“Lucien, why the fuck did you do that?” Castor asked in outrage. “Do you realize how difficult that’s going to make your life? You just told them you’re in a relationship with a vampire! They’re going to examine you to see if he marked you and if you’ve been feeding him your blood.”
“It was better than the alternative of you going to jail. All the evidence points to you killing those vampires in Nevermourn right now. Your jeep has been spotted there and the killer uses dark magic with fire, one of your specialties.”
“I know that! But you didn’t need to tell them that you’re lovers with Sebastian. I could’ve done that myself since my family wouldn’t murder me over it!” Castor paced around in a circle. “Holy hell, your folks aren’t going to brush over this. You’ve not only admitted to being gay but in a relationship with a vampire.”
“If I may chime in,” Sebastian spoke up. “Why did you do that?”
“They needed something scandalous to shift the blame from Castor,” Lucien explained. “Something like this will stir up a lot of commotion. The Cromwell’s come from respected generations of wizards, and if their eldest son’s fucking a vampire he tarnishes the family name.”
“I tasted your blood,” Sebastian said, voice croaking.
Castor’s murderous glare sent chills down his spine.
“In my defense, I needed our love to seem real.” Lucien raised his hands in mock surrender. “They would’ve realized I was lying if I didn’t do it. Castor would’ve been hauled off to their jail cell.”
“Alright, so now what?” Castor folded his arms across his chest, rage smoldering in his dark eyes.
“We need to take another trip back to Nevermourn, but we’ll have to wait until the Supernatural Council quits snooping around,” Lucien replied. “Right now, they’re going to keep a close eye on all three of us. Especially you, Sebastian.”
“Why me?” Sebastian frowned. “If vampires are being slaughtered like sheep, wouldn’t it make more sense to consider me a potential victim?”
Lucien shook his head. “Probably not. They’re only investigating the unnatural deaths now because he killed someone important to them. I’d assume it’s someone on the Sanguine Council in your district, but it’s possible they had a vampire informant working for them.”
“No way in hell would a vampire betray his own people for that reprehensible wizard council,” Sebastian spat. “If anything, they’re working both sides and getting intel for us.”
“Please, don’t argue with me on this.” Lucien sighed. “You’d be surprised how easy it is to influence a vampire.”
Sebastian parted his lips, as if struggling to form the words he desired. He frowned, rubbing at his neck as if that would loosen his vocal cords. Confusion crossed his face as he stared blankly at Lucien, who realized what had happened.
His blood controlled him. Just like the Cromwell grimoire claimed it would. Was it really that easy to manipulate them? Seeing how Sebastian still felt awareness of his constraint, it must take quite a lot of blood and power to control them entirely.
“Sebastian, close your eyes,” Lucien instructed.
The way he struggled to force his eyes to remain wide open stirred up something sickening in the pit of his stomach. No wizard should obtain that sort of control over anyone. Sebastian remained frozen in place, eyes closed, unable to speak his mind.
“What the hell?” Castor came up beside him, expression of both amazement and disturbance. “Release him from that. Right now.”
Lucien nodded. “Open your eyes, Sebastian. Speak what’s on your mind.”
Strangled coughs sent him reeling back into pairs of robes. Smoldering hatred pierced his eyes as he glared at Lucien, as if he desired to sink his fangs into his neck and rip him to shreds. Lucien didn’t mean to force him under his control. He never learned how to control such a power, and he didn’t ever want to.
“What the fuck did you do?” Sebastian snarled, baring his fangs.
“I’m sorry.” Lucien cautioned a step closer. “I forgot that such a power existed, I’ve never actually used it before. I thought it took a lot more than you drinking my blood to activate it.”
“You’re one of those?” Sebastian shook his head. “I should’ve known. Your blood. It was different.”
“You drank some of it?” Lucien asked, then in a softer voice, “All of it?”
Shame washed over Sebastian as he nodded. “I couldn’t help myself. I just thought it was because of your rare blood type. It’s like the most delicious, exorbitant meal to our kind. How could I resist?” Bloodlust twinkled in his eyes, yet he held his resolve. “Do you think someone else is using the same ability on other vampires?”
“It’s possible,” Lucien said. “It would explain their need for using them so often, but I don’t understand why they kill them. Unless they don’t have enough blood to keep feeding them? From what I’ve read, it wears off pretty fast. Give it at least the rest of the night and these restraints on you will vanish, I promise.”
“Will you be okay here?” Castor asked, directing his attention to Sebastian.
“I’ll be fine, don’t worry,” Sebastian assured him.
“I’m sorry for all this shit. I never would’ve let you come here if I’d known this would happen.” Castor headed for the door, yanking it open. “Mom’s expecting me for supper tonight, but I’ll come check on you tomorrow morning.”
“Hey, do you think your folks will mind if I stay the night?” Lucien asked. “I’m sure the Council has already informed my mom about the vampire ordeal, and I’d rather not return home for that lecture.”
“I think you’re better off going home,” Castor replied. “Or, better yet, stay here with Sebastian. Just keep the doors locked.”
Before Lucien had a chance to respond, Castor took off down the sidewalk. Lucien watched from the glass windowpane until his body faded into the evening, leaving no trace of him behind. Guilt twisted in painful knots amid his chest. He’d royally screwed up.
“Don’t worry,” Sebastian said. “He’ll be back tonight. Just wait.”
Lucien frowned. “How do you know?”
“Simple. Castor doesn’t trust me to be alone with you.”
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