I waited for what felt like a really long time, making me become more anxious, when the door finally opened and their in the doorway stood my blood match. My blood soul.
My first thought was, oh my goodness he is gorgeous. My match was much taller than me. I was about 5’4” and this man was easily 6’1” or 6’2” with really broad shoulders. And he looked to be in very good shape. He was wearing a very nice buttoned down, long sleeved shirt with black slacks, and his dark brown hair appeared to be slicked back. He had a strong jawline, with deep brown almost black eyes. He had an older, rougher look to his skin which was darker than mine.
The other thing I noticed was he was dressed like an aristocrat. That couldn’t be possible!
I was shocked, and by his expression, I couldn’t tell if he was shocked too, or there was more. He had a small smile.
In a gravelly, husky voice that made my insides melt, he said, “Hello Odessa. I am Devareaux Hautbois.”
My heart was hammering in my chest, and I could feel drool start to pool in my mouth.
I stuttered out, “Ummm hello. Nice to meet you.” Oh my goodness, that sounded so lame.
He smirked at me, making me flush all over my body.
“Come in and let us get to know each other so we can decide when you will move with me.”
I felt my heart flutter.
“Move with you?”
A look flickered across his face for a moment before he schooled it. “Well, of course. You are to become my blood bride.”
I felt my heart flutter again. His blood bride. I liked the sound of that.
“Yes, yes I do believe that would be the right thing.”
I had no idea what I was saying, but he chuckled and led me into the room.
Today was going to be the start of a new life.
Chapter 3
Devareaux’s POV
I was expecting to be disappointed even further with my blood match when she arrived, but I was floored when I opened the door to my soon-to-be blood bride. She was definitely low blood born, but she was exquisite in a soft and delicate way. She had the most beautiful lighter skin tone with the darkest black hair I had ever seen. And it was so long and luscious. I literally wanted to run my hands through it. And her scent! My mouth was watering as soon as I opened the door. Her scent was so strong, it almost knocked the wind out of me. I still wasn’t sure what to make of the extreme differences in our status. As far as I knew, this had never occurred before. A high blood born and a low blood born? What would the aristocrats say when I took her out in public?
I would delay that for now, until I could determine what this all meant. For now, I would get to know Odessa and have her move in with me. It was how it was done. She seemed as shocked as I had been about the status difference, but she appeared to care less about it than I did. But then again, she came from poverty and minimalism, so of course she wouldn’t mind the match. I was the one who was negatively affected by being matched to a low blood born. I would tell Maman and Father later. I’m not sure how they would take the news of this matching. Or even my younger sister, Estella. I needed time to determine how to proceed.
I wanted so badly to sink my teeth into my blood bride. Her scent was hard to resist. I would be sure to have the legaldocuments signed before we left the Facility. I had never heard of a blood scent being this strong. I didn’t know if this was normal or not, but I was starting to wonder if it was. The blood provider had reacted against the norm towards my reaction. I would have to ask him later.
We talked for a while, as I learned Odessa had worked two different jobs to meet her basic needs. I had never known anyone from the low blood born level, never really engaged with them. It was not done. My bride was a hard worker as she mentioned a second job so she could use the money to afford small luxuries. It made my skin crawl. I knew the low blood borns lived minimally, but this sounded even worse than I had been led to believe. But the again, I never asked. My father, mother, and even society at large talked down about low blood borns, like they deserved to be where they were in the status chain. I was starting to to wonder if that was accurate.
When the provider came to the meeting room with some documents to review, I asked to speak to him privately. The provider seemed on edge, but nodded. We stepped out for a moment after reassuring Odessa I just had a technical question for him. She seemed unsure, but nodded.
Once outside the room I asked him, “Was the tasting of my blood bride unusual? You had responded in an odd manner.”
The provider appeared uneasy, and squirmed a bit in his place. “Your reaction was stronger than any I have witnessed to date.”
Crap!
“Oh?”
He shrugged, eyes wide. “Maybe it has to do with the extreme difference in your blood status, but I’m not sure.”
I leaned in, narrowing my eyes on him, as he shrunk back from me. “No one is to know about my bride’s status. Is. That. Clear?”
He stuttered out, “We….we…..cannot…...discuss that…..with…...anyone….sssiiirr….”His eyes wild and his face paler than usual. “Only yoooouu…….can discuss it….ssss…...ssiirr.”