his transition after I saw him safely through the change. And when I go to feed the Brothers, I am ever untouched."

"I beg your . . ." Was she hearing that right? "You want to have sex. With one of them."

Layla's tone turned shrewd. "Surely you of all my sisters understand what it is like to be naught but a potential."

Well . . . hadn't she gotten the scenario all wrong. "With all due respect, I can't fathom why you would want . . . that . . . with one of those males."

"Why would I not? The Brothers and those three younger males are beautiful, phearsome creatures of strength. And with the Primale leaving us all unserved . . ." Layla shook her head. "To have been well taught and had it described and read about the act . . . I want to experience it for myself. Even if it is but once."

"For truth, I cannot summon even the slightest inclination. Never have, don't think I ever will. I'd rather fight."

"Then I envy you."

"Oh?"

Layla's eyes seemed ancient. "Far better to be uninterested than unfulfilled. One is a relief. The other an emptiness with heavy weight."

As No'One appeared with a tray of cut fruit and fresh juice, Payne said, "No'One, won't you join us?"

Layla smiled up at the maid. "Indeed. Please do."

With a shake of her head and a bow, No'One just left them the repast she had so thoughtfully prepared and went about her business, limping through the archway and out of the baths.

Payne's frown stayed in place as she and the Chosen Layla fell into silence. Mulling over what had been exchanged, it was hard to understand how they could have opinions of such total opposite regard--and both be in the right.

For Layla's sake, Payne wished she herself was wrong; what a disappointment it would be to pine for something that was far, far less than expectation bore it to be.





NINETEEN





"A female . . ." The Omega's soft, echoing voice carried farther than its volume would have suggested, the two words suffusing every corner of the smooth stone room that formed his private chamber.

Lash did his best to appear unconcerned as he lounged against one of the black walls. "I need her to service me for blood."

"Do you."

"It's biology."

In his white robing, the Omega cut a stunning figure as he circulated around the space. With his hood up in place, his arms crossed, and his hands tucked into his billowing sleeves, he resembled a bishop in the game of chess.

Except, of course, he was the king down here.

The evil's receiving area was about the size of a ballroom and decked out like one, with plenty of black chandeliers and stanchions that supported legions of black candles. It was far from stark, however. For one thing, those wicks were spouting red flames. And to top it off, the walls and floor and ceiling were made of the most extraordinary marble Lash had ever seen. From one angle it was black, from another it was metallic bloodred, and given that the source of illumination was constantly flickering, you got both colors at once all around you.

It wasn't hard to figure out the why of the decor. Given the Omega's wardrobe, which was limited to those driven-snow drapery things, he was the prime focal point, the only thing that stood out. The rest was window dressing.

He ran his world like that, too.

"And would this be a mate for you, my son?" the Omega asked from way across the room.

"No," Lash lied. "Just a blood source."

You did not give the Omega more information than you had to: Lash was well aware of how fickle his father could be and off-the-radar was key.

"Have I not given you enough strength?"

"My vampire nature is what it is."

The Omega turned and faced Lash. After a pause, that distorted voice whispered, "Indeed. I find that to be true."

"I'll bring her to you," Lash said, straightening from the wall. "To the farmhouse. Tonight. You turn her and I'll have what I need."

"And I cannot provide that to you?"

"You would be providing it to me. You induct her and I have the blood source required to give me power."

"So you say that you are weak?"

Damn him to hell, but it must be obvious that he was. The Omega could sense things and surely it had been apparent for some time now.

When Lash stayed quiet, the Omega drifted forward until they were eye to eye. "I have never inducted a female."