Page 60 of That Mafioso Magic
“I’m not… fucking… turning—”
“Oh yes, you will. Don’t make this a problem, Sage,” Salino said. “You and I both want to know what your bite will do.”
“But… I… don’t… want… him,” I managed to say.
Salino smiled. “Is it because he’s a male? Ah yes, I forgot, you male lions don’t have high tolerance for other balls in your court. Fine.” With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the human. “Bring Yolanda. I’m sure she’ll be more to his liking.”
“Wait, am I not getting turned?” Dillon asked as he was hauled to his feet by Nakago.
“If you keep speaking to me in such a disrespectful manner, I will rip your throat out,” Salino warned.
Dillion stiffened, his head bowing. “I’m sorry, sir. I just got excited.”
“Understandable. And yes, you will be turned. I will assign you a new sire. For now, wait.” Salino returned his attention back to me as Dillon was led out of the room. “You’re getting stronger and stronger as your body heals. Tell me, Sage, can you still shift?”
I nodded, and Salino smiled.
“You will be fierce,” he complimented.
Five minutes passed before the door opened again and Nakago returned with another human. He stood her before me and I got to take in the view. Yes, she was more to my liking. About five-seven, athletic, a beautiful Latina with a long brunette braid draped over her shoulder. She looked like a model, plump lips and soft brown eyes that could turn cold if you pissed her off.
“Read her mind,” Salino said.
“How?” I asked.
“The same way you do when you’re feeding. Draw what you want to know from her as you would her blood,” Salino said.
I realized he was giving me lessons on how to control my vampire nature and powers in what I could only see was a crash course. I tried to remember how I was able to see the memories of my victim last night. How I knew he was guilty of atrocious things I’d gladly kill a motherfucker over. I’d seen them because I wanted to know more about the man I was drinking from. I was weakened by the blood loss, but I was able apply the trick. I was always a quick study. By the third attempt at trying to pull her thoughts, I began to see flashes of memories that didn’t belong to me.
I concentrated more and the visions I saw became more coherent. A story began to unfold, telling me more about who Yolanda was. She was a cop, five years on the force. Came across a vampire feeding and instead of shooting it or running, she just watched. The vampire actually finished feeding, then came to her, offering his hand. She has been feeding vampires on occasion and doing their bidding when necessary. Definitely someone who could come in handy in my line of work.
“Did you get all that?” Salino asked.
I looked past her to him. “Enough.”
He motioned to her. “So, feed, make her ours.”
I was starving and not at all squeamish about the act. That was one thing I noticed about me. Being a shifter, I was no stranger to getting blood on my hands and face. And as a vampire, blood in my mouth was the best place to have it. I couldn’t believe how delicious it was, but it was beyond taste, like I told Shi, it was an experience. I understood why people worshipped them so much and risked death to become one. When I came to Salino that morning, making a child or whatever the hell I was about to turn this woman into wasn’t a part of my plan. But to be honest, I was curious to know how my power extended. If I even could make a vampire or shifter or both.
Yolanda lowered herself to her knees, then positioned her body between my legs. She tilted her head back, baring her neck. The fact that she wanted to become something better than human made it easier to take the plunge. I could also feel Salino’s subtle influence, urging me to feed. I didn’t need much convincing, I wanted to feed. I leaned forward, taking her by the back of her neck.
“Do you really want this?” I asked her.
She nodded. “I’ve waited long enough.”
I felt my gums tingle as my eye teeth became fangs, sharper and dripping with my venom. If I was going to turn a human into a shifter, a lion, it would only take a bite and a little bit of my venom to get into their bloodstream. They would have to survive the fever that follows, but if they did, they would be one of us. Would my bite make her a hybrid like me? Oh yes, I was curious. I struck, sinking my fangs deeply into that vein that was throbbing beneath her skin, seducing me. Her blood was hot and luscious as it filled my mouth. I swallowed and it was pure heaven. I purred, I couldn’t help myself. As I continued to feed, I could hear her moaning in pleasure. She wanted my bite. I could tell by how hard she was pressing her breasts to my chest. Her heart beat frantically as I fed, until it began to slow.
“Don’t take too much, Sage, or you’ll kill her,” I heard Salino say.
It was hard for me to stop feeding because the blood was exceptional, but I didn’t want to kill this woman. It took everything I had, all of my reserve to pull back. Her blood dripped down my chin as I kept her at arm’s length from my mouth. My chest was heaving and I felt like I was on the verge of orgasm. Was this my life forever? This sensation was blowing my mind.
“You continue to impress me, Sage. Being able to stop feeding shows that you have great control of your faculties,” Salino said.
“You act like you’re speaking to some newbie,” I said. I mean, I had been a shifter for nearly a century and a half.
“You are a fledgling vampire. Just take the fucking compliment for Christ’s sakes,” Salino groused.
“I’ve been a shifter for over a century, control is something I’ve mastered. But sure, be impressed,” I said.
