“Mhmm,” he whispered against her mouth. “Perhaps once, I would’ve believed you.”
A sharp fang pierced her bottom lip, and she gasped.
His hand tightened, and he murmured against her mouth, “But I know you, Therese. You don’t miss anyone. Your heart is as black as they come.”
He released her, licking a drop of blood as he pulled back.
“You know me so well.” She chuckled, the raspy sound tinged with shadows and the night itself. “I came for the Solstice. I heard Amalthea is throwing a party, and I didn’t want to miss it.”
Of the twelve Firsts, Amalthea was the most social. Her territory bordered the Black Sea, and she loved throwing elaborate get-togethers that often stretched for days.
It had been over a century since Therese’s last visit, but when she heard all the other Firsts would be present at the Winter Solstice celebration, she decided to journey north. After all, it wasn’t often one celebrated their two-thousandth year of immortality.
Before leaving, Therese had left her progenies in charge of her land. Titus and Jethro were twins she’d Made over a millennia ago, and they were more than capable of handling any problems that might arise during her absence.
It hadn’t happened often since Therese’s Making, but every once in a while, the humans decided to fight back against the ruling vampires.
There had been an attempted uprising three centuries ago, but she’d quickly squashed it by killing every mortal involved. There hadn’t been any signs of unrest since then, but one could never be too careful.
“Wonderful.” Preston flashed Therese a grin that would’ve had any number of women and men lining up to spend time in his bedchamber. “I look forward to celebrating the Solstice together.”
She grinned, shadows slipping from her palms. “As do I.”
“To immortality!”Amalthea raised a goblet of sparkling Faerie Wine in one hand, the other petting the naked Source kneeling on her right. The vampire reclined on a crimson settee, her gown little more than white strips of fabric hanging off her shoulders and falling between her legs.
Therese smiled and raised her glass, echoing the cheer with the other Firsts. They were scattered throughout the palatial room, Amalthea’s home the perfect location for such an extravagant celebration.
Black tapestries were pulled back from the floor-to-ceiling windows, letting the moon illuminate their party. During the day, the curtains hid the sun from view, allowing the vampires to celebrate for days. Crimson rugs covered the expansive tile floor, columns supported the roof, and human Sources and servants stood at attention against the walls, waiting to be called on.
The Twelve were scattered around the room. Some, like their host, were lounging, their perfect bodies on display as mere strips of cloth stood between them and nudity.
A few sat at tables, drinking Faerie Wine and gambling. Preston and Daphne were sharing a naked Source between them on the massive bed built into the middle of the floor, taking their pleasure while they drank. A human servant was brushing Therese’s hair while another massaged her calves and ankles.
Therese’s head was light as she sipped her Faerie Wine. They’d been celebrating for many nights, the Winter Solstice having come and gone several days ago. She’d long since lost count of how many Sources she’d enjoyed, the Faerie Wine mixing with blood and coating her reality in a haze.
She lifted her goblet only to find the cupempty.
That wouldn’t do.
Raising her hand to summon a servant, she stilled as she noticed the moonlight glistening off her fingers.
Had the light of the moon always made her fingers look so ethereal? Intrigued, she moved her hand to the left, then the right.
Fascinating.
Therese wiggled her fingers and marveled at the beauty of her long, manicured nails. How many necks had she held down with these gorgeous hands, drinking freely from their throats?
Stunning.
Therese wasn’t sure if seconds or minutes passed before she stopped staring at her lovely hand and summoned a server. The human girl filled her goblet and backed away quickly, keeping her gaze trained on the ground.
Good. Mortals didn’t deserve to make eye contact with vampires. They should be grateful to be in their presence.
After all, serving the Firsts was one of the greatest honors humans could ever aspire to. The Twelve had been blessed by Ithiar and Isvana themselves. They’d been given free reign over the land because they were the strongest and most beautiful beings ever to exist.
Therese waved off the servants doing her hair and massaging her.
“Can we get you anything else, My Lady?” the one with the hairbrush asked.