CHAPTER 35

Vita

LIVIA HAD LEFT A special outfit with Vita, one that Renatus wanted her to wear to his celebration this evening. The most beautiful one yet.

And the most risqué.

When she slipped into the dress, the sight startled her, unsure how she could wear something like it in public. As black as the night, with a neckline that cut so deep it almost grazed her stomach. Two silken bands—red like the blood that had dripped from Renatus' lips—spared her from exposure, circling under her bust and around her waist. The straps of the dress tied at her neck, leaving her back uncovered, and long slits ran up each of her legs, threatening to reveal all with every swish.

Vita was having a difficult time focusing as she paced the room. Livia had instructed her to stay put until she was called upon, and the hour grew late, her candles melting to stumps. What celebration did Renatus have planned, and why had he invited Verian?

Butterflies fluttered in her stomach at the thought of the two of them.

Last night…

Last night had been unexpected, but not unwelcome. The thrill of being on her knees in front of Verian had only heightened when Renatus made his presence known. It shouldn't have surprised her. Not with the erotic gratification she'd felt when he watched her with Petran and Aurora.

The compulsion to watch and be watched—two things Vita had not known lie dormant within her—blossomed with exposure. The only way it could have been better? If Renatus had gotten on his knees with her and helped her please Verian.

Gods. These thoughts she was having… they were brazen, frustrating .

In more ways than one.

Renatus had made up his mind, been clear with his intentions. Imagining him in bed with her and Verian, intimate in ways other than just sex, was fruitless. He wanted her body, and nothing more, an arrangement she had a difficult time accepting. A casual dalliance with a man only interested in sex was one thing, but she'd gotten her heart involved, as much as she tried to deny it.

A light knock at the door stirred her from her thoughts.

"Come in," she muttered and Aurora entered, an absolute vision in dark blue.

Vita gaped at the woman, the skirt of her dress barely meeting her mid thigh as sheer fabric floated over her curves. She was so bare , the bust of the dress just covering her breasts, though her shoulders and neck remained exposed.

"Are you ready, dear?"

Vita was not ready.

Aurora had surprised her, leading her down a hallway she hadn't explored, through a door with a spiral staircase, taking them down, down, down.

When they emerged into a dimly lit room, she had clutched Aurora's arm as shock tore through her. She'd expected some sort of dinner party, but clearly her assumption had been wrong.

A feast of another kind was taking place, one marked by flesh and desire.

Aurora laughed as Vita tried to catch her breath, that which had been stolen by the sights in front of her. Moans and groans reverberated through the room, echoing off the high ceilings, and it took a few moments for her to truly understand what she was seeing.

All manner of people, humans, half elves, and elves, engaging in… well, engaging in pleasure.

But not the pleasure that Vita was used to. No, it wasn't just the exhibitionist nature of the acts that shocked her to her core.

As Aurora led her through the dungeon—no better word for it—lit low with candlelight, she tried to focus on one thing at a time.

One of the High Consul's thralls fucking a woman from behind as she writhed with delight, hanging from chains that extended to the ceiling. His fangs sunk into her neck, drinking from her as he thrust mercilessly. The woman squealed, twisting as she clung to the chains wrapped around her wrists.

A man was strapped to a large wooden X, one limb securely attached to each arm, another man hitting him with a flail. The restrained man cried out with each impact as a thrall ran her fingers over his hard cock. A devious smile curled the woman's lips, the man's stomach tensing with her too-gentle strokes.

A whimpering woman hung from her ankles, legs splayed wide as another woman plunged a smooth, phallic-shaped object into her dripping cunt. As Vita's mouth watered, the unrestrained woman tilted her head back and sharp fangs appeared. She sank her teeth into the hanging woman's inner thigh, still unrelenting with the faux phallus.

Ropes and rods restrained, appendages and hooks penetrated. A writhing mass of bodies. Vita's attention focused as she realized their destination.

Renatus.

He sat on a silver throne, reveling in the debauchery before him. He was dressed simply in his typical attire, elegant white shirt and black pants, his legs crossed. Petran stood behind him, a sly smile on his face as the women approached.

"What do you think of my gathering?" Renatus asked, ruby eyes glimmering with mirth.

Vita tried to calm her ragged breaths, calm the burning in her core at the sight of the wanton acts.

She cleared her throat to speak. "I would expect nothing less from you."

That earned her a chuckle, which curled her lips into a smile despite her best intentions.

"Come, sit with me, darling." His lustrous voice washed over her like a caress of silk, doing little to quell the fire. "Unless you'd rather join the others."

Aurora gave her a gentle nudge, and she stumbled towards the throne. Renatus held out a hand so she could take it, then pulled her onto his lap in a swift movement. An icy finger grazed the bare skin of her thigh, the thin stretch of fabric barely covering her modesty.

Funny, to be concerned with modesty in a place such as this.

Petran moved from behind the throne, taking Aurora's hand and planting a sweet kiss on the back. She beamed, then led him into the indulgence beyond, quickly getting lost in the crowd.

"You look beautiful," Renatus whispered in her ear, prickling the sensitive skin on her neck.

Her neck, where just a few evenings ago, he had plunged his fangs into her. Drank from her.

Marked her.

When she turned to face him, there was something in his eyes, something beyond the lust and sarcasm she had become so accustomed to. But it was gone in a flash.

"Thank you," she murmured, a flush spreading on her face and neck.

"You don't wish to join the revelry?" He ran his fingers across her thigh, sending chills up her spine.

Vita circled her arms around his neck, eyes narrowed. "Don't you?"

A sharp laugh punctured the moans and whimpers, the smirk returning to his face. "I've had more than my share of fun… enough to last many lifetimes. But you, my dear, you should enjoy yourself."

She bit her lip, not at all fooled by his lack of subtlety. "Why? Do you really wish to see me strung up by my arms? Tied to a cross while someone tortures me?"

A low groan rumbled in his chest, and Renatus tightened his grip on her. He pressed cold lips to her neck in a gentle kiss, and it took everything in her power to resist a moan, to resist grinding down onto the erection she felt pressed against her ass.

"Vita, I can think of nothing more I'd like to see than you writhing in pleasure."

His tongue brushed along her neck and a whimper escaped her. Fangs scratched against the tender flesh and she held her breath, certain he would bite her like last time.

But no, he just pressed another kiss to her neck, then one on her cheek, the moment too sweet, too much. She needed space, stifled by the scent and sounds of sex, the icy grip of the High Consul, the confusing signals he continued to send her.

Vita pushed herself out of his arms and his brow quirked in question. She opened her mouth, then closed it, no words coming to her.

Instead, she turned, rushing down a darkened corridor jutting out from the main room. The collective moans faded as she hurried down the hall, not sure where she was going, but desperate to get away. Emotion welled in her throat, a knot that wouldn't go away.

Why must he always play with her like this?

She stumbled, almost tripping over a person seated against the stone wall. It took her a moment to realize who it was.

Gaius.

The thrall grinned up at her, nodding to the spot next to him. Vita took a big gulp of air, glancing around the empty corridor before taking a seat on the hard ground.

"Are you alright, Domina?" he asked, examining her.

His auburn hair was a mess, though his red eyes were calm, pupils contracted.

"Yes, of course. I'm fine. It's just… a lot to take in."

He turned away with a chuckle. "That is not untrue."

She shot him a glance. "I'm surprised you're not out there…"

"I was. Needed a bit of a break, some time to recover."

Now she noticed his shirt, mussed and incorrectly laced, the satisfied smile that curled his lips.

Silence permeated the darkened hall before Gaius spoke up. "Thank you. For before, with Renatus. I… wouldn't have killed you, but it was wrong to try to drink your blood. I'm still working on my control."

A warmth pooled in her chest at the gratitude, though it was not necessary. When she didn't speak, he continued.

"He's really not so bad, you know. He saved my life. I… can never repay him for that, for what he did for me. What he's still doing for me." He turned to Vita, ruby eyes blazing. "I should be dead, but Renatus gave me a second chance."

The words echoed through the hall and in her head. She'd never considered how his thralls came to be, that he may have done it to save them.

She placed her hand on Gaius' and he jolted, surprised, before his face softened into a smile. "He enjoys your company, you know. In all the years I've been here, he's never brought someone to the palace. Someone like you."

A mortal guest.

No, the only mortals who seemed to grace the High Consul's presence were Aurora, Petran, and the servants. Still, the thought that he enjoyed her company, beyond the teasing and fucking… it was difficult to imagine.

Footsteps sounded from the far end of the hallway, and Vita squinted, struggling to see in the dim light. A servant, one she recognized from around the palace, stopped in front of them, looking down at her.

"Domina, your friend has arrived."

"Verian!" Vita couldn't resist a shout as she spotted him in the very center of the… celebration .

He had to drag his eyes away from a couple having sex, his mouth agape with shock.

When she reached him, he pulled her into a hug, and she could feel his heart pounding in his chest.

He pulled away, brows furrowed as he glanced about the room. " What is going on here?"

"Apparently a typical High Consul party. Drusus wasn't wrong about the rumors of debauchery." Vita followed his gaze to the man still strapped to the wooden X, still writhing in agony from the denied orgasm. "I don't know half these people, though. Some of them are Renatus' thralls."

Verian took a gulp of air as his stare pulled to another sight. Again, she turned to see what had his eyes so wide, but snorted a laugh as she realized who it was.

Aurora and Petran.

More specifically, Aurora fucking Petran, a faux phallus strapped around her pelvis with leather bindings. Petran was on all fours while she kneeled behind him, thrusting just as a man would.

"I did not know that was something people did," Verian murmured, clearly enamored with the view in front of him.

This was new to her as well.

Petran must have sensed their gaping stares, turning his head to them with a grin. He reached between his legs, stroking his hard cock in time with Aurora's thrusts. With a crack, she slapped his ass, hard enough to leave a red imprint, and he just groaned as she reprimanded him.

"No touching until I say so." Her words were harsh, but Vita could hear the affection underneath it all.

Aurora winked at them as she continued to plunge into Petran, who moaned with each thrust.

"Perhaps we should speak with Renatus…" Vita muttered, trying to drag Verian's attention back to her.

The wide-eyed stare transformed into a mischievous smile as he cupped his hands around her cheeks, tangling his fingers in her dark hair.

"So many interesting things I'd like to do to you," he whispered, his lips close to hers. He paused, as if pondering whether to continue. "And some I think I'd like you to do to me…"

She bit her lip into a grin, then let out a chuckle. Despite the madness occurring around them, she had to admit the thought excited her. Trying new things with Verian. And perhaps with Renatus as well, even if it was only sex to him.

Renatus.

She glanced his way, a pull at her chest telling her to go to him. Did Verian feel it too? He was staring in the same direction as her, eyes glued to the High Consul, smirking as he sat on his throne.

Beckoning them.

They obeyed the call, and as they approached, a sense of foreboding flooded her, every nerve tingling with anticipation, as if something were about to go horribly wrong.

"Enjoying yourself, Verian?" The words were as sibilant as if a snake had hissed them.

"Y-Yes, High Consul," he replied, bowing deeply.

Renatus stood now, just about eye to eye with Verian. The grin on his face bordered on cruel, and Vita was about to step between them when he spoke.

"Dear Verian, tell me the truth. Tell me everything ."

Verian went stiff, as if clenching each muscle in his body. His hands gripped into fists at his sides, teeth gritted with tension, a battle waging through him. Vita knew what was happening. There was a power that Renatus held over them, held over anyone he came in contact with. Just as he'd done to her at the Aonalia Feast, and to Drusus at Ad Noctua.

Compelling them to spill their secrets.

"I want Vita… I love Vita. I love her more than any person in the city, any person I've ever known. I would do anything for her, die for her." The words were hissed through gritted teeth, though she knew they were true.

They had to be. Vampiric compulsions made sure of it.

Renatus continued to smirk, though he glanced at Vita before returning his gaze to Verian. "What else?"

"I-I want you, High Consul. Want Vita between you and me, want to please you, obey you. I want to be on my knees for you, want you to fuck me, want Vita to fuck me. I would do anything for you, for both of you."

Fire raged through her as tears pooled in the corners of Verian's eyes. He didn't want to say those things, not to Renatus and not to all the people in this room. Gods, he'd only just told her about his interest in men, and they'd been best friends for years.

"What a sweet boy you are," Renatus cooed, running his hand over Verian's cheek. "Such a submissive little pet, just like my dear Vita. Should we tell some of your guard friends what you'd like to do to me and see what they think?"

Despite the tears spilling down Verian's face, he seemed to lean into the touch, which only infuriated Vita even further. He had feelings for Renatus, who was choosing to take advantage of them, just like he'd done the same to her.

Playing with them.

"Enough," she growled, tearing his hand away from Verian.

He didn't appear surprised when he glanced her way, just a pained smiled plastered on his pale face. With a final glare, Vita grabbed Verian's arm, dragging him away from Renatus.

No more games.

Verian didn't question it as she pulled him through the room, ignoring the continued scenes of debauched euphoria. She didn't even bother to look for Petran and Aurora, just dragged him up the stairs and towards the front door.

"Where are we going?" he finally asked, mumbling as if still partially under the High Consul's spell.

"I don't know," she replied through gritted teeth. "Anywhere but here. I'm done with him."

He stopped, shaking his head. "Done? You're leaving?"

With a groan, she turned back to him, still clutching his hand. "Yes! I can't stay here anymore… with him . This has all just been a silly game. You don't matter, I don't matter. None of us do! And I've had enough."

They stood in the entryway, the heavy wooden door and a confused servant the only things standing in their way.

"You don't want to grab your belongings?" Verian asked, concern etched in the timbre of his voice.

"No," Vita said quietly, then turned and tugged on his arm once more.

He reluctantly acquiesced, letting her drag him through the door and into the dark night.

What did she even have worth taking? Her fairy stories? Foolish tales for little girls, of love and romance and all manner of senseless things. No, it was time to grow up, time to start over and stop expecting more than others were willing to give.

Power welled in her body, and she realized it was happening. A surge. It had been weeks since one had come over her, not since before Aurora's lessons began.

She paused in the middle of the bridge, releasing Verian's hand so she could clench hers together in tight fists. The flames of magic coursing through her body only ignited her anger further.

Vita was mad. Mad at Renatus, mad at herself, mad at the world.

Power and fury cascaded over her, tingling her skin with electric tremors. Finally, when she could take it no longer, she let out a bloodcurdling scream and threw out her arms, the flames coming close to overwhelming her. Two bolts of lightning shot from her hands, hitting two different flaming torches and turning them to dust.

And then, a blessed chill as the power waned, Vita sighing a deep breath.

"Are you alright?" Verian asked, a tentative hand at her shoulder.

His brows were threaded with concern, and she let him pull her into a hug, taking in the scent of mint and the warm embrace. They stood there for a few moments in the middle of the bridge, finding comfort in each other's arms.

It was over.

She was done with Renatus, done with the palace and the thralls. She didn't know what she'd do now, but at least she was free. And Verian was with her, loved her as she loved him. Everything would be alright.

She tried to believe the things she told herself, but deep in her heart she wondered if she'd ever truly be able to rid her thoughts of the High Consul's fiery gaze, his icy touch.

"Let's go to the tavern," Vita whispered in Verian's ear and he laughed, that hearty chuckle she so loved to hear.