P, page 12
“Prayer.” his lips move against my neck as he speaks. “What are you doing to me?”
Just because I think he deserves an answer he can understand, I move my head quickly to the side and sink my teeth into his neck. Not drawing blood but definitely getting his attention. I felt his arms go tight against me as he picked me up off my feet and slammed me into the wall at the same time his mouth came back down on mine. Hmm, it seems I poked the vampire, I grin to myself. I will have to remember that. Avalon’s hands are everywhere and I revel in the fact that I can feel his need for me consuming him. His hands come under my butt and he lifts me up against him and I wrap my legs around him. A stream of curses burst from his lips as he grinds against me. I slide my fingers up into his hair and grip it tightly and pull his head back to look at him.
“Holy shit.” Avalon exclaims “Prayer, your eyes!”
Avalon
I now have no doubt that I will be a certifiable basket case by the time this woman is done with me. She had appeared out of nowhere, which to be fair, I do expect that from her on occasion. When I felt the familiar tingles from the static type energy that precedes her appearance I was terrified she would get caught in the middle of some shifter aggression and be severely hurt or even killed. Everything inside me went into protection mode but even before I could act she had appeared and struck out. Raphael was wrong, she hadn’t thrown Harley across the room. She had shoved him, like she wanted to push him backward. She had used so much force that it appeared he was thrown.
As amazing and awe inspiring as that is what really blew my mind was that she had so obviously not known what she had done. She had sensed I was in trouble and she flew, well ok not flew, but she came to me to be by my side to defend me. An unkillable, immortal vampire. If you cut off my head I will wait patiently while it grows back and then I will find you and a beheading will be your greatest wish. You can drop me in a vat of acid and I will contemplate all the ways I can make you regret every one of your actions while I wait for my cells to re-form. This is the being she decided to jump in front of to protect. No one who knew anything about me or my brothers would ever bother to try to save one of us. Her concern wasn’t even whether the attack would kill me, only the possibility that I could be hurt.
I needed to kiss her just to ground myself to her. Whatever this thing is between us it feels like it consumes my entire soul. Every time I kiss her, she ignites with passion and she drives me to the very edge of my sanity. When she bit me I thought I was going to be engulfed in the flames that she is forever driving higher and higher. She pulled back to look at me and her eyes were a blazing white light. I have never seen anything like it. Even the shifter eyes simply reflect light. With Prayer’s eyes the light comes from her, like a beacon.
I need to get her comfortable and at least a little trusting of Sebastian. I absolutely need his help teaching her to get a handle on this power of hers. If she can learn to control it, who knows what else she is capable of. I am desperately hoping she sees this as a good thing and is willing to work with him. I’m also hoping we can start this soon because with the aggression levels in this house I need Prayer to have a solid understanding of what she is. Before we get this situation with the Wyatts under control there are bound to be quite a few more flare ups. Tempers are going to rise as they are apparently losing trust in their own Alphas and princes. Another thing I will have to discuss with Prayer. The list just keeps growing and I feel the pressure of time. That thought makes me laugh. Time has never been an issue.
I slide Prayer down to the floor and stand there holding her waiting as her emotions come under control and her eyes dim down back to their normal deep dark chocolate brown. When she smiles up at me I promise myself to do everything in my power to keep that smile on her face. I kiss the tip of her nose because if I go anywhere near those lips there is a good chance I will wind up losing myself and just throwing her down.There is a small blood matter that has come up but I want to get out of the bedroom so we can talk without me constantly thinking of getting her naked. It's taking far more effort than it ever has for me to get control.
“Prayer, will you please come down to the library with me. There are a few things I need to discuss with you and if you are calm and focused now I would like us to be able to talk with Sebastian and the others.” Prayer’s eyes flare up momentarily and I’ve got to settle this. “Prayer, I was never in any danger. The guys all knew that. I have to be able to stand my ground in front of a few disgruntled, even pissed off, shifters or a lot of things are going to go to hell quickly. I want to explain everything to you. I want you to know everything and be able to make conscious decisions and you need more information to do that. I want to help you discover who and what you are but I will need the help of the Alphas and perhaps even my brothers.” I wait. Either she agrees, or she doesn’t and I have to carry her off to the library because by all that is mighty I cannot stay in this room with her much longer.
“Avalon, I was ready to go with you when you said ‘will you please come down to the library with me’. The reasons are yours but I would think you might have noticed by now that going with you is what I do. I really do want answers. If Sebastian and the others can help me find them then I am one hundred percent in. Do you want to go now? Or did you want to kiss me some more?” Her smile is wicked this time and I laugh and kiss her on the nose again and drag her to the door.
“I assume you prefer a more dignified entry into the library. Or would you like another shoulder toss?” I pretend to bend in front of her to hoist her over my shoulder.
“Don’t you dare. I must say though that you do move very fast. I could feel the wind when you were taking the stair what? Three at a time maybe?” She shoves me aside and heads down the stairs.
“I wasn’t counting the stairs. I wasn’t trying to impress you with my feats of strength and agility at the time or I would have challenged myself. I was concerned at that moment that you were about to turn Harley into toast.” I frown, feigning concern.
“My Heart, you may frown at me and even scold me if you choose to do so. The initial attack on Harley was of my doing but not intentional. Well it was very much intentional but I did not set out to do it. So I feel I cannot apologize honestly for that. The thing in the hall, well, I have no desire to apologize for that one”. The saucy nature of this woman. Again, mine.
Entering the library I see that the guys are all still here and have gotten comfortable stretched across the couches and armchairs. I hug Prayer close to be sure she feels safe and confident and she leans her head against me just a second before standing up straight. You can go thousands of years trying to express what you are thinking or feeling through verbal communication and even the written word and know that no one gets it. So much of Prayer’s communication with me is through body language and gesture and yet I am never left guessing if she understands me or is getting what I am saying. Now I step just slightly away from her so she can address the group on her own two feet as she wanted me to understand she is ready.
“Are you feeling better, Prayer? I must say you look a lot less, ow.” Raphael turns his head in the direction of Roman who had just kicked him. Hard. “Watch it, Fido. I don’t bruise but you do.”
“Who are you calling Fido? Fang Boy. I bet I could get you to bruise at least for a few minutes.” Roman taunts.
“Seriously guys, there are things I need Prayer to know about and the sooner the better. So can we please lose the locker room antics?” I say and project just the slightest alpha tone. They are not used to it, Sebastian and Cato throw alpha energy around far more than any other alpha but all Alphas have the ability.
“Yeah, Raphael. Respect your elders, which is literally everyone in the room except Prayer. You just have to respect her because she can probably whoop your ass.” Jasper digs at Raphael with a huge grin.
I walk over and sit on one of the couches and Prayer sits down next to me. I'm trying to sort out what order I should tell her things. Is any one point any more important than another? It will all be new to her. I look over to Raphael and he says nothing, just shakes his head. Jasper and Roman repeat the gesture when I look at them as well.
"Start with who you are, Avalon." Sebastian says and I knew that was coming.
"Who you are?" Prayer asks, pulling her head back to look up at me? "Well, who are you, Avalon?"
I don't actually want to start here but I suppose it makes the most sense. Explaining who I am. Explaining what I am. Explaining what is happening with our people. Explaining the need to take in blood shouldn't be difficult but can she actually handle that I have to bite someone. Explaining Nichlos and therefore Phillip. The feelings I've had that started the process of finding her. Suddenly there is a hand waving in front of my face and I blink rapidly for a moment to clear my vision.
"There we go. You back with us now, My Heart? Are you ready to begin your tales of enlightenment?" Prayer smiles at me as she settles back down into the couch. Have I mentioned how much I love her smile? Especially the ones that I know are all mine. She doesn't give them to anyone else.
"This is going to sound cheesy as hell, Prayer, but. A long time ago before our kind became united we had temperamental debates that led to deadly fights that sometimes led to terrible battles. Territorial disputes, property disputes even enraged violence claims. There is a bloodline of vampires who, for whatever evolutionary glitch, cannot die. When I say cannot die I mean they cannot be killed. They can be stopped indefinitely I suppose, if you put your mind to it hard enough. This group of vampires lived through countless wars and atrocities done to our people unbelievably enough, by our people.
Eventually they got together with different shifters and some hybrids and they formed a sort of coalition. Left to natural causes, shifters and hybrids do not die either. However, they can be killed by violent means. They all agreed that people should be able to govern themselves but they wanted an authority figure for final decisions and if you ask me, someone to blame. " I look over at Sebastian who nods his head and grins like he won the grand prize. I set my gaze back on Prayer who is looking at me very intently and I continue.
"They settled on a vampire king, for lack of a better word, and for generations the sons of this bloodline have been the kings and princes of the supernatural world." Prayer’s hand comes up and I stop talking and wait.
"Not to be that guy" She says tilting her head to the side curiously, "but if vampires in this bloodline do not die, why are their heirs? Shouldn't the old grandmaster original vamp be sitting on a throne of dinosaur bones or something?"
Raphael, Sebastian, Jasper and Roman all burst out laughing. "You will have to give better details for your pretty little wifey."Raphael quips "she's not going to buy into any half-assed tale you tell." I let the wifey comment slide because, well, because I like it.
"Vampires can get really tired of just being alive, Sweetling. Except for the particular bloodline and any blooded kindred they might have, vampires can be killed. When they fall in love with someone and whether by accident or design they lose that person, after a while they just don't want to be anymore." I say sadly, thinking of my own grandfather.
"Be what? A vampire?" Prayer asks.
"Be anything. Awake. Alive. In the world but wishing they weren't." Raphael says quietly.
"Yes," I respond "Raphael's right. They just don't want to be a part of things anymore. Sometimes it's the loss of something else that brings it on but usually a spouse, sometimes a child if the gene skipped them. When that happens a vampire will go find a cave or even dig a hole and simply lie down in it until they're consciousness drifts far away from not taking any blood, food or water. In these situations the heir takes over and becomes King and the next generation become princes. My father is the current King.” I divulge warily, and wait.
Chapter 11
Avalon
“That is an incredibly sad story, Avalon. Just going alive into like a crypt or something and lying there for all eternity because someone you love died. That is truly awful.” Prayer exclaims.
“Uh, yeah. Prayer, hunny, do you understand so far the things I am trying to explain to you?” I ask her.
“Yes. Your father is the vampire king of all supernaturals, you are a vampire prince and if anyone you love dies you might end up in a hole somewhere, wishing you were dead. Does that sum up what you were trying to tell me?” She says rather dramatically,
“Well, it’s not a sure thing that I would wind up in a hole somewhere, but it does happen. So I guess you are fine with those points. On to the next thing to talk about which is the way we take blood.” I have no desire to do this but what do I do if she can’t stand who and what I am on every level.
“I haven’t seen you do that. It’s been several days. How often do you have to do it? Where do you get your blood from? I have a thousand questions but they seemed rude to ask. However, many, many things have changed in the days since I met you, so. Do you use blood bags from donors? If not, do you drink straight from the person’s vein? Are they willing or do you hunt them like in movies? Tell me everything!” Prayer blurts out excitedly.
I’m going to answer her, I am. First, I have to wait for the men in the room to stop laughing. Then I have to get past the fact that my darling Prayer actually seems excited, damn near jubilant that I need to take blood. I still hate the term drinking. I drink iced tea, I drink soda, I drink juice. I do not drink blood. I friggin gag on it. What will she think of that? Oh good lord, is she going to think I’m less of a vampire because I hate the blood. I would say ‘That’s Prince vampire’ but she apparently doesn’t care a rat's ass about my title so, yeah. No more stalling brain.
“We take blood directly from the source, a person. Animal blood doesn’t contain what we need to keep our bodies functioning in top form. Finding a blood source for some vampires is a difficult task, especially if they don’t belong to a family. For thousands of years vampires had sworn fealty to kings across the globe without them knowing what they were. They would fight in battles and wage wars and feed under the guise of battle deaths. Some still do that as soldiers around the world. The thing is, Prayer, we hate it. I mean we really hate it. It’s disgusting, revolting even. It turns our stomachs and we each develop our own tricks for being able to keep it down. Our families have humans who know what we are, they are part of the family and they live amongst us daily. When one of our kind becomes in need of blood one of the humans usually offers to sustain us.” I finish and search her face carefully to see how she is taking this part. Regardless of what Prayer is, she’s always lived as a human.
“Oh, now you have to bite me, Avalon. You have to.” She repeats as I shake my head at her. Sometimes I seriously wonder about this woman.
“I am not biting you, Prayer. That isn’t happening.” I say decisively.
“Raphael, will you bite me?” Prayer looks over at Raphael who up until now had been laughing quietly at my dilemma. At her request, he abruptly stopped laughing and turned a lovely shade of green. “So, that’s a no, huh?” she says after watching him.
“I’d hate to have to punch my brother because he was dumb enough to bite you in front of me, Sweetling.” I sigh at her.
“Can you both just leave me out of it? I may not bruise easily but I have a sensitive stomach. I have the worst gag reflex in the family. No biting.. No thank you.” Raphael says, shaking his head.
“Avalon, you say you don’t know what I am. You say you can tell I am not human just from the scent of my blood but you also say you have never smelled anything like me before. Raphael, Sebastian, Jasper, Roman, can you smell me? Is there something different?” She asks and Raphael walks over and sniffs her like he was smelling a vase of flowers. The other three don’t even move.
“You smell different. It's an unknown scent, not unpleasant or anything.” Sebastian said and all of them nod their heads. I have the urge to beat each one of them for that show. Shifter senses are so sharp they could smell her from upstairs.
“Avalon, bite me. If nothing else you’ll know the difference between my blood and a human’s or I guess shifter and, what is it? Hybrids.” She reasons.
“You know what? Fuck it. I’m doing it and then I am spanking your ass for making me do this to prove anything to you. You better not get all grossed out by this.” I say and grab her arm.
Then I think better of it. If I’m going to suffer through this ordeal I’m going to find some pleasure in it. Holding her wrist I drag her over onto my lap and bend my head to nuzzle into her neck. I take a deep breath of her scent because that I do love. I kiss up and down her neck and nibble on her ear.
“I cannot watch this fiasco.” Raphael says and leans back in his chair but keeps his eyes on me and Prayer.
“Last chance to change your mind.” I whisper against Prayer’s ear.
Prayer leans back and looks me in the eye. She grins and quick as a flash she bites me on the ear. She doesn’t break the skin but my blood rushes through my veins and I lean forward and lick from her collar bone to her ear before coming back down and kissing at her neck. I can feel her pulse under my lips and her heartbeat is pounding but definitely not from fear. I cover her pulse point with my lips and opening my mouth I lower my fangs and sink them into her jugular. My eyes pop open as the sweetest thing I have ever tasted slides down my throat and I groan and pull her closer to me. My mind tells me over and over again to stop but in the entirety of my life nothing has tasted as good as her blood does and my senses go into overdrive when I hear her laugh and feel her fingers go through my hair holding my head to her. I feel myself yanked back and away from Prayer and I lash out from pain and anger and my fist comes into contact with Sebastian’s face.
