After a few more somewhat awkward minutes, Ryker leaned back with a smile showing off his dimples. Then, he offered me his arm, and I swallowed nervously. Somehow, Ryker took me from feeling awkward to my cheeks heating while I ducked my head with visions of princes, princesses and grand balls filling my mind. Ryker’s smile grew when I risked a glance, his dimples deepening, and he patiently waited for me to take his proffered arm. Even though I wore jeans with holes and an oversized hoodie because it was comfortable, I still felt like I could be a princess when I put my arm through his.
Patiently, Ryker led me through the spacious kitchen past a second one full of activity, his eyes on my face all the while. I felt his strength with each step we took, and his body heat soaking into mine through our connected arms. When we passed through a set of doors, all the heat in my cheeks fled, and I stumbled a step. Ryker kept me standing with ease, murmuring words of encouragement while I tried not to feel like a piece of meat dangled before the eyes of starving carnivores. The grand room was full of vampires, and they eyed me with sneers, scowls and frowns.
Biting my lip, I glanced at Ryker’s face, unsure, and he smiled reassuringly before his expression darkened into something terrifying. That ominous look was aimed at the other vampires who appeared cowed. Their gazes dropped while many of them trembled in fear of the lord at my side. A soft noise of protest rose in my throat with no input from me, and I eyed Ryker with a slight frown. Instead of getting angry, he grinned mischievously and quirked his brow at the milling vampires. Now I received many curious glances and shrank into Ryker’s side, which seemed to please him.
Without a word, Ryker moved forward, escorting me through the crowd who parted to let us pass with their eyes watching every step we took. Only once we left that room did I release my breath, and Ryker chuckled, placing a gentle kiss on my forehead when I frowned. Before I could scold him, the tantalizing scent from before wrapped around me once more. Turning my head, I found a small table with two chairs sitting in a dim room with a candle creating a romantic setting. One side had a bowl of soup with steam lazily curling into the air above it, while the other had a wineglass full of a crimson liquid that made my stomach twist.
“It’s wine, but if you like, I can swirl it, and you shall see I speak the truth,” Ryker chuckled. “Just because blood nourishes my body does not mean I cannot enjoy fermented fruit.” Despite myself, a slight smile curled my lips while a soft chuckle escaped my throat. Ryker smiled blindingly bright, kissing my forehead once more before leading me to the chair on the soup side of the table. Not only did he hold the chair for me, but he pushed it in as well. A kiss on the top of my head preceded him walking around to his side.
As he promised, he swirled the liquid within his glass, and I sighed with relief when it did not cling to the sides like blood did in movies. Once I tried the soup, I barely kept from scarfing it. It was creamy, delicious, and filling. “I’m afraid it’s a secret weapon that soup,” Ryker chuckled, his eyes watching me in a predatory way. “It’s meant to enrich the blood of humans, and, well, you seem to share the opinion that it’s enjoyable.”
My blood turned cold at his words, and I raised my head in alarm. Chuckling, Ryker shook his head, his expression gentling, but I remained wary of the predator. “I’m sorry, I did not mean to frighten you, bunny. But I fear you would be far more upset if you found out the truth of it later. Yes, I plan to drink from you, but not at the moment. You are scared, tired, and heartbroken. Later, perhaps, but only because I know you will feel upset if I feed on another. Not mentally, but your soul will be most displeased,” Ryker explained with a solemn expression. His lips twisted up ever so slightly when I scoffed. “Werewolves are not the only ones who have omegas, nor are they the only ones who can bond with one. Although they tried to take you from me, which I do not appreciate in the least. Damn poachers.”
“What?” I asked numbly, and he chuckled with a dimple revealing grin.
“Our omegas are even rarer since the only ones we have are the ones we changed. Omegas change easier, because we do not attempt it until they bond with the one who will be their sire. Thus, they accept the change before it happens. If you thought the wolves were protective, I fear I must warn you they have nothing on us. However, we are not so suffocating,” Ryker informed me with a sweet smile that did nothing to quell my glare.
“And yet you have already laid out more rules,” I began with a soft growl that caused his eyes to
