Dark Exodus (The Order of Vampires 2)

“Christ, give it to me. I don’t want to hurt your feelings. Thank you for the… beer.”

He cracked open the cap and a whisp of cool mist hissed from the opening of the bottle. She watched anxiously as he took a sip. “How is it?”

He pulled the bottle away from his lips, frowned at the label, and shrugged. “It’s actually not that bad.”

Larissa’s smile returned. “Oh, good! Now…” She shook the envelope of kernels. “Do you have any idea how to bake this?”

He laughed. “You don’t know how to microwave popcorn?”

“We don’t have microwaves where I’m from.”

“Right,” he said slowly, then took the bag of kernels into the kitchen.

She followed him, watching closely as he tore off the plastic packaging with his teeth and tossed the pouch into the tiny electrical box. He slammed the door and punched a knuckle into a button, and the box hummed to life.

“That’s it?”

“Yup. Electrons absorb into the food and vibrate, producing heat.”

Something popped and then popped again. The bag twirled on a rotating plate, expanding as the popping continued.

Impressed, she grinned at her friend. “You’re so smart, Vito.”

He shrugged and chugged his peach beer. “I watch a lot of Discovery.” Chucking the empty bottle into the trash, he retrieved a new one from the fridge. “What movie do you want to watch?”

“You can pick.”

Once the popcorn was ready—in under three minutes—she transferred it into a bowl and settled on the sofa beside Vito. He was very good at using the remote control and quickly found a movie with racing cars and explosions. Sometimes television overwhelmed her and made her heart race, but tonight she was hardly watching the screen.

Her attention lingered on her guest as she leaned into his warm side. She sensed his tension every time she moved closer, but eventually he smiled and put his arm around her. The scent of blood pumping under his skin called to her.

Vito reminded her of a big grizzly bear. He was all gruff and growls on the outside, but a big softy on the inside. She nuzzled her nose along his throat and he stiffened.

“Larissa, what are you doing?”

She shut her eyes and scooted closer. “Just getting comfortable.”

“Um, I didn’t know we… did that.”

“Did what?”

“You know… We’re friends.”

“Close friends.” Her fangs punched through her gums and her stomach cramped with need. Her hunger pangs were so sharp recently. She dragged her lips over the stubble of his throat and he caught her shoulders.

“Whoa! Hold on.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. It’s just… Uh, I’m not really sure what you’re expecting here.”

She pressed into his mind, giving him a gentle command. “Shh, just relax. I won’t hurt you.” She ran her lips over his pulse and—

“Screw it.” Catching her off guard, Vito changed positions, rolling her to her back and moving his body over hers.

Startled, she opened her mouth to protest, but his lips met hers before her words could form. Her eyes widened at the first swipe of his tongue, and she squeaked in shock when his knee wedged between her thighs.

Preparing to push him off, she gripped his shoulders, but before she could apply force, something hurled his weight off of her. Vito crashed into the other side of the room. Larissa sprung to her feet as a feral growl filled her apartment, and the bishop appeared, enraged and ready to kill her only friend.

“What did you do?” she yelled, her first concern for Vito.

She rushed to his side, but the bishop got to him first. He wrenched Vito’s head back, exposed a mouth of sharp fangs, and bit into her friend’s throat.

“No!”

Vito’s legs twitched and she screamed, shoving the bishop back, but her meager strength was no match for an immortal of his age. She was too distraught to attempt any sort of mental push, and his mind seemed especially guarded tonight.

“Stop!” she screamed. “You’re killing him!” Hysterical, she pulled at his limbs but it was no use. “I’ll go with you! I’ll do anything you ask, just let him go.” A sob belted out of her as she watched the color of Vito’s face fade. “Please, Bishop King, don’t hurt him!”

Everything stilled, and she looked up at the bishop with tears in her eyes as she kneeled before him. Something potent fizzed in the air between them, and she had the sudden urge to run, but she couldn’t leave her friend there to die.

The bishop sneered at her with a dark look of disapproval. “You let this man touch you.”

Her eyes closed as regret swallowed her. She had a husband, a duty to honor. The limitations of her choices tightened like a noose around her neck until she could hardly breathe.

Dropping her weight to her heels, she pressed her face to her hands and wept. “I’ll go home. Just let my friend go.”

The fear of Silus’s anger was nothing in comparison to the fear for Vito’s life. She’d never forgive herself if he died because of her.