Defying the King: A Vampire Paranormal Romance by Avelyn Mae

Author:Avelyn Mae [Mae, Avelyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-07-26T00:00:00+00:00

Part II

27

Elara

“I can’t believe brother shed blood...” Aric’s voice was a low growl, barely audible over the hiss of the Vimic heirloom jug as I poured the crimson liquid into his small cup. He held it with a tremor, his hand slightly too high, just out of reach for my hungry gaze.

This artificial blood, a concoction known to be alluring to my kind, held a dangerous temptation. Even with my hybrid blood, the urge to taste, even just a sip, was a constant battle.

Years of struggle, years Mom wouldn’t even believe.

Her position on the council of elders (witches) had secured a potion to suppress my thirst, but I’d also developed my own, a secret spell that kept the cravings at bay. As long as I maintained the ritual, Mom remained blissfully unaware, and I plan to keep it that way. The thought of her wrath if she discovered the truth sent a shiver down my spine.

Now, with the damn fucking power restricting bangles Mom had clamped onto my wrist, the fight for control felt even more desperate. Screw you, Mom.

With a sigh, I finally managed to quell the urge to snatch the vial of artificial blood from Aric’s outstretched hand.

Resisting the temptation to indulge in its crimson allure was becoming a daily struggle, especially with his brothers’ arrival.

Apparently, it was the annual gathering of the Princes of Sin, excluding Lord Draven, who preferred solitude.

These gatherings, I gathered, were more than just family reunions. They were indulgences in the most decadent sense, fueled by the blood of their servants. Bound by a truce, they refrained from human blood unless it was offered as a consequence of sin.

But with a scarcity of vampires and an abundance of human servants, the line between indulgence and transgression often blurred.

“...And yet he doesn’t want us to drink human blood,” Aric grumbled, his complaint a familiar annoyance. Part of working for him meant enduring his whining. Normally, I wouldn’t be found lugging the heirloom jug around, pouring artificial blood for him and his brothers. He had other servants for that. But here I was, thanks to my mother’s latest punishment.

She’d decided to get tough, and that apparently included me acting like a servant.

Even though I was a servant, I did receive special treatment.

My mother, a powerful witch and member of the council, saw to that.

And then there was my “little” connection to Lord Draven. We talked, occasionally, but it wasn’t much.

Aric, on the other hand, showered me with wealth, even though I didn’t need it.

So, yes, I received special treatment. Sometimes. Until my mother decided otherwise. And screw her again for that.

I offered a small, hesitant nod, unsure of how to respond. I thought his comments were directed at his brothers since they were present.

Heavens know I loathed these gatherings, where the Princes of Sin indulged in their macabre rituals with my mother under the guise of supervision. My only solace was distance, especially from... a sigh escaped my lips Xul.

Aric drained the cup of artificial blood in a single, forceful gulp.

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