Read Under the Cover of Night :: They Smell like Ham

"As you can see, humans, especially trained soldiers, are not to be underestimated. Royal vampires will not only have their own brood, but they will additionally have a collection of human familiars, trained to take out new brood such as yourself," Emer explained casually as she approached Rory.

Tension was high as she came toward him and the others, sword and shield at her sides. Rory gently lowered sergeant Han, but Stevenson kept his blade in his neck as a precaution.

Benjamin let out a low growl. He might not be the one to throw the first punch, but seeing the glisten of red liquid running down Rory's neck stirred a cold anger in him he didn't know he had.

His neck itched, as if it were his skin being cut. He wanted to sprint forward and break Lieutenant Steven's arm for harming his lover, but he refrained, knowing Emer would cut him down before he even got close.

As Han retreated behind sergeant Ivonav, Stevenson gradually lowered his knife. Sergeant Ivonav kept her weapon aimed at Rory, and Benjamin found himself remembering the wraiths crying out and wriggling in pain as they'd been shot. He wondered what kind of special bullet sat ready in her chamber.

Rory cautiously moved away until he was closer to Emer, who turned and headed back to the sparring arena where Benjamin stood and finally relaxed. Emer continued as if nothing had happened, "Each day I shall push you. I will challenge you to be faster and smarter. You will bleed and you will hunger. Until I am confident in your self-control, you will train with me. After our training is complete, you will begin training with our unit. Lieutenant Stevenson and his unit have been assigned to us, not only as our jailers but also as our protectors. You will learn to work as a team and to fight to the death to protect each member of this team, or you will be no use to this organization or to me."

Benjamin felt the warning and reprimand, even if it wasn't exactly directed at him. Regardless of who was in trouble, Emer's stare cut through both of them.

Emer resumed their training. Rory was slower, but more focused this time, while Benjamin still struggled to stay away from her blade. Emer was just too fast and he had no idea how to avoid her.

After training, they were escorted to the locker room to shower and change. Benjamin did his best not to watch Rory and Emer, wanting so badly to reach out and touch one of them. Unfortunately, trying not to get aroused, he'd gotten hard. Naked and unable to hide his erection, he kept showering till it went down on its own. He focused instead on the red swirls of blood that collected with the soap suds by the drain, wondering if there was some message there.

Afterward, they all dressed silently and Benjamin struggled with their coldness toward one another. When Emer was not training them, she was either silent or sneaking into their cells to play her games with them. He didn't understand how they could all be so intimate and then so distant. What were they to each other?

He knew they were bonded beyond physical limits, he couldn't leave now if he wanted to, but why did they sleep separately and leave so much unsaid?

Emer walked them back to their cells and left without a goodbye.

After they'd been fed the largest meal they'd eaten yet, Benjamin sat down and leaned against the wall of his cell beneath his viewing window. He heard some shuffling from across the hall and imagined Rory doing the same.

"I think another minute after you'd gone for the soldiers, I would have too," Benjamin offered, knowing Rory could hear him.

Rory didn't reply, but Benjamin continued anyway, "I can't believe how I think of other people now. How I want to hurt them, how much I wanted to see Lieutenant Stevenson's insides today."

"They smell like ham," Rory commented.

"Right? It's so fucked up," Benjamin replied, though he found himself smiling.

Unlike Rory, Benjamin had been with men before. He had always been attracted to both men and women. He preferred women, but sex with men was just as pleasurable. He wished he and Rory could be together now, fucking or not, he just wanted to hold him. He wasn't sure Rory would feel the same, however.

Benjamin found himself missing Rory's taste in his mouth and wanting to feel Rory's body against him.

"Do you miss your family?" Rory asked him.

"I do. I have a pretty big family to miss. My mother's Indian and like her parents before her, had a fuck-ton of children. I'm one of five, with twelve cousins and counting," he replied.

"Your father's not Indian?"

Benjamin shook his head, even though Rory couldn't see him, "No, he's white, but he was happy to help with the baby-making."

He heard Rory huff in amusement. "Do you miss your family?"

"I miss one or two people. I didn't have the best parents," Rory replied.

"Who do you miss the most?"

"My sister, but it looks like I'll miss her forever. She died in a car accident a year ago."

Benjamin turned, as if he could stare through the wall and see Rory's pain. He moved his hand up and pressed it against the cold concrete. "I'm sorry."

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Published by Raven's Hollow Art and Publishing

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