“Wil you give me the honor of al owing me to drink from your servant?”

  “You are head of Council now, my lady. You may demand anything you wish from me.”

  She heard the mix of emotions in the polite tone.

  He, too, had known Belizar for many years. They’d been friends, as much as vampires knew how to be, even though their viewpoints differed. In hindsight, she wished she’d put her support behind Uthe as the Council head years ago, though at the end of the Territory Wars, when there was stil so much unrest, it had made more sense to put a more warlike figure in that position. Rex had agreed with her, though of course, he would have.

  “I am not going to mark you, Uthe,” she said.

  “Though I wil let the rest of the Council believe I have done so. You are the type of person I want on this Council, but I want you here ful y. If you do not agree with what I have done, I wil release you tonight, and strip nothing from you. I wil continue to regard you with the highest honor and respect, and seek your counsel.”

  “If you are saying you want me on the Council specifical y for my ability to question and chal enge you, with the best interests of our kind in mind, then I accept that privilege.” He held her gaze a long moment, then dropped to one knee before her, so she did not have to look up at him. His voice became rougher. “My lady, I serve no one without question, but I have ever viewed you as our queen and would serve you as such. I would be honored if you’d al ow my servant, Mariela, to replenish your strength. You wil definitely need it for the days ahead.”

  Mariela now stepped to his side. She was the one who’d comforted Barbra’s servant in his passing.

  Tal and blonde, with dark brown eyes, she had the athletic movements of a female Amazon, and a quiet steadiness

  and

  subtle

  intel igence

  that

  complimented her vampire master wel .

  Lyssa took his hand, squeezed it hard. “Thank you, my lord. I accept. I wil draw from Mariela first.

  Her blood should strengthen me enough to visit each Council member and mark them as I indicated. I wil do that alone, with Jacob as my attendant.” She shook her head, anticipating Daegan and Mason. “I have made my point and Belizar has put his support behind me. I used your strength to back me for this key moment, because I did not want my son unprotected in such a volatile environment.” No matter the Fae protection he carries. She added that in Jacob’s mind, saw his imperceptible nod.

  They’d decided the purpose of the tattooed pendant would not be public knowledge, for concealed weapons were often the most potent kind.

  Now she looked to Daegan. “I ask that you continue to watch over him while I take care of that task. Mason, be with Jessica. Give her blood, make her rest to ensure she is ful y healed by dinner time.

  After I mark the Council, I wil retire for an hour or two with my servant to feed from him. Hopeful y this awful place has a room with a fireplace to ward off the chil coming from the very stones.” Her gaze coursed around the room, encompassing al of them. “Thank you. Your loyalty means a great deal to me. I wil do my best to deserve it, now and going forward.” A spark of humor went through her gaze as she glanced at Jacob. And thank all the gods that vampires don’t take offense at being thanked.

  23

  AS the clock moved toward the midnight dinner hour, Lyssa and Jacob final y arrived in the master suite that had belonged to Belizar. She’d of course eschewed the rooms where the Council had original y intended to put her. While she attended to the marking of the Council members, the staff had changed out the bedding, removed al of Belizar’s personal effects and moved them to the bedroom where he now convalesced. Someone had thought to add a large vase of vibrant flowers to the room, and kept a fire wel tended in the hearth. They brought color and heat to the room, respectively.

  Pausing by the flowers, she touched the petal of a bright yel ow daisy and glanced at Jacob. “Your doing?”

  “I know you hate the darkness here, my lady.” Stripping off the wrist gauntlets, he shrugged out of his shirt in a movement of graceful power, leaving him bare above the slacks. He stripped the belt out of it, so they hung lower on his hips, revealing the dark strip of the boxer briefs he’d worn beneath, one of the few times he wore underwear. Since the snug fit helped hold the extra arrows he’d carried along his outer thigh, she’d been more flexible about her requirement today. He pul ed those arrows out now, unfastening the top of the slacks to al ow him the ability to do so.

  She sat down in a wing-back chair, watching the beautiful play of muscle. As he became aware of her close regard, his movements slowed and he looked at her.

  Come to me, Jacob.

  His stride across the room gave her more of that visual art. She said nothing, gave him no further direction, always enjoying what he would choose to do, how he would anticipate her needs. As he reached her, he bent, slid his arms beneath her in the chair. Lifting her in that easy way of his, he turned and took the seat to cradle her in his arms. His fingers tangled in her hair, tightening. Her alpha warrior. Her knight.

  “Drink, my lady,” he said. “Take everything you need.”

  He shuddered as she pierced him, as he often did. Dropping his head to the seat back, a deep sigh slipped out of him as his other hand settled on her hip, stroking that line. “You worried me.”

  “You worry quite a lot. Enough for both of us.” He grunted at that. Mariela’s blood had been sweet, pure, lifegiving. But there was nothing like Jacob’s blood, the blood of her ful servant. Her arm was around his back, knuckles pressed to the cushioning as she stroked the serpentine shape of that third mark. Are you worried about tonight, my protective Sir Knight?

  He shook his head. “It’s obvious they’re on board, at least for today. An indisputable show of strength was what they needed. Overcoming Belizar and staking Barbra more than accomplished that. I’m a little curious how the dinner wil go. Given it’s a vampire dinner . . .”

  She smiled against his flesh. “It’s been a while since I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying my servant during one of those.”

  “Now I am worried.” But she felt the flash of his amusement, fol owed by a more serious direction.

  “I’m concerned about Jessica.”

  “I knew I was right about the protective part.

  Chivalrous soul. Mason can exempt her if he wishes.

  He wil not let etiquette or seniority stop him. If she participates, it is because she is determined to perform ful y as his servant. I expect she needs to prove it to him.”

  “And he’d al ow that?”

  “It’s amazing what a vampire finds her or himself al owing, despite the fact they are supposed to be Master or Mistress, and the humans the servants.

  However, if she’s convinced him to be a little less maniacal y protective, that’s not an easy task. She’s a remarkable girl.”

  She was quiet then for a bit, feeding off of him.

  She stroked his chest, fol owing the appealing flat hardness of his pectoral, the curve of biceps.

  “I’l bring Kane tonight,” she said. “Let the others pet and play with him.”

  Jacob chuckled, his voice a little thick, reacting to the intimacy and pleasure of her touch. “If Helga gets her claws into Kane, we won’t get him back, short of threatening to stake her.”

  “He’l love the spoiling. As Gideon says, when it comes to vampire children, we are hopeless. But he does not realize what it is like, to be a species where offspring are so rare that every infant is like a precious, delicate gem. Even without the pendant, I was never worried about Kane being harmed by the Council, not at this age. Only taken away from his rightful parents, who best know how to protect him.” As he made a noise of agreement, she lifted her head. “On that note, I invited Brian to the dinner tonight. When you were talking to the kitchen staff, I visited his lab area. He told me he has some findings on one of his projects he wants to share.”

  “Good. I’ve missed the vampire geek.” She snorted. “I dare you to cal him that to his face.”

  “No thanks, I’l pass. I do occasional y understand the benefits of tact, especial y around vampires who can throw me through wal s.”

  “Perhaps you can teach your brother such diplomacy.”

  “Not likely. I’m stil kind of amazed he’l be there tonight. I assume he’l have to be gagged, muzzled, blindfolded . . .”

  “He has been with Anwyn and Daegan for a few months now. When he knelt before her, that day at our house, it was obvious they’ve been thoroughly training him in what is expected of a vampire’s servant. I would have enjoyed seeing that.” Jacob felt

  a lazy, sensual stir of amusement from her. “But he is stil Gideon. He has an unmistakable deference when it comes to his Master and Mistress, though he wil never be as smooth with it as you, someone who wil ingly sought the bond. But it’s there. He belongs to them, body, heart and soul.”

  “I know. I see it. And it stil kind of freaks me out.” She chuckled against his skin then, changing the nourishing pul to a stimulating lick, her tongue caressing the puncture. She scraped her nails over his nipple. “I’d like a bath, Jacob. I want you to bathe me, and while you do, I’m going to enjoy touching you however I wish, making sure you are hard and ready for tonight’s events, whatever your Mistress wil s.”

  “I’m sure I could do that, even if she decides to avail herself of my cock now.”

  She rubbed her ass against the mentioned portion of his anatomy, teasing him. “No doubt. I’ve missed showing you off, Jacob. It’s been a rough day, and I plan to enjoy my night thoroughly.”

  “God help me,” he muttered. She turned her face up and slid both hands into his hair, bringing him down for a plundering fuck-me-now kiss he knew wouldn’t sway her, even as she’d get so hot and wet he could smel it and it would drive him insane.

  His lady was stubborn like that.

  Mindful that he had responsibilities beyond tireless and devoted sex slave, Jacob had taken the time to ensure dinner would reflect the new management as best as possible with such short notice. The staff had done wel with his direction. The dining room table had a bright white tablecloth, red flower petals scattered over the fabric. A beautiful arrangement of traditional red roses formed the centerpiece, the blooms partial y open in that coy, tempting way his lady most preferred. The china was a simple white scal op with solid silver edging. He’d lined up several courses for sampling, foods his lady enjoyed, but ones that would tempt the palates of the others.

  Right now, the vampires were stil in the study, enjoying pre-dinner drinks, but at a step, he glanced up, pleased to see his brother had joined him.

  Gideon eyed the table settings. “Martha Stewart Living says you should put the napkins on the plates in a fan shape. Adds a little touch of class.”

  “You stil reading magazines in grocery stores? I thought you only did that when you were hunting.”

  “Anwyn keeps a few subscriptions going in the break room at Club Atlantis. Sometimes I read an article here or there, when I need a few minutes to clear my head.”

  Jacob gave him a sidelong glance. “You okay with this, bro?”

  “Yeah. I can do this.” A curl to his lip. “The last Council dinner I attended was a lot more . .

  . chal enging. If the most traumatic thing I have to do tonight is see you naked, I’l live. And if we get to share a pretty girl, wel , you gotta do what you gotta do to keep your vampires happy, right?” Despite the flip comment, Jacob could tel Gideon was tense. He knew his brother, knew that Anwyn was the only woman he wanted in his arms. But it was different with a Mistress, what would pleasure them. They had a unique way of making you want what they wanted. He could tel , as Lyssa said, that Gideon understood that better now. But ultimately it didn’t change how either of them felt about the vampires they served.

  However, when Jessica slipped in the other door, it was apparent that their concerns were comparatively low level. She looked as if she was going to faint. When she leaned against the door, she closed her eyes, so involved in whatever was happening in her head she didn’t even notice them.

  As such, she nearly jumped out of her skin when Jacob moved, his dress shoe scraping the floor.

  Her eyes flew open, took them both in. Drawing a deep breath, she declared, “I can do this.” Jacob nodded, took her hand. “Of course you can.”

  “I can’t have a panic attack. He’l feel it. He’s involved with them right now, but if he feels me like this, he won’t let me do it. And I have to. I have to show him I can do this. I have to prove to me I can do it.”

  “You wil .” Gideon, fol owing Jacob’s lead, took her other hand, both of them dwarfing the slim fingers.

  “You look sensational.”

  Jessica glanced down at the off-the-shoulder black cocktail dress that was high on the thigh. A simple, classy sheath, sexy as hel . She wore the same choker she’d worn earlier, though Jacob hadn’t paid close attention to it then, other things taking precedent. At close range, it was quite obviously Mason’s col ar, a melding of different metals that had the pattern of a tiger’s skin. Copper, bronze and gray, with threads of white glazing that made it an exceptional piece of custom metalwork.

  The closure looked like a tiger’s talon. An amber pendant dangled below it. Jacob drew her desperate gaze up to his as he laid his hand on her shoulder, his thumb brushing that col ar, reminding her of its presence.

  “Everything that happens in here tonight, everything you do, wil be his wil ,” he said, steady.

  “His pleasure. That’s how it works. You get so lost in it, it isn’t what you’re doing that matters. It’s how he reacts to it.”

  Gideon’s attention shifted to him. At one time, Jacob himself hadn’t ful y understood the words, even after months of training to be a vampire queen’s servant. But now he did. Al the way to the bone. Jessica held his gaze a long moment, drawing on that authority, and her own strength. Her chin firmed, and a new calmness, though fragile, entered her gaze.

  “Al right.”

  “Good. They’re coming.” He pointed to a chair.

  “He’l be sitting there, at the other end of the table.

  She has Lord Uthe to her right and Lord Brian to her left.” Belizar was going to be next to Uthe. They’d thought about putting Belizar at the other end, where Mason was, but tonight Belizar was a member of Council only. She wanted him to get accustomed to that before she trusted him as a senior member with advanced standing again.

  Moving to Mason’s chair, Jessica took her place behind it as Jacob showed Gideon where Daegan and Anwyn would be sitting, so he could position himself between both of their chairs. His brother looked unexpectedly put together in black slacks and a dark blue shirt that stretched over his broad shoulders. Jacob wondered what weapons he was carrying tonight, and if the slacks had been tailored specifical y to al ow for that. Daegan had probably helped him dress, since Gideon usual y bought his clothes based on cheapness and how easy it was to wash blood out of them. Quel ing a smile, Jacob took a position behind the head chair, his lady’s seat.

  As the vampires wandered in, they chatted in a relaxed, amiable fashion, not so different from most cocktail parties. Cocktail parties attended by exceptional y perfect physical specimens of beauty and power, who might have been tearing one another apart only a few hours before.

  Some of the servants were with them, while others now slipped in from other doors, taking their place.

  Helga was on the other side of Mason with Torrence behind her. He and Gideon seemed to have a history because, when their gazes met, Gideon gave him a discreet sneer and Torrence returned a fuck-you

  look,

  immediately

  replaced

  by

  bland

  expressions on both faces. Jacob figured they’d be bonding over footbal scores by the end of the evening.

  He held out his chair for his lady. Every inch of her looked edible in a beaded formal sheath of rich green that went with the emerald and diamond choker she wore on her neck. Her hair was in a simple style, clipped at her neck with a diamond clasp, the ebony curls tumbling down her back and over her breasts. She’d put together the right picture of formidable queen and irresistible, charming woman. It reminded everyone here she could be both, and which side she displayed depended on their behavior.

  Belizar was quiet, a little more pale than usual, but seemed recovered. Vincent lingered closer to his chair, but when he saw the positioning of the other servants at the wal , he stepped back so he would not appear to be hovering. Jacob appreciated the male’s loyalty, one of those odd quirks of being part of the servants’ union, so to speak. Though he would have torn the male’s head off if he’d actual y succeeded in harming Lyssa, he respected his devotion to his Master, because that was the common bond they al shared. He knew it was why

  Lyssa had Barbra turned to ash in the main courtyard, but her servant was afforded a respectful burial.

  When Mason entered, the vampire’s gaze of course went to his servant, taking in her general state. Jessica inclined her head, her lashes brushing her cheeks in a pretty display of submission that won a wry tug of his lips. As he moved past her to sit down, his hand slid over her hip, squeezing her buttocks in an admonishment that had her biting down on a yelp.

  However, when his nostrils flared and his gaze cut to Jacob, Jacob realized Mason had detected his scent on the girl. Jessica’s fingers brushed his forearm, drawing his gaze back down to her. A quiet mind communication ensued, where Jacob hoped she was making it clear that it had been for reassurance only. Having been the one who’d shot her earlier, he didn’t relish finding another reason to be on Mason’s bad side.

  Don’t worry, Sir Vagabond. I’ll protect you from Mason.

  He stifled a snort. This could get very interesting, my lady. If it bothers him that I touched her for comfort only, how will he feel about what else could happen to her here?