Page 65 of Royal Bite
“Yeah. I was able to work the third shift. The owners had started having the factory run twenty-four hours a day, six days a week. A lot of us vampire women blended in and went to work late at night,” Cici said.
Stormey pushed her plate away and wiped her mouth with her napkin. Now that her belly was full, she wanted to go speak with Hegna and make sure she was okay. Stormey had been suspicious when Hegna had wanted her to leave. She had been sewn up, but they were waiting for something.
Hegna needed blood. She had been pale and had lost enough of hers. Most of it appeared to be on Stormey’s clothing and skin by the time they’d made it to the castle.
If she needed blood, Stormey wanted Hegna to take hers.
“I’m ready to go see the princess,” Stormey announced. She pushed back from the table with determination filling her. She was going to force the princess to drink from her. If they were to be mated, Hegna was going to start drinking from her and her body only.
“What do you mean the princess has left the castle?” Stormey said. Shock filled her at the thought the vampire she had watched get sewn up hours ago, was no longer in the building. Stormey had gone back down to the infirmary and hadn’t found her there. According to Ellanora, she had left to go to her room. She had sought out Hegna at her personal quarters, and there was no one there. No guard outside the room.
Stormey had made her way downstairs and sought out Edward. The old butler had become an ally to Stormey since she’d arrived. She’d found him in the main hall near the front entrance. He had stepped out of the receiving room when she’d caught up with him. The hall was grand and wide. The floors were a darker stone while the walls were light in color. There were tables with flower arrangements, vintage art from prior centuries displayed, while sconces provided light.
“The princess took a few warriors and she left the castle,” Edward clarified. He was an older man, with gray-streaked black hair and a few scattered wrinkles on his face. He was dressed formally in a black-and-gray suit.
She’d learned he was a turned vampire who had been attacked by a rogue vampire back in the late nineteenth century. He had been a butler before and continued his profession afterward, being hired by Hegna to run her castle.
“But where would she go?” Stormey grew exasperated. Her stubborn vampire should be resting and recuperating from almost dying. She had lost so much blood and had been so pale when she’d been in the infirmary.
“I believe she and the warriors went to Madam Rice’s club,” he announced.
Stormey glanced over at Cici. She didn’t know who Madam Rice was, but from the sound of the club, she assumed she knew what it was for. She swallowed hard, feeling slightly sick to her stomach. She’d thought they had made a little progress in their delicate relationship.
“Is that a…um…” For some reason, she couldn’t get the words out.
“A feeding club,” Cici finished off. A light dusty-rose coloring appeared on her face.
Stormey’s eyes widened at the realization of what normally came along with vampires’ feedings. She stared down at her hands. The few times she’d been with Hegna, the vampire hadn’t bitten her.
“Oh,” Stormey murmured. She blew out a deep breath and knew she wasn’t going to take this lying down. She refused to allow her mate to just ignore her, push her off to the side when they were meant to be together. She stood to her full height and met Edward’s curious gaze. “Where is this club?”
Footsteps sounded behind her, but she ignored them. She was set on finding out where this place was so she herself could go to it. Knowing Hegna was in a place like that felt as if she was being disloyal to Stormey. Mates were to be only with each other. Why couldn’t her stubborn vampire heed what their bodies knew? Stormey felt that Hegna’s body wanted her.
“Ah, Edward. There you are,” Corbin’s voice appeared behind her.
Relief filled Edward’s face. He tipped his head to the princess’s advisor.
“Lord Apostu.” Edward gave a nod to Corbin who came to stand at Stormey’s side.
“Miss Jaymes.” Corbin smiled at her. His long silver hair was braided away from his face while the rest was left flowing down his back.
“Lord Apostu, you are friends with the princess, are you not?” Stormey sniffed. She rested her hands on her waist and stared at him.
His eyebrows rose sharply at her use of his formal title. She had thought he was on her side, but she should have known his loyalty would be to Hegna. He had said he’d thought Hegna was being a fool and he wanted to help her. But how was he helping her if he allowed Hegna to go to this club?
“You know I am.” His smiled disappeared as he eyed her.
She studied him and was surprised he wasn’t with Hegna. She’d heard the whispers about him and his personal activities.
“And if I recall, you said Hegna needed to stop being so damn stubborn and claim her mate. Did you not?” She stared at him and tried to will her racing heart down. Her hands curled up into fists. She wanted to hit something to expel this anger that boiled inside her.
“I did say that.” He looked uncomfortable and glanced over at Edward who avoided his gaze. “Stormey—”
“If that is the case,” she interjected; she was far from done with him, “then why is my mate at Madam Rice’s?”
“Hegna does what she wants to do, and no one can get that woman to change her mind,” he snapped. “I may be her friend and her advisor, but that’s just what I do, offer my advice, and if the princess wants to ignore my advice, then she will do just that.”
“Take me there,” Stormey demanded. She moved closer to him, tilting her head back so she could meet his eyes. “She will not ignore me anymore. If she needs blood, then she will take it from me.”
