Nadya awakened in the same luxurious bed where she had found herself three mornings before. At some point during that night, Jalen had moved her into her room, coincidentally nowhere near his. For all the attention he’d paid her since, he wouldn’t know if she had left the room at all. She hadn’t, mainly because she didn’t know if she was allowed to.
Though the room was beautiful, the mattress comfortable, and the satin bedding more than she had ever dreamed of, she had passed another restless night, feeling little more rested than she had before going to sleep.
While sleepy, Nadya was also sick of looking at the same four opulent walls and was determined to escape them for a time. She slid from the bed and padded across the soft carpet on bare feet. It hadn’t been her custom to sleep nude before coming to live at the DuMond estates, but the siren call of the satin sheets lured her to indulge in the hedonistic impulse.
As she pushed aside the curtain, Nadya thought of a few other impulses to which she would like to surrender. The night with Jalen had merely intensified her lust for him, rather than slaking it.
The sun had slipped nearly below the horizon, and she squinted in the dim glow of twilight to make out the activity in the courtyard. She had naturally slipped into the schedule maintained by the rest of the household, rising at dusk and slipping into bed before dawn. The vampires could barely tolerate the sunlight, so they shunned it. All but their daytime human guardians followed suit.
The commotion in the courtyard turned out to be men and women practicing for battle. Her attention soon strayed from them, but she found little of interest from her high window until her eyes lit on the gardens just barely visible from her vantage point.
A thrill shot through her, and she hurried to wash and dress. Upon first finding herself in the luxurious room, she had panicked, having no idea where to find her clothes from the Q. A quick search of the room had yielded a bounty of beautiful garments in the huge walk-in closet. Some were too large, and some were too small, but she had found plenty that fit. Now, she dressed impatiently in jeans and a long-sleeve shirt to ward off the night chill. The burgundy top was basic in design, but she still spent a couple of seconds marveling at how soft this cotton was compared to the homespun she was used to wearing.
Shoes took a while, because she had to sort through the myriad shelves. Once she finally found the grouping of boots, it took some minutes to find a comfortable pair in her size. Afterward, she raced across the room and threw open the door, preparing to defiantly confront anyone who tried to block her way. A sense of letdown swept through her when she found no one outside her room. Jalen had so little interest in her that he hadn’t even bothered to post a guard to ensure she remained.
The lack of guard made it easier to slip down the winding staircase, which led to another landing with more stairs that finally took her to the bottom floor. She entered a huge parlor, relieved to find no one entertaining. The rich wood of the furniture appeared old, worn to a smooth patina from age, though the upholstery looked crisp and new.
Nadya encountered no one except a startled maid as she left the house. The woman deliberately averted her eyes and continued to her destination with an armful of linens. Seconds after passing the servant, Nadya was outside and breathing in the fresh air. As elegant as the mansion was, it was stuffy too—literally and figuratively.
She skirted most of the people in her path as she made her way to the gardens. To her surprise, no one tried to stop her. It seemed as though she could keep walking back to the Q, and no one would prevent it. Feeling a little sulky, she stomped across the grounds, ignoring the beauty of the landscape deliberately, in no mood to be cheered by a bright blossom or artistic arrangement of foliage.
Her grumpiness fled as soon as she entered the gardens. Only in magazines had she seen anything even close to the scene before her. She wandered through flowers and trees, shrubs, bushes, and charming little surprises, like the stone bench surrounded by blood-red rose bushes that gave it the illusion of total privacy.
Nadya lost track of time as she explored the gardens, finding new wonders in the vegetation. She and her grandmother maintained a communal garden with others from their block, but what they grew were the basic staples of life. In this fabulous Eden, she saw so many things for which she had no name. With an inquisitive sense of adventure, she helped herself to anything that interested her, trying bites with mixed results. Before she knew it, she was stuffed and tired from the long walk. She made her way back to the stone bench shielded by the roses and curled up on the hard surface. It was uncomfortable, yet comforting in its own way. Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.
Nadya awoke to the sound of baying hounds. She jerked upright, wincing at the crick in her neck. Automatically, her eyes turned toward the estate, and she was shocked to see lights everywhere. Confused and curious, she stood up, stretched, and started walking back to the house, setting a quick pace.
When she emerged from around a hedgerow, Nadya screamed as three militia guards surrounded her, hands on their gun belts. One spoke into the radio on his shoulder. “We’ve found her.”
She found herself pressed between two of the burly men and urged forward at a quick pace. Fear filled her as the realization dawned that the frenzy on the grounds was because of her. Nadya tried to quash the spark of pleasure that came from knowing Jalen had noticed her gone and raised an alarm to find her. He hadn’t completely forgotten about her.
Her elation was short-lived as the men escorted her into the mansion, bypassing the stairs to shove her into an elevator. She barely had time to think as they rushed her to wherever they were taking her. She tingled with fear and anticipation, imagining seeing Jalen again.
They led her into his room, but he wasn’t alone. Nadya gasped when she saw the naked blonde sitting demurely in a wingback chair near the unlit fireplace.
Jalen nodded to the men, and they shoved Nadya onto a chaise lounge with more force than necessary. She rubbed a sore spot on her arm and shot a baleful glance at the one who had squeezed it. She transferred the resentful look to Jalen when the guards departed.
“Did you think you could flee, slave?” Jalen’s tone and expression didn’t reveal his emotions.
She shook her head. “I wasn’t running away.”
“Liar.” He stepped closer, looming over her. “Escape is impossible. You won’t leave this estate until I allow it.” His voice lowered an octave, taking on a smoky tinge. “If I allow it.”
“I wasn’t running away,” she said firmly. “I was merely exploring the gardens.”
Jalen snorted, and the blonde laughed. He turned to her. “What amuses you, Sienna?”
“Your new pet, Master.” She raked a glance over Nadya, clearly dismissing her. “Why not send her home if she is so desperate to escape?”
“No,” said Jalen and Nadya simultaneously. His denial was unemotional, issued in a steady tone, while hers was high-pitched with an edge of anxiety.
“No,” he said again. “I think she will be entertaining, at least for a while yet.”
Sienna shrugged. “Of course, Master.” She was clearly unhappy with his decision, but too well trained to protest.
“May I go?” asked Nadya through gritted teeth, burning with anger at the accusations she had faced. She ignored the voice in the back of her mind that whispered she was more hurt than angry. She couldn’t care less if he had a different woman in his bed every night.
“No.” He turned away from her to beckon Sienna toward him. She complied without a hint of hesitation.
Nadya bit her tongue to keep from screaming at them when the blonde knelt in front of Jalen to open his robe. He wore nothing underneath, and even in her anger, she couldn’t ignore how gorgeous his body was. Sienna must have shared her appreciation, because she made a low sound in the back of her throat as she took his cock into her hand, guiding it toward her mouth. Nadya whimpered with distress as the blonde went down on Jalen. She walked toward the door.
“Stay.” He never raised his voice, but command resonated in every syllable, making her freeze in her tracks.
She turned back to the sight of them, and this time gasped with horror. Unsightly whip marks marred Sienna’s back, gouged deep into her flesh. The scars were old and white, but they shocked Nadya all the same. Her gaze flew to Jalen’s, the unasked question apparently reflected in her eyes.
“Sienna can tell you firsthand what happens to tributes who run away.” He bent his knees enough to reach her back and push aside a swath of blonde hair to stroke the marks in her skin.
Her stomach churned with nausea, and she reacted without thought. “You’re a disgusting, vile thing.”
Jalen stiffened, and Sienna lifted her head, her eyes wide with shock as she looked at Nadya. “The Master didn’t do this.” Her blue eyes glistened with repressed tears, but her pursed mouth reflected anger. “He saved me from his father. Don’t you dare speak to him like that, you little—”
“Sienna.” With a touch of his hand on her head, she quieted. His gaze never strayed from Nadya’s. He seemed annoyed, and she thought it might be because Sienna had ruined the image he was trying to project of himself.
“I’m sorry.” Nadya was genuinely sorry for her ugly words, but the stiffness in her tone stemmed from the hurt she felt over him touching another woman in front of her.
He didn’t acknowledge her apology. She stood awkwardly for a second, letting the silence lengthen, before turning back to the door.
“You haven’t been dismissed, slave.”
His icy words penetrated her skin, burrowing into her brain, and sending a shiver down her spine. Reluctantly, she turned back to face him. “What do you want from me?”
Jalen moved his hand almost imperceptibly, and she responded as though he had tugged an invisible leash to jerk her forward. She stopped in front of him, trying to meet his gaze, but finding it almost impossible. He was too intimidating, too overwhelming, for her to stand and face him as his equal. It was all she could do to keep from throwing herself at his feet and begging him to not be so cold to her.
“Kneel.”
Nadya did so, staring up at him as she sank to her knees beside Sienna. He didn’t issue another command, but someone else seemed to be in control of her body as she lifted her hands to stroke his thighs. Sienna lowered her mouth, once again swallowing his thick cock, and he threw back his head, the light from the chandelier glinting off his fangs as they extended. He pumped his hips in rhythm with Sienna’s motions as Nadya stroked his thighs and pressed kisses to his side and hip. She licked his skin, finding the slight coolness a delicious contrast to the heat coursing through her body.
Jalen buried his hand in her hair, tugging hard enough to sting, but she didn’t protest. Nadya continued to lick and stroke him as Sienna sucked. The sounds of her passionate ministrations echoed through Nadya’s head, and they were oddly soothing, lulling her into a haze of passion.
When Jalen turned her head to face Sienna, she didn’t resist. The other woman gave way, withdrawing to sit on her heels as Nadya’s mouth replaced hers. His cock was thick and almost more than she could take. Nadya stretched her mouth to accommodate his size and attempted to mimic the motions Sienna had used. It was awkward until she tilted her head slightly, and then his cock seemed to slide deep into her mouth with ease. She sucked and licked, not sure what to do.
He must have picked up on her uncertainty, because the hand on her hand unclenched, and he stroked her hair. “Very good. You are a natural cocksucker, aren’t you, Nadya?”
She would have answered, but his erection prevented a verbal response. She attempted to nod before losing herself in the rhythm of sucking his cock. He praised her in a soft voice, and his hand stayed on her head, guiding and securing her. Nadya closed her eyes, lost in the sensations flowing through her. She wouldn’t have imagined it could be so fulfilling to suck a man’s cock. It should have been an act that was only pleasurable for Jalen, yet her pussy was slick and wet with need. Her thighs trembled each time he bucked against her face, and she was eager for his cock to slide into her slit with the same ease as it was moving in her mouth.
Nadya was so lost in the moment that she had forgotten Sienna until the other woman knelt behind her, cupping her breasts. She gasped at the violation, trying to pull away. Jalen’s hand tightened like a vice, holding her mouth captive against his penis. “Don’t fight this, Nadya. You are here to please me, and this pleases me.”
She subsided, letting her body go limp. Her skin crawled with a thousand invisible spiders while the other woman touched her. Despite her discomfort with the act, her breasts responded, making her nipples bead.
“You were right, Master. She is very entertaining.” Sienna’s breath wafted across Nadya’s neck as she spoke, making her shiver. Her lips touched Nadya’s throat, and she whimpered, both in protest and pleasure. As Sienna nibbled on her skin, Nadya tried to ignore the sensations the other woman’s mouth elicited and focused on the task Jalen had assigned her. His pace increased, and she bobbed her head to keep up, almost choking each time he sank into the back of her throat.
Jalen grunted and arched against her face as hot spurts erupted from his cock, filling her mouth. She swallowed as quickly as possible, taking the last drop of satisfaction he bestowed up on her.
“Good, pet.” He stroked her head when she looked up at him. Nadya couldn’t hide the adoration she was feeling. It seemed to radiate from her pores. She was surprised to see she looked no different when she caught sight of herself in the mirror. Her skin should have been glowing.
The sense of warmth suffusing her fled the moment he withdrew his hand and stepped back. Sienna continued to touch and kiss her, and Nadya tried to shrug off the other woman, suddenly noticing how cool her skin was. It dawned on her that Sienna was a vampire just as the other woman’s fangs lightly penetrated her neck. “No.” She struggled to free herself as the other woman’s embrace clamped around her like a vice.
“Sienna.” Jalen’s sharp tone had the blonde releasing her. “Not yet, my dear. There is still fun to be had with this tribute.”
His words were like a glass of ice water tossed in her face. Nadya stumbled to her feet and raced blindly for the door, having trouble seeing through the veil of tears obscuring her vision. This time when Jalen called her name, she had no problem resisting him. Instead, she kept running, tore open the door, and rushed down the hallway. She kept running until she was in the room that had been assigned to her, where she threw herself on the bed and sobbed.
Even in her misery, she was allowed no reprieve. Her door slammed against the wall seconds later. She looked up through tear-filled eyes to see Jalen framed in the doorway. Anger radiated from him, and she trembled with fear as he stalked to the bed to loom over her.
“You never run out on me, tribute.”
Nadya wiped away her tears and strove to match his angry tone. “I won’t do that. You can’t make me.”
“Can’t I?” He arched a brow. “You are here for my bidding. Remember that, slave. You wanted this.”
She shook her head. “No.”
Jalen curled his lip with obvious contempt. “You did everything in your power to get my attention. You told me yourself you wanted this lifestyle.”
“I wanted you, not that…with that woman.” She looked away, unable to bear the scrutiny in his red-tinged gaze. His eyes could strip her bare and reveal the depths of her soul in an instant. She was too vulnerable to hide her emotions at the moment.
The bed sagged as he sat down. She rolled away, determined not to look into his eyes. The thrall wouldn’t be necessary to bend her to his will. All that was required was a shared look. She didn’t want to crumble and end up doing something that she had no interest in, just for his amusement. Nadya wanted Jalen, but she wanted to be more than his plaything. She wanted to matter to him.
He pushed aside a swathe of hair that had hidden her face. Nadya whimpered when he rolled her over onto her back so that her head was on his lap. His eyes exerted that mysterious magnetism, drawing hers, and their gazes clashed in a silent battle of wills.
She gave in first, feeling weak in his embrace. “What do you want me to do?”
“This.” Jalen lifted her into his arms, his mouth seeking hers in a deep kiss. She sighed with contentment and parted her lips to allow his tongue inside. He explored the moist recesses with arousing thoroughness until her entire body ached for release. His mouth swept lower, and she arched her spine to offer more of her body. Jalen’s lips honed in on the bend of her neck, and she shivered with a mix of fear and desire as his fangs sought the shallow punctures Sienna’s had left in her skin. He deepened the holes, and her blood gushed into his mouth. Dizziness swept through Nadya, though she knew it couldn’t be from blood loss, at least not yet. It had to be reaction to everything that was happening.
Her body shuddered, racked by desire, as Jalen fed from her. His sucking and swallowing sounds soothed her into a passionate daze, and she lost track of the time. At some point, she became aware that he had stopped feeding and was now simply holding her while stroking her hair. She looked up at him, feeling completely disconnected. Tenderness seemed to glow in his green eyes, and the red of the vampire side had faded to the background. Lost in the whirling vortex, she couldn’t hide the truth. “I love you, Jalen. I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you, if a young girl can feel such a thing. I knew you would be mine.”
He shifted so that her head was on the bed, his hands releasing her hair. “You belong to me, Nadya.”
His words lifted her spirits, though his expression left her hesitant and confused. “It was destiny.”
He snorted. “No, it is lust. It will fade, and you will either choose to become a servant in the household, return to the Q, or go out into the world. I will replace you, and it will be like you never existed.”
Tears trickled down her cheeks. “How can you be so cruel?” she asked in a hoarse whisper.
“I am who I am. I am what I was born to be. Cruel would be to encourage this infatuation you have.” Jalen shrugged, looking unconcerned. “I haven’t been cruel with you, pet.”
She shook her head. “You have. You’re breaking my heart for no reason.”
He gained his feet in one smooth motion. “If you wish to see cruelty, I can show it to you, but I advise against it.”
Nadya’s lips trembled. “Nothing you could do can be any worse that what you are saying.”
“We shall see,” he said, appearing to have lost interest in the discussion. “I will leave you to your rest now, pet. If I haven’t forgotten all about you by tomorrow, perhaps I will show you the cruelty of my species.”
Nadya watched him go with eyes that felt as dead as the spark of hope burning in her heart that he had just extinguished. Whatever she had thought she was going to get out of becoming Jalen’s tribute had been a girlish fantasy. The reality was stark and brutal—she was nothing more than a means to slake his appetites, be they sexual or survival-driven. If she wanted to endure being at his mercy, she had to harden her heart to her master and ruthlessly quash any hint of love she felt.
Jalen paused outside Nadya’s door, his keen sense of hearing telling him she had risen from the bed to go to the bathroom. He touched the wooden door with his fingertips, longing to open it and take back his words. His heart had raced at her words, and for a second, he had imagined how it would be to have someone like Nadya by his side, as his co-ruler. She was open and generous, and she seemed to believe she was in love with him, whether she truly was. It was likely just the first blush of sexual attraction and infatuation, but what if there was more to it? What if she really did love him? How would it feel to have a life partner who wanted him for more than his status and what he could bring, politically, to the union? Being with Nadya would be the complete opposite of the cold union he faced with Kumiko.
Yet, he resisted the impulse to return to her room. It would be foolish to encourage the human to fall in love with him. He was a powerful vampire warlord, betrothed to the daughter of another powerful clan. A human mistress wasn’t an anomaly in their world, but he could never expect the other vampire families to accept him taking Nadya as anything more.
Kumiko, his future bride, wouldn’t care about his indiscretions as long as Nadya remained in the shadows, but she wouldn’t tolerate him making a fool of her. He needed the alliance with the Yazura clan to defeat the sheer numbers of Rem’s ragtag family. There was no future for him and Nadya, and she had to see that. So must he. If he had any urge to do something rash that went against the best interests of his kingdom, he had to fight it. If that meant being cruel, he would do what had to be done. It was his duty as the eldest son and surviving patriarch of the DuMond clan. What Jalen, the man, wanted meant nothing when compared to what Jalen, the ruler, had to do.