Page 52 of Lured

Not that I wanted to be his, but I needed him to think I was at least considering it.

“I already told you that in two days time, I will have all the power anyone could possibly want. I will own everything around you.” Ludis reached up and stroked my shoulder, running his fingers over my skin.

I looked down briefly, showing a little bit of submissiveness while I tried to think of how I could get more information. Finding out what he was up to was my goal, but I hadn't expected to get a shot at it already.

“Why don't we have a sit together and have a little chat while I wait for Drew to arrive?” I asked, hoping it would buy me some time. I feared that he would think that a chat meant something more intimate, but I had to start there and hope that Drew turned up before anything too disgusting had to be endured.

Ludis motioned for me to go sit where Butch was leaning against a wall and where he had been when I first entered. It was off to one side and gave him a view of those who came into the lounge before they could see Ludis.

I knew it would make it harder for Drew to stop anything happening between us, but I also knew it was the only way I was going to get this mission done. Striding over with the same appearance of confidence that I had displayed so far, I took in the rest of the room.

There were another four vampires in the room and they were each toying with at least one enthralled each, one of them two. That meant I had nine witnesses to whatever occurred on top of Butch.

Not sure if I wanted Leo to interrupt or not, I sat down and let Ludis do the same beside me. He was close and reached out to put a hand on my thigh. He squeezed it and made me glad that I hadn't strapped a knife to it. I wasn't sure I'd have been able to explain that.

“So... what is going to change in two day’s time?” I asked, tilting myself toward him. “What on Earth could possibly make you more powerful than you are now that you can't do today?”

Ludis chuckled. “You are very curious, aren't you?”

I shrugged and leaned in even closer. “Think of it as more of a desire to know what I'm agreeing to and what gain there is for me as well as what is asked of me. You can't blame a girl for wanting to be sure what she is signing up for.”

“Perhaps not. But I still think that you have some special skills that make it very hard for me to trust you.”

“And if I did have those special skills. They're just as much for hire as anyone else is.” I looked pointedly at Butch. There was no doubt in my mind that he was important to Ludis. He was around all the time and appeared to know exactly what was going on. If Ludis could maybe confirm at least that much, it might help.

“Some vampires are only for hire once and then they know what loyalty is,” Ludis replied as he also looked at Butch, almost confirming it. “They know how to earn trust, be of use and then they... gain a higher status.”

I nodded as if I completely understood this and was willing to work with the information. I was certain that I would never truly work with Ludis, and I wasn't even slightly tempted, but he needed to think I was considering it. “You make a good argument for loyalty. I think loyalty is earned as well as trust.”

“And does anyone have either your trust or loyalty yet?” he asked, coming right out and saying it.

“Drew has told me how he feels about you,” I replied, knowing it was a controversial thing to say. Even Ludis was surprised. “Good things. Or I wouldn't be sitting here.”

Ludis didn't seem to buy it and I saw him glance to Butch. “Of course, that could be that he doesn't trust me enough to tell me what he really thinks yet, but I don't usually have trouble getting people to trust me.”

I knew I was waffling and this wasn't going very well. Ludis wasn't leaning in any closer or looking any more interested in me. This wasn't working.

After a few seconds I sighed and shook my head. “What am I saying? This isn't me. I'm not able to play games, or pretend I'm something I'm not. I like Drew, but I like you as well. I said I'd be Drew's before I knew that being another vampire's was even an option. It's not right that I do anything but continue to be his.”

When I finished speaking I got up and sort of bowed toward Ludis, but he grabbed my hand.

“Sit back down, sweetheart. You're more charming than you think and there's no harm in us sitting together. You might have said that you belong to Drew, but there are ways you can help him, if that would make you feel better.”

“There are?” I did as he asked and sat myself back down.

Ludis smiled and his eyes lit up as he gazed at me. He shifted himself a little closer to me and put his hand on my thigh again, this time shifting his hand around so his fingers were between my legs. “Enthralled aren't exclusive always and it's up to you to do what's best for him. Sometimes that means pleasing vampires in return for them helping your master. And I can definitely help your master.”

“You can?” I asked, trying to look even more wide eyed and innocent.

“In two days I'll be in a place to help anyone who is going to be in this with me,” Ludis added.

“What happens in two days then? Are you going to do something?” I furrowed my brow, looking as confused as I could and then looked between him and Butch.

“Butch is going to fetch me something. Something that I'm going to be able to use to do all sorts of wonderful things.”

“Sounds like an important job,” I replied and again looked up at the vampire standing by the wall. “What do you need me to do?”

Ludis grinned over at me and then leaned in to whisper in my ear. Before he could say anything, Butch coughed and looked pointedly over toward the door.

---