Page 89 of Taste of Death

I pulled on a pair of pants to walk her to the door, then after a few more long, lingering kisses, I let her go.

My own well of excitement was overflowing as I went up to my office. There was so much to do. I’d have Jo make the meal several courses, at least five, all aligned to Amy’s tastes. We’d eat in the formal dining room, which I never used. There needed to be candles for a romantic ambiance. And over the meal we’d talk about plans for our future clan, our legacy, including when to start trying for a child. We had plenty of time, at least a century if she wanted to wait, but the overjoyed buzzing inside me could not be contained.

The thought was so overpowering that I had to pause tidying my desk and just bask in my imagination. Amy cradling a round belly, nourishing our child with her incredible body. The two of us as parents, giving our child all the love and validation and opportunities that neither of us ever had.

Fantasizing about our future made my chest and throat tighten with emotion. A family filled with love and acceptance was all I ever wanted and here it was, actually within my reach.

My gaze slid to the portrait of Temkra across the room. “Thank you,” I mouthed to the image of the goddess. I’d have to thank her properly soon, with offerings and prayer. The gesture would hopefully have her look favorably on conceiving a child and a healthy pregnancy for Amy when that time came.

I spent the next couple of hours organizing documents, including the box of everything related to Rathka’s Order that I would burn. Maybe Amy and I would do it together after dinner. She could burn something from her human life if she wanted. It could be a ritualistic cleansing of our pasts.

When a knock came on my doorjamb, I was so focused that I hardly looked up from my desk. “Ah, Lourna. Can you please give this to Jo? She has creative liberty of course, but these are a few ideas.” I held out the slip of paper on which I’d scribbled down some ideas for dinner courses. “And if you’d be so kind as to set the dining room for a meal to be served, let’s say three hours before dawn. Do we have candles in storage somewhere?”

“Yes, sir. Of course.” She took the list from me and hesitated before speaking again. “You have visitors in the foyer, sir.”

“Visitors?” My head lifted for the first time since she entered the room. “Amy and Tavia, I presume? They’re welcome to come and go as they please. In fact, Amy will be moving in, so?—”

“It’s not them.” My housekeeper interrupted me for the first time in both of our lives, her mouth a hard line. “It’s Baros and Inessa of Carpe Noctem.”

Everything went still upon hearing those names, including my breath and my heart.

“What are they doing here?” I asked, my voice hard.

“I don’t know, sir. I said you were occupied and they insisted on waiting. When I asked what their business was with you, they said they wouldn’t waste their breath on a human and to fetch you immediately.”

“Fuck.” I stood, my thoughts roiling. “I’m sorry about that, Lourna. I’ll get them to leave, and they’ll never speak to you like that again.”

“Oh, it’s fine. Don’t worry about me.” Her mouth hardened again. “Just be careful, sir. Baros seems to be in a good mood.”

“I’ll handle him. Thank you.”

Lourna gave a curt nod as I rounded the desk, heading past her out of the office and down the stairs.

Fucking Baros. I should have killed our agreement for good on that phone call. He wasn’t a problem that would just go away if I ignored him.

At least I knew who I was now, and where I stood. I had a blood mate, a partner I deeply loved. Baros could no longer hold Rathka’s Order over my head because that clan was now extinct, a relic of the past that held no power over me. Maybe I could even convince him our deal was null and void since I no longer claimed that name.

Baros sneered as he saw me coming down the stairs. I was extremely dressed down, barefoot in slacks and a rumpled shirt that wasn’t even tucked in. It wasn’t like he could complain, calling on me unexpectedly like this. He was lucky I had a shirt on at all. I’d thrown it on just so I’d be able to make an inside joke with Amy when she returned.

“It’s extremely improper to visit unannounced,” I said when I hit the bottom landing. “I’m sure whatever you’re about to tell me could have been a phone call.”

“Not very proper to have yourhumanstaff try to needle information out of me,” Baros returned.

“She was only trying to report back to me. That’s the last time you’ll disrespect her, by the way. You are not welcome here.”

Baros’s mouth lifted in a calculating smirk. “Is that any way to talk to your ally?”

“We’re not allies.” I crossed my arms. “Our deal is off. I will not be following through.”

He didn’t look surprised. “I thought you might say that. After that phone call, it sounded like you were trying to weasel your way out. But you can’t just take back your word, Novak. You made an agreement with blood.”

I shook my head with a scoff. “I did no such thing. You don’t have my signature or my blood on anything binding.”

“That is true, yes.” Baros stepped aside, revealing his daughter standing quietly behind him. She wore a long cloak covering her from neck to foot, held by an ornate clasp at her throat. “But you took Inessa’s blood.”

“That means nothing. It was only to sample our compatibility.” I turned to speak to her directly. “I am sorry you were a pawn in this. I do wish you the best and hope you find someone who… ”

She unclasped the cloak as I spoke, letting the fabric pool on the floor around her. My words died not only because she was completely naked underneath, but also from the scent perfuming the air. The cloak must have suppressed her scent because moments after she took it off, that scent hit my brain like a stimulant, shooting blood, sensation, and desire right to my cock.

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