Page 62 of Taste of Death

“Fuck.” With being so concerned about her last night, I’d forgotten all about him.

“He called last night as well, but I didn’t want to disturb either of you.” She glanced at Amy, sleeping peacefully in the center of my bed.

“Right, thank you.” I rubbed my forehead, already anticipating what a headache this call was going to be.

“Should I bring her something?” Lourna asked. “For when she wakes up?”

“Like what?”

“Well, humans usually appreciate a glass of water and some painkillers after a rough night.”

“Then yes please,” I said. “Whatever she needs.”

Lourna clicked her tongue, her sympathetic gaze on Amy as she moved around the room. “I hope the poor thing is all right. Will she be staying?”

Fucking Temkra, I hope so.

“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “That’ll be up to her when she wakes up.”

“Don’t worry about her, sir. See to your business.” Lourna’s spine straightened. “We’ll take care of her.”

“Thank you, sincerely.” I gave my housekeeper a grateful smile on my way out of the bedroom. It seemed I wasn’t the only one who’d become fond of Amy in the past few weeks.

The walk to my office was too short, no matter how much I dragged my feet. The red light on my desk phone blinked ominously like some kind of evil eye.

With a taut breath, I stood behind the desk and answered the call. “Baros. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“I’m sure.” I could hear the aristocratic sneer in his voice. “You seem awfully busy these recent nights, Rathka’s Order.”

I didn’t realize I was at your beck and call,was what I wanted to say. What I actually said was, “I apologize. What can I do for you?”

“Right. I’ve scheduled Inessa’s fertility ritual for the end of the month on the new moon. I trust you’ll make it a priority to attend? Seeing as you’ll be putting that heightened fertility to good use.”

All of the air left my lungs as if I’d been punched in the gut. “The end of the month,” I repeated. “So soon?”

Female vampires had a brief fertile period roughly once per year. Those with the right means and connections could call upon Temkra’s Blood, the clan with the closest, most sacred connection to our goddess, to perform a ritual to expand that fertility window. The ritual was said to at least double the chances of a successful pregnancy.

I had pushed away thoughts of my arrangement with Carpe Noctem, but with Thorne’s recent visit and now this phone call, I had to face it head-on. The idea of fucking and impregnating a stranger had always been uncomfortable for me, even if everyone acted like the end result was worth it.

But right then, with Amy asleep in my bed and the taste of her kiss lingering on my tongue, I felt downright disgusted.

“Yes, the sooner the better.” Baros sounded nothing short of jovial. “Her fertile time last year was during the spring and lasted about three days, so I’m quite confident we’re timing the ritual well for optimal results.”

If he felt awkward about spilling the details of his daughter’s fertility cycle to me, he gave no indication. And optimal results? He sounded like a human breeding an animal for specific traits.

“Baros,” I said tightly. “I’m afraid I’m not able to fulfill my end of this agreement. I apologize for going back on my word, but I’ve thought about it some more and?—”

A loud laugh burst from the phone. “Don’t be ridiculous, Novak.”

“I promise you I’m being quite serious.”

“No, you’re being foolish. Think about what you’re doing.”

“I assure you I have. And I’ve determined that this plan is not for me.”

“It’s not about what’s foryou, idiot,” Baros hissed. “This plan is for our kind, for all of Sanguine. It’s about knocking down Blood ‘til Dawn until they’re buried in the mud where they belong. This is about restoring our clans to their true greatness.”

I sighed, rubbing my temple. “I’m sorry, Baros. I don’t?—”

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