Chapter 12 Vivian

T he last two days have been spent poring over books, trying to find any answer to the mystery of the connection between Greyson and me.

The things I feel for him terrify me to the bone. I was hoping my feelings were nothing more than lust and infatuation. But I know it's so much deeper than that, rooting itself in my heart and spreading further within me every day.

But it doesn't matter what book Autumn and I read through in the council's library; we can't figure anything out. I wish I could leave it be and brush it off, but coincidences and accidents don't exist in the paranormal world. There's more to it, I just know it.

I need to feed, which is the only reason I'm leaving Autumn to continue our search alone. During the feeding period, we should drink our fill each day for two weeks, but I already missed the last two days from being here. I'm starving.

Walking out of the doors of the Barlowe, I bump into Jason. "Hey."

"How's it going with the pairings? Everyone behaving themselves?" I inquire, feeling bad that I haven't checked in before now.

I'm usually much more hands-on during the Culling, but in my defense, I've never had Greyson with me before. He came into my life like a goddamn storm, changing everything in his path and sweeping me up in his along the way.

Jason nods. "So far, so good. No complaints from either side."

"Good to hear." I pat his arm as I stride past him. "I have to run, but I'll check in again soon."

Jason smiles kindly. "Sounds good. See you later, Vivian."

I've gotten lucky with the members I've chosen for the High Council over the years. I may have started this entire organization and hand-selected every staff member, but I've been lucky that there hasn't been a bad seed.It is a choice to be on the council but an honor nonetheless. We have had many members over the years that have served selflessly and went on to ‘retire' from the role.

The High Council wasn't always this large of an operation. It started out as just me hunting down and killing vampires murderously preyed upon humans. And then a few other vampires that shared the same morals joined me. Eventually, our numbers doubled, tripled, multiplied out of control that we had to come up with some way to organize it all. The High Council was born.

My ability to alter the minds of humans and other vampires certainly played a role in peaking the interest of other's around us. My specific gifts had never been seen before and it earned a level of respect from countless vampires. Once they caught wind of the council we were building, they flocked to us, wanting to be a part of it.

The High Council selects well-rounded members of local councils to fill their seats. It's not democratic like the human world. There's no corruption or greed. Vampires sit on their council because they care for our laws. There is no profit to be made.

Vampires can come forward with complaints directly to their local presiding council, or they can come straight to the High Council if they wish. But there have been no major incidents, aside from a little lighthearted drama.

I have a feeling it has to do with the examples I set in the early years of the council's existence. Of course, back in the day, public executions weren't so crass, and they were welcomed by the community. It also set the tone. Enough to sustain, never drain . Our motto has never changed since it was first written in stone.

The rules are enforced regardless of who you are. If you break them, you are punished as deemed necessary by the High Council.

Even though we shy away from public executions now, we still punish those who violate the rules, but our methods have shifted to more modern alternatives. If anything, they've become more ruthless with the things we've learned.

A coffin made from white ash trees can make a vampire feel like they are losing their mind when they're buried beneath the ground. Line it with deadly nightshade, and it gives them horrific hallucinations as they breathe in the air around them.

Think of it as adult vampire time-out. Except at the end of their imprisonment, they don't get to return to their life; they are expunged from existence.

Unfortunately, there are still vampires that challenge us, but they never win that battle. Peace is all we've ever wanted, and our laws allow us just that. We won't let anyone get in the way of protecting everything we've built. The chaos and rage those monsters crave is the reason my best friend was drained so long ago. They wanted to knock me off a peg, show me how powerless I was. So they took her, tortured her, assaulted her, and drained her, leaving her at my doorstep afterward like a sick gift.

I made them pay. Each and every one of them suffered horrifically for decades before I tore them limb from limb and burned their bodies, turning them to nothing but ash.

Their very remains are concreted in the large clock tower in the Barlowe. A reminder to any who wish to cross me.

I miss Genevieve every single day. But I will make sure that her life is remembered. She is immortal, like Greyson said, even if it's only in my memories. She is the reason I started hunting rogue vampires in the first place and created what is now the High Council. One of the reasons the Culling even exists.

In a way, if it weren't for her, I may not have ever seen Greyson again. My heart beats hard in my chest at the thought.

I've been so focused on keeping humans an arm's length away, for fear of making connections and losing another person I care for.

My heart has stayed in the shadows for so long. I've forgotten how colorful and warm the world can be. It's all because of Greyson.

I'm baffled when it comes to him. He hasn't had an easy life. He's worked hard for everything he's earned. I understand better than anyone that sometimes the life you think you should have couldn't be further from the life you're meant to live. After Genevieve was drained, I swore to myself that I would never put a human at risk of that again. It destroyed me, ripped my heart out of my chest completely. I lost such a big part of myself the day she died.

Her eyes flash in my mind, and I suck in a sharp breath at the haunting vision. She was the kindest soul. She didn't deserve to die simply for loving me. I won't let Greyson meet the same fate.

They can try to hurt them, but they will pay with their lives, never able to leave a scratch on his perfect face. I will obliterate them, turn them into nothing.

Greyson makes me feel like I can emerge from the cage I've locked myself in. I feel connected to him physically, even when we're apart. As if I can feel him breathe, sense his emotions, hear his words whispered in the wind, we are tethered to one another somehow.

At first, I'll admit that I thought it had to do with the feedings. Emotions can be magnified dramatically both for the human and the vampire, especially when the feelings already exist prior to the bite. But it can't create false emotions, only enhance them.

I've been drawn to Greyson since that first night in the bar. Even then, things happened that were unexplainable. Maybe we'll never find the answer or ever know why my energy is intertwined with his. Maybe there isn't an answer to discover at all.

But that is only one of the problems. Our arrangement ends tomorrow night. What am I going to do? What if he wants to leave?

After his drunken babble, I have a pretty good idea of how he feels about me, and as much as I'm scared to admit it, I don't want to lose him. He's the only person I've given pieces of myself to since Genevieve, and if he walks out, he's taking them with him.

Letting him stay is equally exciting and terrifying. But regardless of his choice, I won't let anyone hurt him. I'll keep him safe, whether from a distance or by his side.

As I pull into the long, winding driveway, I park next to Greyson's old, run-down car, remembering the gifts he got Lucy and me the other night. A laugh breaks past my lips.

Roses . I still can't believe he got me roses. The gesture and thought were sweet, but I can't stand the smell. I loved them when I was human, but as a vampire, they smell like rotting garbage. That's one part of vampire lore humans got right. We can't bear to be around that scent for too long. I love that he went out of his way for me, but I never want him to do it again.

Lucy, however, loves him for his generosity, happily accepting them. She's a bit of a spoiled princess, but to be fair, she deserves it. She's the sweetest little black kitty, and because I won't get to have her forever, I will make every day we have together extra special. And apparently, Greyson feels the same way with the four bags of toys and treats he got her.

As I walk up the steps of the house, the front door opens and Greyson steps out, wearing only black joggers and a backward cap. Holy Mother of Demons, I am never going to get used to seeing him.

I find it hard to believe that he truly flew under the radar all his life like he said because he's impossible not to notice. The kind of beauty and depth that people carve statues in honor of. Maybe I should add a large marble statue of Greyson to my collection of art, centering it in my foyer.

"Finally," he sighs with a smile tugging at his lips as he shuffles down the stairs to greet me.

Giggling as he leans down and kisses my forehead, I scoff. "I was only gone for two days."

He rolls his eyes. "Well, in the scheme of our time together, that's a lot."

My chest pains at the reminding thought that this could all come to an end tomorrow. "You're right. How can I possibly make it up to you?"

He smirks devilishly. "I have a few ideas."

Now it's me who's rolling my eyes. "I do need to feed again, especially since I didn't while I was gone."

"Were there no humans there willing to share?" he asks, offering his hand, which I happily accept, letting him guide me up the stairs.

"There certainly was." I pause, my gaze flicking to him as my cheeks warm. "But I have particular tastes."

"Mmm. Good to know." He pulls me inside and shuts the door before facing me and cocking his head to the side, exposing his jugular vein to me. "You better drink up, then."

Dropping my purse to the floor, I feel my fangs begging to descend. "You should at least sit down and be comfortable."

Clicking his tongue, he reaches forward, sliding his hands around my ass and lifting me up, wrapping me around his waist. "You're right. We should get comfortable."

Running my finger along his jaw, I tip his chin up, forcing him to look at me. His heavenly blue eyes lock onto mine, holding my stare with breathtaking intensity.

Parting my lips, I try to speak, but nothing comes out.

He walks us around the couch, lowering himself to the cushion as I continue to straddle his lap.

"What do you want to do on your last full day as my bloodling?"

He shifts my weight into one hand before cupping my face with the other, his eyes darkening. "For you to get your fill. For you to mark every inch of me."

My core flutters at the thought.

"I'm yours, Vivian," he groans. "Do with me as you wish."

Tilting my head to the side, I lean forward, slowly parting his lips with my tongue before dipping it inside of his mouth. "Mmm. I like the sound of that"

He grabs my hips, his fingers claiming my body with his strength as his tongue dances with mine.

My fangs burst through their sheath, dying to sink into his neck. My hips roll against his, every nerve in my body coming alive from his touch as we fall into a tantalizing rhythm. His hands take control of my body, guiding me exactly where he wants me, and I happily oblige.

His tongue runs across my fang, drawing a drop of blood, and the second it hits my tongue, I can't help but moan at how good he tastes.

Pulling away, he leans back on the couch. "Drink from me, baby."

His chest rises and falls fast, his abs constricting with each breath. It is quite the mouthwatering sight to see. A drum pounds in my ears, the blood rushing through his veins calling out to me.

Inching forward, I wet my bottom lip as I slide my hand along his jaw and cock his head to the side.

With pleasure.

In one swift movement, I lash out, sinking my fangs into that silky, soft skin, his blood gushing into my mouth with fervor. My body rocks against his as I cradle his head in my hand, sucking and lapping my tongue on his neck, devouring him.

"Fuck, why does it feel so damn good? " he growls, grinding his hips up against me, and I can tell exactly how good it's making him feel.

Part of the euphoria comes from the bite itself, a built-in sense of ecstasy to entice a willing human to want to come back for more. The other part has nothing to do with my fangs and everything to do with the way we feel about each other.

"Look at you, sucking me like a good little vampire." His voice is rough and ragged, sending relentless waves of pleasure to my core.

Grinding harder into him, I lap my tongue against his neck over and over, feeling goose bumps rise beneath his skin.

" Fuck, Vivian. "

My body is on fire right now, every single cell begging to be touched and caressed by his wandering hands. I want more, I need more of him. Now. Tomorrow. Forever.

Unlatching my fangs from his neck, I feel trails of blood run down my chin as I sit up and meet his hooded stare.

He raises his fingers, swiping up one line of warm blood from my chin before holding it in front of my mouth. "Suck it clean."

Yes, fucking, sir.

Taking his finger into my mouth, I savor every drop of his blood, closing my eyes as I slide it out of my mouth, the suction popping upon release.

"Mmm," he hums, sucking his bottom lip into his mouth.

Leaning forward, I'm desperate to claim his lips with mine.

DING DONG.

The doorbell sounds through the house. Who the fuck is interrupting this right now?

I spring off of Greyson, appearing by the door a second later. I can feel her energy before I even see her—it's Autumn.

Opening the door, I take a quick breath before warning her, "This better be important, Autumn. I was right in the middle of something."

She mockingly wipes her chin, smiling. "Yeah, I can definitely see that."

Pressing my lips together, I try to stop the laugh from breaking free, but I fail. Wiping the remaining blood from my chin, I clean my hand as I ask her, "What are you doing here?"

I sense her worry and hesitation, making me feel the same way, completely on edge from her sudden arrival.

"Spit it out," I urge her, desperately wishing I could read her mind.

"I think I might have figured it out—the tether between you two." She takes a shaky breath.

Greyson's hand slides around my waist, pulling me into his bare chest.

Her stare bounces between Greyson and me. "I can't believe I didn't think about it sooner. All of the signs were there…" She trails off before locking her gaze with mine, her eyes wide with disbelief. "This is going to sound crazy…but I think that you guys are the real life lamia et fatis sanguis ."

"What is that?" Greyson murmurs into my ear, but I don't even know how to respond because my jaw is on the floor.

It's impossible, it's a myth. A vampire legend as old as time itself. Lamia et fatis sanguis. A Latin term loosely translating to vampires and the blood of fate .