I leaned back, calmer. “Good. Keep it that way.”
Then without further discussion, I returned to the room.
Odessa looked up at me, questioningly.
I smiled and shook my head. “Just ensuring we can have all the legal documents ready and in order to be signed today before we leave. I will send some people to get your belongings and have them delivered to my home immediately.”
I knew I was stepping over boundaries, but I didn’t want anyone to see her leave her place with any of my men or with me. I wasn’t ready for that sort of declaration just yet. I needed to sit with this first before I knew how I would proceed.
She looked shocked. “I could pack up my thing. I don’t have too much.”
I shook my head again. “I want you moved in immediately.”
Her face softened, making me feel a bit guilty, but also pleased.
“I would like that too.”
I felt my chest tighten. I felt a weird warmth spread over me at her expression. She really was a beautiful vampyr. I had been incredibly lucky in her becoming my blood partner. I just needed to figure out the status issue.
“Ummm….” Odessa’s voice broke me out of my thoughts. “My flat has a lease. I will either need to keep paying it or pay it off.” She was frowning.
“No need. If they have a problem with it, they can contact me. I’ll deal with it.”
They wouldn’t get my money. They should know that once a blood born changes status circles due to matching, the leases should be null and void.
“But…”
“No buts. Just leave it. If they have a problem, they will contact me and I’ll deal with it.” I know I sounded gruff with her, but there was no way those leeches would get my money. The business owners and dealers in low blood born towns were considered filthy, greedy manipulators. I would not give them a cent!
We spent the next couple of hours reviewing the documentation to become legal blood partners. Unlike with human marriages, once we signed all the documentation, the provider stamped the documents, and provided us copies before leaving the Facility, we were married in the eyes of the vampyr society.
I felt pride knowing my blood bride’s blood would no longer be available for tasting. I felt a weird sense of jealousy and possessiveness knowing that other vampyrs had tasted my bride. It left a sickening feeling inside. But she was mine now. And this very night I would take the blood for the first time with her. I would not wait. No. I could not wait. I could almost taste her on my mouth, even just being in her presence. Her scent was strong. I just didn’t know if I could control myself around her if her scent was going to drive me with this kind of hunger every time I was in her presence.
Chapter 4
Odessa’s POV
Although Devareaux said not to concern myself with my lease, I decided I would continue to pay on it until my money ran out. Then I would determine if I would need to borrow money from my blood husband to pay off the lease myself. But for now, I would just focus on being with my blood partner. After signing all of the many documents, we were in his car with his driver, Chauffie, heading towards my new home. I was anxious, but also excited. I didn’t know what to expect from this big change in my life. I had never been to the high blood born neighborhoods. I was raised knowing that the bloods did not “cross over” on to other neighborhoods. It was just not done.
Once we arrived at Devareaux’s home, I was in utter shock. The place was huge! It could fit two levels of the flats into his one house! I couldn’t help my reaction, as Devareaux looked on me with pride.
“Do you like your new home?”
It was massive. It was beautiful, yes, but something about it made me uncomfortable.
“Ummm,…...yes. It’s beautiful. And big.”
Devareaux chuckled. “It is a decent sized home for an aristocrat, yes.” He seemed pretty proud of himself. Would I be able to adapt to my blood partner being an aristocrat? I was on edge about what this could mean. Would I have to start dressing like the high blood borns? Attending those flashy boring events I heard about and saw on my phone on the news sites?
As if reading my mind, Devareaux said, “We will not rush into any big changes. Let’s settle in first with each other, get a new routine, and decide what to do from there. Yes?”
Without thinking twice about it, I nodded, feeling a bit of relief. Yes. Slow and steady sounds good to me.
Chauffie spoke up as soon as we exited the car.
“Sir, the Madam’s belongings should arrive within the hour.”
Devareaux nodded. “Excellent.” He turned to me and waved his hand in the direction of his home. “Shall we, Odessa, my dear?” He smiled softly at me.