Page 32 of Accidental Blood Lust
We stop in front of a door I didn’t notice before. It’s covered in black moss and when it opens, I’m greeted with more darkness. My pulse kicks up, but I enter. I’m a vampire, after all. It’s not like I’m in a lot of danger here. At least, I don’t think so. I’m sure if a fairy could kill me, Cassius would’ve warned me. Right? Wait… He did tell me not to mess with the fae, but was that because they’re dangerous to me or just because it’s a bad idea? Shit, I really should have asked some follow-up questions.
Iswyn leads me down a hallway and then the narrow corridor opens into a vast room seemingly carved out of a massive tree. The ceiling is all rounded curves with more lush branches hanging from it, and it smells like earth after a heavy rain. Light filters in from an unknown source, but it gives the place a cozy feel, as does the comfy looking furniture.
“Please sit,” Iswyn says. “Make yourself comfortable.”
“Okay. I can’t stay long though. My people will be looking for me soon.”
He simply nods, looking up as those glowing beings flit into the room carrying trays filled with fruits, pastries, and beverages. They set it all down on a small table in front of the couch, bowing as they back out of the room.
Now I have to wonder how powerful Iswyn actually is. Those beings are treating him like royalty, but maybe that’s just how it is in the fae world.
“Please have a snack.” Iswyn sits on the couch, elegantly crossing his legs. “We have the finest.”
“I can’t ingest human food.”
He laughs then, loudly, throwing his head back like I just said the funniest thing ever. “I’m not human and neither is my food. Trust me, you can eat it.”
“Oh. Right. I forgot.” It smells really good, and I could use an actual meal that isn’t liquid, so I sit next to him, grab a pastry, and sink my teeth into it. I moan at the taste. The flaky crustmelts on my tongue and a medley of unknown fruity flavors explodes on my tongue. “Wow.”
Iswyn smiles proudly. “Lovely, yes?”
“Very.”
I spend the next several minutes shoving pastries into my mouth and washing them down with some cool lemony beverage. Iswyn nibbles on a strawberry, watching me with a pleasant expression.
“So, can you help me?” I ask, my words slightly muffled as I chew. It’s like I can’t stop shoveling this food into my mouth.
“I already have, vampire.”
I pull my head back slightly. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve accepted my hospitality, eaten of my food, drunk of my vineyard. You are mine now.”
I stop chewing as his words sink in. “Sorry?”
“You’ll live here with me and never need to drink yucky blood again. I’ll fulfill all your needs. You can eat like a king every day and be my consort.”
“Consort? What the fuck does that mean?”
Iswyn leans over and puts his hand on my thigh. “It means you will be my lover.”
I shake my head, scooting away from him. “No. I can’t do that. I have a life. I have…”
Jareth.
…Roman.
The fact that Roman’s name even pops into my head is a surprise to me, but it feels right and true anyway. I can’t stay here, away from both of them.
Oh no. What have I done?
“Your life is here now, vampire. You will be happy once you adjust.”
“What kind of bullshit bait and switch is this? You said you would help me.”
“And I have.”
“I asked you to remove my vampirism or make me like mortal blood. You said you could.”
