Fangs of Fate (Untish #1)

Chapter 49

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

CHANCE

War. We were at war and still didn’t even know who all the players were. I filed out of the conference room following Holland.

“We need to refuel. I’ll meet you back in the library in an hour.” Without another word, she turned and headed down the hallway. I guess that was one mystery solved, she was upset. A hunch told me it had to do with Tate, but I didn’t have time to concern myself with Holland’s feelings.

It was just sex; she should know that.

Did I think she was an impressive female? Absolutely. Was she smoking hot? Damn straight. But was she Tate? No.

Shaking my head, I broke free from the group of leadership and headed for the kitchen. I needed a quick feed, a bottle of bloodwine, and then I needed to get back to the library. The meeting had lasted three hours, it could have been enough time for Shae to discover something. Maybe.

Heading through a dusty hallway, I turned left and went down three flights of stairs until, at last, the corridor opened to the outdoor courtyard. I strode across the stone floor, breathing in the fresh air. It was nearly morning. Odd how time means little to nothing when you’re in meetings and locked inside all day. I took one more deep breath, and then entered the arched hallway at the opposite end, noting how it was lit with torches. Funny how fire can kill us and yet we see it everywhere. I used to think it was poetic, the choice of using fire over electricity. Keeps us humble, now I can’t help but wonder if it’s stupid or egotistical to have weapons lining the hallways throughout this entire fortress.

I walked by one patrol squad and then finally made it to the mess hall. Just a little further and I’d be in the wine reserves. The hall was buzzing, the first place I’d seen more arches than just the four in the squad. They were setting the tables, filling wine mugs, and then of course, pouring blood into goblets at each seat. It was customary for vessel feeding to occur only for high-ranking officers or as a reward earned by dokimoses or arches. Otherwise, they got blood bags. If they were lucky, it would have wine in it. I definitely didn’t miss this about prasinos.

Passing several dokimoses and arches who looked like they’d rather be sleeping or drowning themselves in blood, I made it to the kitchen and then continued back to the VIP room. The door was guarded, as I suspected, by a squad of rather hungry looking arches.

“Credentials,” one of the arches asked me as he approached, hand outstretched.

“Dux Dale.” I pulled out my ID badge and he scanned it.

“Continue. Good day, Dux Dale.” The guard motioned for me to move forward through the thick iron door. Some things never changed. I pushed the heavy door open and allowed my eyes to adjust. Inside there were intimate candles lining the walls, chaises throughout with sheers draped from the ceiling offering minimal privacy. I spotted several vessels already in use.

Weaving through the large room, I continued to the back. A male vessel lounged on a chaise, a glass of merlot in his hand. His red hair was wild and ruddy. Not my type.

I passed a set of doe-eyed twins; blonde and perky. Too much energy. I needed a pure feed and then I had to get back to Shae. In the back corner, I spotted a plump looking brunette woman with a plate of cheese and chocolate. From the size of her, I’d bet she’s been a vessel for a while. Perfect.

I approached her and she raised a brow. “Thirsty?”

I tried to ignore the gap in her teeth as she spoke, or the way spit hung between her lips. This one would be perfect. No trouble, no ‘anax’ rising, nothing more than a quick feed.

“Very,” I spoke as I pulled up a stool close to the chaise.

She extended a plump arm to me, wrist up. “Enjoy.”

Before I could second-guess my choice in vessel, I sank my fangs deep into her wrist. Immediately, my senses heightened. Sweet, rich, undiluted iron swelled at my tongue and then coated my throat. I pulled again, and again, deeper each time. Allowing her blood to numb all other senses and heighten only my hunger. I gripped her wrist with both hands and gently squeezed her plump flesh.

She began to jerk a bit. I slowly released my draw and injected some venom. Thank blood for the vampirical gift of venom. I could sense her relax immediately, enjoying the endorphins currently flooding her system. Good. I drew some more and was rewarded by an unhindered flow of blood. I could feel my stomach warming and my strength returning. The old wound at my stomach began to twitch, the skin no doubt healing itself. Yes, I’d chosen the right vessel.

Mahogany eyes. Tate was looking up at me, defiantly in the forest, darkness a halo around her. I could still imagine the taste of her on my tongue, the way her hips felt in my hands. I wanted her. Damn it. Even if I didn’t deserve her, I sure as hell missed her. I continued to drink, not caring if the blood was making me hallucinate my old lover. I could hear Tate’s moans as she came, feel her fingers digging into my back. Blood, I could taste my own blood after she bit me in those woods. Old memories and recent ones mixed and overwhelmed my senses as I devoured the vessel and rode my emotional high.

Soft, red silk sheets in my bedroom at HQ. Her blonde hair draped over her tan back, nearly reaching the delicate curve of her spine just before her lush hips. Her hands splayed out over my chest as she mounted me, her eyes staring into my soul. Eyes that held so many secrets, intelligence, and passion. Eyes that swiftly turned heated, anger and hate filling them. The moment I held her in my arms as she was informed of her mother’s death. The moment she knew I had withheld information; that I knew Irene was being interrogated and that execution could occur—did occur. Guilt stabbed my stomach as I recalled the way I held her close, kissed her, fucked her, all while her mother was having a Disciplinary Hearing—one that resulted in her immediate death. Regret tasted bitter.

I withdrew my fangs from the vessel and released her arm. She moaned as she lay splayed on the chaise. I stood, wiped my mouth, and shook my head. I didn’t want to dwell on the past, on what was and what could have been with Tate.

I began pacing toward the back wall, the whole room started to spin. I forgot about the powerful effect of feeding from a vessel and releasing too much venom. Normally, I’d have someone to express the energy with, like last time with Holland, but this time it was all overwhelming my system. I placed a steadying hand on the wall and leaned my forehead against it. It was cool to the touch and shocking to my system. Life was nothing if not full of remorse.

Tate wasn’t dead. She couldn’t be. There had to be a way to help her, maybe I could go out with a small team and borrow a transport car. There had to be a way to have minimal exposure and yet still give her some aid. I just needed a few minutes to let this high fade and then I could head back to Shae with my head screwed on right.

I’d come up with a plan.

Whispered voices came from the corner. Great, I wasn’t alone for this class-A spin-out. I took a breath and tried to focus on my breathing.

“Shhh,” a female voice sounded. Snickering ensued.

“No, you shhh,” the male responded. Laughing. Blood help me, was I hearing the aftereffects of a blood-high?

“Mmm, yeah right there…” the female commanded followed by male and female moans.

“You have no idea how good you are,” the male rolled his ‘r’s.

I needed to move but my head wouldn’t stop spinning.

“Hmp. You really don’t. If you only knew what I knew—” the female spoke, cutting herself off with a moan. Nothing like a blood high to cloud judgment and loosen the tongue.

“What’d ya mean?” That low timber was jogging my memory. Was that Dux Carran?

“Dark magic. We’ve been researching it for the past year,” the female responded with breathiness.

What the hell? If that was true, then leadership kept this from me. Or was this female in on the recent attacks? Was I witnessing the mole in action? I shook my head, I needed to focus, the dizzying to stop.

“Off the record, eh?” Dux Carran responded.

“Ach, you know me, everything’s above board. There’s a classified site that I haven’t been privy to, but that I see incoming transmissions on it. Dark magic has been mentioned more than once in the unredacted information,” Anax Clark, it had to be her, responded.

I blinked.

“Of course, ya are,” Dux Carran responded, grunting.

A classified site? Dark magic research? Why were we researching dark magic and why had Anax Graf and my father acted baffled by my suggestion about its role in those creatures? I needed my head clear.

“That’s enough talking, focus,” Anax Clark commanded. A slap on skin sounded followed by noises I’d rather not focus on. I needed no further encouragement to slip away. The whole thing with them was just gross.

I stepped past the brunette on the chaise, currently still reveling the post-feed vessel high I’d given her, and made my way through the room. I ignored the stares, the moans, the spurting sound of blood. I ignored it all and continued through the iron door into the unwelcoming bright lights outside it. I had learned nothing from my time in the guara if not self-restraint.

Passing the guards, I headed through the mess hall to the kitchen. I swiped three blood bags and a bottle of bloodwine. Time to see Shae and have her narrow her research. I wanted to know all there was about this classified site on dark magic research.