Chapter Four – Gavin
Paris. Gavin dressed in his favorite navy-blue suit, frowning as he did so. He and his retinue had arrived late the previous night and had been welcomed by Queen Monique's greeters and shown to these quarters. As soon as they were alone together, Aria had climbed into bed with him and slept with her head on his shoulder. He hadn't expected her to suddenly become so warm to him.
He was used to women wanting a quick bit of fun and going on their way. From the way she had reacted the first time he had drunk her blood and the conversation they'd had about her desire for sex, he expected the same to happen now. Not for her to climb into bed with him just to sleep, not for the smile to light up her face when he woke her the next morning. Had he made a mistake in thinking she just wanted the experience? What if she wanted more?
Maybe he was reading too much into this. After all, she had made it clear that she wasn't going to sleep with him unless he wiped out her father's debt. Maybe she was looking for extra cash. She was probably going to leave as soon as soon as they returned to his kingdom since her father's debt was paid now.
He'd miss her. But he'd get over it. He had been alone for centuries, other than the odd woman every now and then to take the edge off. He could survive another few centuries. He nodded, satisfied. She was just happy that she no longer had to stay with him.
Aria waited for him in the main room and smiled shyly. She wore an elegant blue number that was classy and stylish. He nodded at her as he left his rooms. He didn't bother checking to see if she followed, knowing that she would.
A small, bald vampire met him just outside the door and showed him to the queen's study, where they would be discussing their business. Monique was a dark-haired, sallow-faced woman with a temperament that was like arsenic-laced candy. Sweet and deadly. The study was draped in gold with red velvet-cushioned furniture. A wide smile crossed her face as Gavin entered the study.
"Queen Monique." Gavin bowed to her. "You are looking radiant as ever."
"And you." Monique giggled as she curtsied.
She had been only in her teens when she was turned into a vampire and had always used her youthful beauty to her advantage. Gavin never liked her. He had no choice but to do business with her, though. Her kingdom, seated around Paris, was almost as powerful as his own, and in the end, he had to interact with her far more than he would have liked. But such was being a ruler.
He took a seat across from the queen. Aria lingered at his elbow. He wanted to tell her to sit with them, but Monique was notorious in asserting her superiority over humans. In his own kingdom, he wouldn't stand for it. But he wasn't in his kingdom.
"So, this must be your newest little human chew toy," Monique said, looking Aria up and down. "I prefer the fatty ones, too. Their blood is always so sweet."
"Excuse me?" Aria's voice was a growl. "Did you just call me fat?"
"Aria. Not now." Gavin gave her a stern look. "Monique, I assume there is a reason why you asked me to come here."
"Ah, yes." The little vampire squeezed his knee. "And you were so good to come. I want to discuss a proposition to make our kingdoms stronger. Oh, not just our kingdoms, I should really clarify. It will strengthen our food supplies which will make us all stronger. We all know humans have been weakening over the years, and I have just the plan to bolster their stocks again."
Gavin frowned. He was interested in what Monique had to say, but he could also sense the fury rolling off of Aria. Perhaps he should send her off before the talks continued. Humans didn't like to be talked about as if all they were good for was blood. He turned towards Aria, intending to send her off, but Monique continued, oblivious.
"What we need is to control their breeding. The strong ones paired with strong ones, the weak ones—"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Aria exploded. "Controlling our breeding? We're not animals. You can't just decide to create a new breed of human. That's sick. You're sick."
Gavin gripped Aria's wrist and shook his head. "Be quiet. These matters do not concern you."
Aria's eyes narrowed at him. "They do concern me. If I went around saying that vampires should be cut up and ground into medicine, it would concern you. That's exactly what this little witch is doing."
"My, my," Monique said, her voice amused. "Is this how your subjects speak to you?"
Gavin got to his feet and pulled Aria in closer to him. "Do not speak again or I'll have you locked in your room."
She glowered back silently.
The king released her, turning back to the queen. "Your proposal is interesting. But I very much doubt it would work. The costs alone would be exorbitant, and there is simply no controlling humans to that extent. They have minds of their own, and if we vampires tried to implement such a program, we'd certainly have an open rebellion on our hands. They're sentient beings, not toys."
"Hmmm." Monique's eyes gleamed. She rang a crystal bell and leaned back. "I thought you might say that. So I took the liberty of selecting a mate for your little human here."
What? Gavin tensed. A hot feeling squeezed his chest, and he had to work to stop himself from snarling out at the queen. She smirked as the doors opened again. Two vampires led in a handsome, muscular man. He was dressed in little more than a loincloth, cuffs on his hands, his head bowed in submission. Monique stood and walked behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her gaze went to Aria and she smirked.
"Do you like my little pet here? You wouldn't mind breeding with him, would you?"
Gavin turned. Aria's eyes were wide, a pale flush in her cheeks, horror on her face. But was that all there was? Was there desire as well? Anger and jealousy flooded him. He seized Aria around the waist and pulled her towards the door. Monique rose a brow at him, and he snarled at her.
"This conversation is over."
Aria was silent as he headed back towards their room. She had said she wanted to go see some of the famous Paris sights, but after that, he was inclined to just take her home. He didn't need to deal with this. The anger built the further they got from Monique's study.
When they were back in their rooms, he turned on Aria. "What were you doing?"
"I was calling her out for her—"
"I meant with him." He narrowed his eyes. "I saw the way you were ogling him."
Aria blinked. She stepped back from him. "You're angry with me because that… woman pulled out a man to breed me with?"
"Humans are ruled by their hormones—"
"Don't even start." Aria put her hand on his chest and shook her head. The pale flush that had been in her cheeks darkened. "I don’t go around sleeping with every person I think is attractive. And don't you dare get mad at me for something somebody else did. I don’t need that in my life."
"You and I have an agreement," Gavin said, ignoring her words. "You belong to me—"
Smack! He didn’t even see her hand until it slapped across his face. Gavin jumped, startled.
A look of horror flashed over Aria's face, but she quickly schooled it away. She stepped back from him. "I don't belong to you. I belong to me. And if I want to have sex with some over-buffed caveman, I will. You don't own me!"
Gavin opened his mouth, but she turned on her heel. She marched away from him, head held high. An awful, sick feeling sank into his stomach. He wanted to go after her but didn't know what to say.
What does it matter? She's leaving as soon as we get home.
He turned away and repeated that to himself. It was true. He didn't own her. And it was a good thing, too. He didn't need someone that temperamental and hot-headed in his employ. So she had good blood. He could find a million others like her who would be more than willing to be with him and not demand anything back.
He didn't need her… He closed his eyes, breathing deeply to calm his mind. I don't need her.