Chapter 72 The Older Sister
❀ Maeve ❀
My steps were slow, reverent.
The entrance was a few steps of crushed shells.
“Where’d you even get shells?” I felt stupid immediately after I’d asked.
He was moneyed. He could get anything he wanted.
“The Dread Sea past the north of Veilmoor. We get our glass there as well,” he supplied from close behind me.
When I finally crossed the threshold of the half-height swinging doors, my breath rushed out.
From the outside, the greenhouse was an immense, spherical structure made entirely of glass and gold wire framing.
The top was completely open, tall shrubs and creeping plants bursting out toward the sky, falling over the rounded edges.
From the inside? It was a paradise of complementary scents and colours.
I approached the center, fingers barely brushing the plush, brilliant petals of hyacinths.
“Nikolai… this is…” I trailed off, letting my tone convey my breathless appreciation.
A five-step water fountain, taller than I was, stood proudly before me, small grooves in the floor delivering tactically spilling water to the many furrows along the plants.
A single, large oil lantern hung from the center of the ceiling’s framing, smaller lamps creeping along the outside of the glass on thin wire.
I sat on the edge of the fountain, on dry ledges designed for relaxation.
Nikolai settled in behind me, and we both admired the fountain.
It was by far the most striking feature.
Jasmines bloomed in special bowled spots in the middle rungs, without overflowing with water.
Flower blues complemented the striking silvery water, the lamplight interacting wonderfully without diluting the cool tones.
I sighed, leaning into his chest.
His chin burrowed into the top of my head, his arm wrapping around my torso protectively.
“I love it. Thank you,” I told him.
“Mmmh… currently brainstorming something to trump this. Need you to blush deeper, shriek louder…” He trailed off.
I felt him gulp, my cheeks warming just as the accidental innuendo hit us both.
And gods, did he respond. He stirred behind me, his desire flush against my back.
I was melting. Melting—
He abruptly moved back.
I mourned the separation immediately, barely stifling a whimper.
“I have something else for you. Not exactly new, but I thought you’d want it back,” he rasped.
His scent lulled like a drug as I sluggishly turned to face him. My dress rustled in the quiet haven.
I hadn’t finished the turn when something glinted in his hand. He was offering up a dagger.
Gasp.
The onyx dagger he’d gifted me.
I snatched the crimson-beaded sheath at once, gripping the leather with trembling hands.
“Thought I’d lost it,” I muttered. “Where’d you find it?”
Somewhere between the cave system in Blackbridge and my time in his castle chamber, I’d lost track of it. I’d been saddened by its absence even while hating Nikolai for abandoning me.
I looked up to see his eyes half-lidded with pleasure.
“I love that you treasure my gifts. The expression on your face…” he trailed off, then murmured, “if only you would look at me like that.”
Looking at him right now, I wished his arm was completely regenerated so he could wrap them around me.
The right arm of his shirt hung flat, when it should’ve been filled with a strong, capable limb like his left.
He held my gaze, unaware that I was gauging his healing time against what it should have been.
“You said my blood is more potent for you. That other blood tasted like ash, and you’d rather do without.”
His heated gaze brushed my exposed neck. “Just so.”
“Could that be the reason for your slow healing?”
“It is.”
“Yet you haven’t asked me to—”
His eyes flashed, insulted. “You were starved and neglected for weeks. You think I’d prioritize my health over yours?”
I’d known he wouldn’t, but—
“Then how will you protect me? Missing an arm?”
The sword arm, for that matter, unless he was ambidextrous. I couldn’t remember enough to tell.
His lips curled, revealing his fangs, his tone dark. “I’m just as deadly missing both arms as I am with two and a sword, I assure you.”
A chill ran through my skin. I had a feeling I hadn’t seen him at the crux of his power. Maybe he was holding back, to preserve my image of him.
Under the smooth, supple skin and hypnotic eyes, Crimson vampires were a hair’s breadth from demonic.
“I trust you, but as soon as I’m fully recovered, I’m feeding you.”
His eyes glimmered with anticipation even as he said, “There’s no rush, Milaya. I just want you to be happy.”
“Truly, I am.” I inched closer. “There’s just one matter of contention.”
His countenance darkened immediately.
“You won’t be leaving to visit your wolf. Hoard your last memory of him close to your heart. It will be your last. And even then, I will strive to erase it with every fibre of my being.”
Well. I did try.
Drusilla it is.
With a sigh, I rested my back to his chest once more. I cupped his wrist, bringing his bone-white hand up for my perusal.
I changed the subject. “From what I’ve seen, you have zero friends and only one staff? Doesn’t the mansion get lonely?”
“Before you, my obligations occupied my entire existence. But now, I have something more to live forever for.” His chin rubbed into my hair again.
My heart clenched.
He was isolated and lonely, even among thousands of his kind, and a sire on his very coattails. No wonder he was unwilling to let me go.
If he would just understand that I’d always come back—
“I spent a few precious nights thinking of my family,” he continued, voice blank. “My ma’am. My brothers. I’d give anything to have them occupy my mansion and eat of my wealth now.”
Cupping his hand close to my heart, I caressed it, then kissed it.
“I’m so sorry for what you lost, Nikolai. You’ve come such a long way. I’m proud of you.”
He purred. His arm tightened around me.
I rolled my eyes.
“Just let me feed you—”
“No.”
My mind whirled. Maybe more Crimson blood would heal him faster. I just wanted him to be better.
My suggestion nearly choked me. “And Lilith? You’ve been on missions together. I’m sure you’ve fed each other—”
This time, he growled. “No. Never.”
Subject closed. Even though I was burning to know exactly why.
Lilith was beautiful, with her inky straight hair and seductive figure—
The air pulsed viciously in front of us.
Even the scent of flowers paled beneath the reek of her distaste.
Speak of the devil.
Lilith stood before us, and this time, she wasn’t alone.
Two tall males dressed in black leather pants and brown silk shirts flanked her. Both wielded long swords. Both pinned Nikolai with a hard stare.
“You will come along to pay respect to the regent,” she said coldly. “Or die where you—”
Her eyes flitted around the greenhouse, lips curling with even deeper irritation and dark loathing.
I smirked. Jealousy didn’t suit her.
But what had she just said? The regent. Right. Nikolai had bought us time by insisting on my recovery first.
It seemed the regent was tired of waiting.
Nikolai remained still behind me, as though no disturbance had even occurred.
Then a tingling sensation spread across my skin.
It felt like tracing, but slower. When I looked down, the edges of my body wavered like an apparition.
Lilith watched, her eyes blazing with promise while her escorts remained impassive.
I raised Nikolai’s hand to my lips just before my sight cut out.
The last thing I saw was Lilith breaking character.
She kicked my fountain.
Annoyance flushed my face and ears, but the dizzying sensation of tracing stole my focus.
When I felt solid ground again, we stood on a vast, airy balcony overlooking the mountain basin.
Before us stood the same face I’d seen in my blood-fog vision.
A dainty flute hung precariously from her slim fingers, its red contents pale beside her glowing crimson gaze.
When she lifted it to us, a practiced smile spreading, I shivered.
Drusilla.