Oh, for fuck's sake. I am tired of everyone talking about me like I’m not here. Three pairs of startled eyes land on me as I pull Sebastian to my mouth and thrust my tongue against his. Losing only a microsecond in surprise, he pulls me to him, wrapping his arms around me and kissing me back with great abandon. I hear both my sire and my charge growl in protest at my actions.
“I swear to the old gods, Sebastian, if you are influencing her in any way, I will kill you where you sit.”
I pull back and say, “He isn’t. It’s not him. It’s me. It’s us. It’s all of us together. Me, with my sire, my sibling, and my charge. A complete set.” They all look at me, dumbfounded, like the thought had never even occurred to them. I have to wonder then if CK and Sebastian have never done this before. That pleases me… a lot!
“Lizzie, don’t do this,” Devon warns me. “You know he won’t understand.”
“Don’t talk her out of it if she wants it,” Sebastian snaps at him.
“Fuck you,” Devon says rudely. “You aren’t a part of this.”
“Quit it. Both of you,” CK snaps in exasperation.
At this point, I have had enough. Huffing in frustration, I climb off Sebastian and go through to the bedroom, slamming the door behind me. I just need to get away.
N ow that I’m fully back down to Earth, my self-loathing is returning. I pull on a robe and curl up on the bed.
CK finds me a few moments later and hands me a glass of wine.
“You had me worried there for a minute,” he says quietly.
“I know. I’m sorry. I got caught up in the moment and I was tired of you all talking about me like I wasn’t even there.”
“Yes, that tends to happen in these situations,” he says dryly.
“What do you mean?”
“When everyone is fighting over you.”
Oh.
“Let’s get you in the bath and you can have your talk with Devon.”
“Thank you.”
He stands, but I pull him back down, my face serious, “What did you mean about him influencing me?”
“I told you he can be very persuasive,” he says vaguely.
“Magickly persuasive?” I press.
“Yes. I would rather not discuss his…ability. It has been the bane of my existence, cleaning up the messes he leaves, trailing in his wake.”
Hm, interesting. “How did he get it?”
“He always had it. It increased tenfold when I turned him. I mean it, Aefre. If you are alone with him, don’t let him pull you under.”
Too late, I think ruefully.
“Bath time,” he says, pulling me up. “I will bring you some blood. You desperately need to drink. We have taken too much from you today.”
I nod gratefully and let him lead me into the bathroom and settle me into a bath full of bubbles. I sink under the water briefly, letting the fragrant water soak into my hair, then I surface. I lean back in bliss and close my eyes.
“I can come back later if you want to sleep,” Devon says, leaning against the doorway with crossed arms.
“No, I have missed you. Come here and never leave me again,” I pout at him and he chuckle
s.