Chapter 17: Seiran

Chapter Seventeen

Seiran

“ I dosed the humans with enough lust that they shouldn’t be done with each other anytime soon,” I say, stumbling a step as I come back into the bedroom.

“Good,” Novak says, but his eyes stay glued on Greer, who rests on his chest.

Reign was still asleep when I left the room. He’s awake now and cuddled up to her side, palming the back of her head. “I saw her maker. She was reliving her first turning when I manifested in her nightmare.”

The edge of the bed and floor are stained with blood, but I ignore it, crossing the room and taking a seat next to Novak’s thighs. His hands are under the bottom of the shirt I put Greer in, and he’s caressing her soft skin.

My species isn’t overly possessive, but Greer and I just bonded. It’s like my system is too overloaded to know what to do. Mostly, I want to steal her away to sleep off her slumber with me wrapped around her soft little body. And at the same time, I can understand the bond that now links her to Novak will have him feeling the same effects.

My head tilts.

Is that from the maker connection?

If so, it’s exceptionally strong, way stronger than I would have guessed.

“We’ll talk more about that later,” Novak says in a soft tone I’ve never heard him use. “For now, I need to reset the humans, someone needs to dispose of Seiran’s blood, and Greer needs to be moved to my bed. This one smells like death.”

“I’ll take the snuggly little thing to your bed.” Reign chuckles. “Things were just getting interesting in her dreams.”

I sigh, already knowing what’s coming. “Fine, I’ll handle my blood, but I’m regrouping in your room once I’m done.”

Novak grunts, but he doesn’t tell me to fuck off, and that’s as much of a win as I expect at the moment.

My hands still ache from the burning hot water and soap I scrubbed them in to ensure I’m fully clean after dealing with my tainted blood.

I shamelessly listen in as Novak gives the gentlemen guests a new set of more consensual memories to cover for what happened here tonight, then scurry up the stairs before he can ask me to do anything that would prevent me from spending the day wrapped around my sweet mate.

My old bedroom is down the hall from Novak’s. I don’t think it through as I stop in front of the door and find myself hesitating to step inside.

I could do with a fresh change of pants, and, although I could glamor their appearance like I can with all my clothing, they won’t be clean unless I physically change.

Rolling my shoulders back, I don’t allow myself to hesitate as I push inside. My nostrils flare, trying to pick up my scent, and my entire being feels lighter when I do.

They didn’t destroy my belongings. It puts a relieved smile on my face as I change into sweatpants that I left here five years ago. Digging around in my drawers, I find a T-shirt to help Greer change into—if she’s up to it. If not, that can wait for the morning.

The trip to Novak’s room is filled with a jaunty little spring to my step.

Reign’s eyes glow as I enter Novak’s bedroom, and it’s comforting to see he’s been watching over her when I couldn’t.

I smile, pulling the shirt from under my arm. My mouth opens as I get closer, but Reign cuts me off.

“We have a problem,” he says in little more than a whisper.

My eyes narrow at the way he’s wrapped around Greer’s back. The thought of having more problems to tackle tonight is almost too much for my brain to process.

I shake my head. “No, I’m tired. Tell me tomorrow.” Leaving the shirt on the nightstand, I climb onto the bed. I grab the blanket and tug it up as I roll to face Greer.

Novak will have something to say about me being in his spot, but that’s also later’s problem.

Reign catches my gaze, pulling Greer’s hair back from her neck. “This isn’t your bite.”

My mouth falls.

No, it is not .

My bondmark is on her lower lip. That claiming bite wasn’t there before tonight, meaning…

“No fucking way,” I whisper as my head shakes. My hair falls over my face, and I shove it away. “He bit her there to provide his venom, but…” I don’t even need to say it aloud. The only type of bite that permanently mars a vampire’s skin is a claiming bite. “He made her his beloved?” My voice comes out clipped to my own ears, and Greer jolts in her sleep.

Having to deal with Novak for a few hundred years while the maker bond weakens to a state where it won’t damage Greer when he releases her is one thing. Having him bond her is another. He couldn’t even let me revel in my matebond for a single day?

“No, don’t go there.” Reign squeezes my shoulder. “Think for a minute. I don’t believe he purposely initiated a mating bond. Neck biting is somewhat sacred among vampires. And for good reason. It’s the location that triggers a beloved bond. Well, with intent, but there’s one exception to that. With true soulmates, a neck bite would solidify a beloved bond, even if there was no intent. That’s why vampires are so picky about feeding from the throat and even less likely to let others feed from that location.”

My canines dig into my lower lip as I bite back the growl that rattles in my chest.

I do, in fact, know all of that.

Reign is aware I possess that knowledge, meaning he’s only reminding me to keep me from doing something irrational.

“I want to be paid this time for the work I do at the club,” I grunt, scooting down until my face is very close to Greer’s. “I have a mate to take care of now. I shouldn’t have to ask for money to buy things for her.”

“No, you shouldn’t,” Reign says calmly. “I’ll get you the information for the bank account Novak set up for you when we settled in Black Cove. I haven’t checked it lately, but it must have at least a few million dollars in it, especially if you never touched it.”

My brow wrinkles. “I’m not sure what game you’re playing, but I’m too tired for it right now.”

Reign sighs. “Somewhere along the way, our communication went to shit. Let’s not make that mistake this time around.”

I hear him, but I’m so focused on Greer’s plush lips that I don’t reply. The soft puffs of her breath land against my face as she slumbers. It’s utterly charming, considering she doesn’t need to breathe to survive.

Now, I just have to figure out how to woo her. If I do a good enough job, she might not even hate me for claiming her under such questionable circumstances.

“We’ll need to see if Novak sports a bite in the same location,” Reign says softly. “I wonder how long it’ll take him to notice.”

I snort.

That will be entertaining to watch.

At least, as long as he doesn’t show his ass.

Fuck me . No wonder I could feel his contentment so easily earlier. I mistakenly viewed it as spillover from the maker bond.

We are well and truly stuck with one another. Meaning, we’ll have to find some way to mend our damaged friendship, but all of that is tomorrow’s problem.