Page 73 of Wicked Bite
My eyes widened. “Like a person with alcohol?”
He paused and looked up from his computer. “Precisely.”
“Um, no? Is that a thing?” I lowered my voice and leaned toward Grayson. “Is that really how vampires get drunk? They get a human to drink and then, you know, kill them?”
“First, we don’t kill humans. Second, kind of yes.” He nodded.
“Oh, I don’t want human blood. I want to do the vegetarian animal thing.” I shook my head. I couldn’t wrap my mind around biting someone’s neck and drinking them down like that.
“Freaking Twilight.” Grayson rolled his eyes. “Listen, love, that’s not an option. Animals do not provide the right nutrition for Vampires. You’ll only make yourself sick and go completely feral from the thirst. It has got to be human blood.”
“But what if I don’t want to bite anyone?”
The doctor chuckled. “My dear, not to worry. Your sire will teach you all you need to know to thrive and live in this new life of yours.”
“Sire?”
He pointed to Grayson. “He’s your sire, and he will teach you.”
I chuckled and waved his comment away. “Oh, I’m not into that daddy dom thing.”
Grayson looked to the doctor and then burst out laughing. The doctor’s face turned a bright red and he fumbled with the mouse to his laptop for a few moments before composing himself. He straightened his coat and took a breath. “A sire is not for, um, how do I put this, sexual play. A sire is the term we use for the vampire who made you.”
I froze. “You made me?”
Grayson nodded. “I had to save you, Piper. It was the only way I knew how.”
“So, what do you call me? Baby vamp? Newbie? Rookie fanger?”
“Well, you’re my progeny.”
I didn’t know what to say about that. It was all so unreal and confusing at the same time. Everything was too much all at once. Shock took over my body and a numbness settled in. I didn’t know how to react or if I should react at all. Everyone was so calm like turning into a vampire was a natural thing. Until I knew how to feel about it all I’d do what I normally did. Bottle it up until it exploded out. I’d never relied on someone before, let alone asked them to teach me how to live. I’d always just figured it out. To have to rely on Grayson now was a lot and asked for a lot of my trust, which I didn’t give easily. But he did save me, and I was here now. There was no other choice but to get myself up and dust off. I had to learn to live in this world and Grayson would be the one to teach me. Unless I went crazy again, then I would end up being locked up back here.
“Okay. First lesson, sire. How do I not go crazy? Where do we get blood? And how many times do I have to drink it?”
The doctor chuckled and started taking the sticky probes off my skin. “I think that’s enough for now. I’ll send Martin in to introduce her to the rest.”
“Who’s Martin?”
“He’s the one who will do your vampire orientation.” He smiled and rose to his feet. “You’ll love him. Everyone does.”
The doctor pushed his cart into the corner of the room. “I’ll be here, and we’ll have an appointment in a few days to check your progress. It was lovely to meet you, Piper.”
“Thank you.” For some reason, I didn’t want him to leave. He was the first person I met in this life, and I knew better than to get attached, but at the same time I liked the older vampire.
Just as he left, another Vampire sauntered right in. He was just a bit shorter than Grayson, with bright-blue eyes and slicked-back blond hair that was parted on the side. He was slim and tailored to perfection in a burgundy three-piece suit, with a pressed white shirt, navy-blue tie, and polished brown shoes. He held an iPad in the crook of his arm and a canvas sack hung from his shoulder. Even his skin was perfect. It was so glossy it nearly shined.
“Hiiiiii, I’m Martin. Not Marty, I hate the name Marty it sounds like the name of a candy. I am both sweet and sour but never Marty. Welcome to The House of Shade and your new vampire life.” He gave his best customer service telephone voice.
“Um, thank you?”
Grayson moved to the other side of the room and took a seat on a rolling stool. He leaned back in that casual, confident way he always had about him. “Good to see you again, Martin.”
“A pleasure as always, Your Highness.”
“I’m sorry, your what now?” Not one time had Grayson ever mentioned royalty. I held my hand up, stopping him from answering. “You know what? Just hold up a second. We have A LOT to talk about. One thing at a time.”
“Good idea, love.” He smirked and gave me a wink.
