The Mark of the Vampire Queen (Vampire Queen #2) - Page 15

Here he was, in a resort full of vampires, with no weapons. Not even clothes. Gideon would be laughing his ass off. But as he remembered her words, her touch on his body and his mind, Jacob's back straightened, his head lifting. He was Lady Lys- sa's human servant. The man granted the right to touch her, feed her. Given access to her heart, sometimes even her soul. And she wanted him seen. This was her world, and to be everything she needed, he had to be a part of it fully. It had been easy enough to find the resort area. It was on the southeast side of the palace where a huge lawn was sculpted with elaborate hedge gardens and open  spaces for a variety of games. The panoramic ocean was the backdrop to a spectacular view of the sur- real and fantastic. It was an Escher painting come to life in vivid color. A verandah of alabaster white railings and columns overlooked it all, following the line of this side of the castle. There were two exit points, marble staircases that made matching crescent shapes to the bottom, inviting guests into the gardens and play areas. It appeared that over a hundred vampires of various ranks were there, sipping drinks and lounging at chairs and tables on the verandah, socializing and watching the entertainments going on below.

Before he could follow their gazes, the smell of burning flesh and a strangled cry drew his attention toward a pavilion at the base of the closest set of stairs. While a servant knelt at his Master's feet, another man, apparently a blacksmith, applied a brand to the ser- vant's buttocks. When he removed the iron, the vampire considered the mark, amused as it began to fade. Except for the bitten back cry, the servant was motionless, awaiting his master's bidding. Because of Lyssa, Jacob had gotten in the habit of assuming all vampire-servant pairings were opposite gender, but he realized quite obviously it would vary depending on the sexual preference of the vampire. "A fun diversion, " the vampire said. "Perhaps we will come back later and do other body parts if you do not please me. " There was no fear in the servant's expression as he rose and fol- lowed his Master, telling Jacob the man enjoyed suffering such pain at his Master's demand. Or that he'd learned to mask fear well. No. His intuition had been deepened by his third mark connec- tion with Lyssa, and he'd been able to sense the absence of fear in the submissive male. Plus, as he'd seen vividly with Melinda, a servant didn't last long in the ser vice of his Mistress or Master if there was not some bond of trust between vampire and servant. He found himself lingering over the memory of how the vampire had looked at the mark, bent to pass his fingers over it. The emo- tional tremor of the servant's body at the touch, the unguarded re- sponse in the vampire's eyes when he wasn't affecting the amused boredom. When a hand brushed the bare skin over his ribs, Jacob managed to turn toward the touch with an expression of mild indifference, rather than jumping back like a cat in a room full of way too many fanged rocking chairs. Seanna gave him a thorough look. Her Master, Lord Richard of the Alabama territory, was apparently pleased to have her garbed in a creation of black straps that left her breasts bare. The straps criss-crossed, lift ing and binding the generous mounds.

Her nipples were captured in silver clamps connected by a decorative chain. While the skirt of studded straps she wore fell below her knees, the straps parted when she moved, showing her shaved mound and generous ass. Since she wore the fetish wear as if she bore the trap- pings of an Amazon queen, Jacob couldn't deny the outfit looked damn good on her. Enough to cause an embarrassing stirring of his cock. "Irishman. " "Seanna. " A smile curved her lush mouth. "So formal. Last time it was much more affectionate. `Arrogant bitch, ' wasn't it?" The teasing light in her eyes dissipated the anxiety he expected at having to deal with her. Seanna was emanating the respect of a peer, underscoring that he'd won his spurs as Lyssa's servant. Since she had connections with the servants of many other high-ranking vam- pires, he knew that was a good thing, even as he maintained a healthy wariness. "You made it difficult for me to walk that next morning, " she ac- cused him with mock gravity. "I'm sorry if I hurt you, " he said, seeking something safe to say. Her brows rose. "It was all a pleasure, Irishman. A pleasure I'd be happy to repeat with you if you're otherwise unengaged while waiting for your Mis- tress. We could go to the statuary gardens, become some of the live entertainment. " She nodded in the direction of the hedge gardens, where the at- tention of most of the vampires on the verandah appeared to be rest- ing. However, since an inordinate number of them now seemed to be studying him, he let Seanna take his hand and coax him down the stairs. As they got to the base and passed the blacksmith's pavilion, he realized what he'd thought were more statues in the hedge gar- dens were living humans. When Seanna strolled toward them, he saw they had been placed in poses in the midst of circles of flowers and elegantly landscaped shrubs and ordered to remain motionless.

One woman bent over, holding her ankles, her hair brushing the ground. Nine blond locks had been tied in knots and staked out in a fan shape on the ground with decorative wrought-iron wickets. A man stood behind her bur- ied to the ball sac, his hands gripping her hips, his head back as if in the throes of climax. Both were slightly quivering, showing the ten- sion of holding such a provocative pose. "She'll come before long, " Seanna confided. "See? Her Master has put a clitoral stimulator on her so she can't stop milking that slave with her pussy muscles. When she comes, her Master will punish her for everyone's enjoyment. " "And if he comes first?" "Then the male servant will have the honor of the punishment. " Seanna linked her arm in his, her hand whispering along his biceps as she guided him past the two. The same heightened senses which allowed him to detect emotions also brought him the smell of the girl's arousal. As they passed the copulating pair, Jacob could see the stretched pink lips of her pussy, the deep red flush of her nipples. Because he had no control of his cock, which had a mind of its own about such stimuli, he tried to ignore Seanna's appreciative gaze at it through her lashes. It was only going to get worse, for the garden was full of such sights. Not all vampires were on the verandah. Many wandered through the gardens just as they did, glasses of wine or other chosen drinks in hand as they gazed at the posings and commented on them. Seanna used the pressure of her hand to guide Jacob off the path as a group of six vampires came toward them. "Eyes down, " she whispered. Though it made him want to grind his teeth, he did it, because he knew the etiquette at this conference was even more stringent than when entertaining Lyssa's guests in her home. There was no purpose to insulting vampires Lyssa might need to secure the fate of her ter- ritory. "That servant of Lord Richard has a pair of superior tits, " one of the male vampires observed as they strolled past. "I'll have to see if he would be willing to let me borrow her and grease them up.

It's been a while since I've had a nice titty fuck. " "Lawrence,you're such a crude thing, " the woman chuckled. "Your alley street upbringing is showing. " "Shouldn't be a problem getting Lord Richard's permission, " the other man with them put in. "He likes to watch almost more than he likes to fuck. " "Not me, " the woman purred. "Why, Rodney, that's Lady Lyssa's new pet. Now he does look irresistibly fuckable, just as Lady Carola said. Look at the size of that cock. " Seanna's nails dug into his arm as the woman stepped to the edge of the sidewalk and gripped his privates as casually as she might have handled some of the landscaping to determine its origin. "I could take him to the grass right here, ride him until he begged for mercy. " If she didn't take her hand off him, she was going to be the one begging for mercy. She had disturbingly clever fingers, however. Rubbing up and down his shaft, massaging the skin over the hard core. "Ah, he likes that. " "Remember, Marta, he's not wearing a head mask. He can be briefly touched, but not taken. You'd need her permission for that. " Her hand withdrew reluctantly. "Idiot Council rules, " she mut- tered under her breath. "What does it matter if I fuck him now and she fucks him later? His dick will still be the same. " "He's her property, dear Marta. " This from the taller man, draw- ing her away. "That has nothing to do with the Council. I wouldn't suggest irritating Lady Lyssa for no cause. " Seanna loosened her fingers on Jacob's arm as they moved off, and gently reached down to pry open one clenched fist. "Easy, Jacob. That was pretty tame for this group. " Jacob nodded, a muscle flexing in his jaw. He could do this. He had to do this. Even so, instinctively he moved to Seanna's outside as they passed another group. She chuckled. "Chickenshit. Just enjoy the feel of it, " she said under her breath, smiling and giving a slight bow, a sweep of her lashes, as she passed a pair of vampire males.

They gave her breasts a passing caress, one briefly catching hold of a strap of her skirt and letting it flow be- tween his fingers to give them both an unencumbered view of her ass. She stopped, waiting, and when they released her, she kept walking. Since he knew getting out of here as fast as he could wasn't an option, Jacob tried to tune in to what she was saying, knowing she was trying to help, to distract him. He wasn't proud. He'd try any- thing that might keep him from bolting. "There are rules. Only brief touches and looks. Maybe five sec- onds at most, unless you're one of the servants marked as anyone's. One of the domestics, or those chosen as entertainment. As you probably know, those are most often servants of lower-ranked vam- pires. However, sometimes it's servants who are younger, newer, whose Masters and Mistresses want them to undergo more intense training at being a submissive.

Sometimes it's a veteran servant be- ing punished for a transgression. That's always fun to watch because the vamps are more outrageous with them. Those servants have a letter A painted on the forehead of their masks. " He moved on with her to another garden pose. This one involved five people in a chain of intertwined arms and legs. The first man bent over, his mouth pressed to the pussy of the woman lying on her back, legs up and spread. He had her lifted so the curve of her body and his formed a triangle. Behind the man, a woman with a strap-on had her hands braced on his back as she was embedded in him. Be- hind her, another man was buried in her pussy. A final man strad- dled the first girl's head, his cock fi lling her mouth as he reached up and kissed the woman who was fucking the man going down on her. The landscaped circle in which they were posed had an interior circle of rocks from which hidden fountains jetted arced streams of water, moistening their skin. Colored light worked with it to form patterns on their flesh. "Astounding, isn't it?" Seanna observed. "Each year, one set of territories is responsible for arranging the artistic entertainment for the Gathering. I think they've outdone themselves. This year the Latin American territories were responsible. "

She pressed her hand to her breast and fanned herself, winning a reluctant smile from Ja- cob despite himself. "Oh, my God. That hot Latin blood and imagi- nation. " "So for most of the vampires, this isn't a business get-together. " "Oh, never think that. This is extremely serious. Yes, the main point of being here is to pay honor to the Council. The `real' business is done on the third night, after the Ball. What they call the `Court' session, where disputes and political matters are discussed. " She so- bered. "But the whole three days are highly ritualized. Everything, from Lady Lyssa choosing a partner for the first dance at the Vam- pire Ball, to strolling in this garden . . . " She bowed her head as they passed another vampire pair and squeezed Jacob's arm to remind him to do the same as they passed. He was glad to keep moving even as he complied. "The Ball choice is just a formality. " She gave him a glance. "Formality has great significance to the vampires. During the time she was married, she always chose Rex, except when she was paying honor to a certain vampire's contribu- tion for that year, a platonic honor. But the year she married Rex, he was the one she chose, and it was significant exactly for that reason. Since she's no longer married, there's speculation that who she chooses this time might be her next consort, if not a marriage part- ner. Of course, she might choose Brian for his scientific work. " Lyssa had told him it likely would be Brian for just that reason. "Is he here?" "Yes. I saw Debra briefly. She's even skinnier than when we last saw her, and far more intense looking. Her face is going to crack if she keeps holding that serious expression all the time. " Seanna's voice dropped as if sharing juicy gossip with a girlfriend, amusing Jacob. "Another rumor going around is he's made some remarkable finds he'll be presenting at Court. He's set up a temporary lab here to finalize some of his notes. " "Did he say what about?" "No. Not even a hint. " Her lush lips formed a very distracting pout. "I don't think he intended to let Debra out of his lab to have any fun, but Lord Belizar put an end to that.

He made Lord Brian put her into the pool of servants available for entertainment. They're one step above those being used for domestic help, but Brian is too low ranked to get away with keeping her by his side the whole time. " Jacob thought of Debra subjected to the humiliations of the female servants in the corridor and rage flooded him. "She's not seasoned enough for this. That dinner was her first experience in this kind of thing. And this is . . . " He let his gaze course over the garden. "You'd have to do this for at least ten years before you could face it without sweaty palms. " "It's your first time and you're holding your own, " she pointed out with a chuckle. "It's all in the attitude. How do you think any of us learn? Don't worry. On this at least, the Council and the overlords know what they're doing. Vampires get terribly aroused seeing a ser- vant deal with all this for the first time. If she sheds pretty tears of humiliation, she'll earn a spanking and become everyone's particu- lar favorite. " At his expression of revulsion, her tone softened and she put out a hand. "I'm sorry. I'm teasing you too much. I forget you don't re- ally understand our ways yet. For a person who has chosen this life, the system works, Jacob. It really does. She may find it difficult, but by the time she leaves here, she'll have been brought to climax so many times, she'll start internalizing the intense pleasure of being a submissive. Even though your Mistress is highly ranked enough to keep you out of all that, it's obvious she's cognizant of the value of the process, to a certain extent. " Her gaze coursed over his naked body. "Aren't there things you'd have never thought would bring you pleasure that get you aroused now? The idea of her restraining you . . . The touch of a whip on your skin . . . Fucking your ass with her fingers . . . " Jacob shifted under her knowing look, and she let out a sultry laugh. "It irritates you, but it also makes you hot. " Jacob ran a hand over the back of his neck, kneading the tension there. "I feel like you're my guide on an erotic tour of Wonderland. " She gave a mocking curtsy, affecting the smooth tones of a tour bus coordinator.

"Why, perhaps we can interest Mr. Green in joining in our festivities today, after all. You'll find Castle Mason is an abso- lute playground for the games our Masters and Mistresses like to play. And you have your choice of a wide variety of partners. " "You look forward to all of this. " "Very much so. " She dropped her chin onto her shoulder, making it clear she was indulging in a view of his ass, and snickered when he adjusted his stance, which simply gave her a better view of his groin. "Vampires pick their servants for suitability of ser vice and submis- sion, but also for beauty. How could it not be a pleasure to enjoy that?" All around him he saw vampires taking advantage of the humans available to them, as well as each other. Imagining Lyssa indulging in the same pleasures, he knew he'd rather subject himself to the most humiliating sexual act this corner of the ocean had to offer than to suffer seeing another man touch her. You are far too possessive for a servant. He remembered her words, but he couldn't deny them, couldn't even say that continued expo- sure to her would meliorate it one bit. In fact, it was more likely to make it worse. Seanna took him into another section of hedge garden that was more animated. The servants here were openly, frenetically copulat- ing, a macabre orgy. One servant stood to the side, holding a bronze disk with a spinning needle, which he periodically stopped. When he did that, the servants had to switch partners and assume a differ- ent position. "The servant with the disk is judged for his ability to have them switch right before they can climax, " Seanna explained, a twinkle in her eye. "The servant who can leave the greatest number sexually frustrated is then allowed to pick one of them to fuck. " There were more vampires here, sitting on scattered stone benches. Their response to the display was obvious, and more than one had called a servant over to ser vice them orally while they watched. Jacob tried not to think that somewhere on the grounds the gentle Debra was being forced into such a position. "It's actually not all about sex. " Seanna turned him toward the ocean and gestured.

"Some of the vampires like to see gladiator sports, what battle skills their servants possess. Of course, since they're fighting naked, it's still very . . . Stimulating. " She ran a tongue over her teeth. "Let's go over there and I'll show you. " With another playful look, she took him toward the ocean. A field had been marked out just above where the sandy beach led to the tide edge. As they walked down the slope, he saw a group of servants en- gaged in mock battles on the open green. Sword fighting, wrestling, javelin throwing and footraces, as if revisiting the times of the early Olympians. If he participated here, he would be on display, but there'd be no demands on him sexually that might discomfort him. I thought you'd find that area rather quickly. He was pleased to hear her voice, to detect in it that the meeting was going tentatively well. They were taking a break to socialize be- fore resuming the agenda. While he couldn't say for sure, he thought he even sensed she was pleased with his desire to avoid the sex games. When he was inside her, he felt her desire to own him, body and soul. It was all consuming. He wondered if her purported indiffer- ence to his monogamy at other times was one of her games to prove to herself that he didn't have a similar hold on her. Don't anger me, Jacob. I'm busy. Go play boy games. "You're talking to her. " Seanna withdrew her hand. "You can tell when you're doing it. That night, I could tell you were defying her over something. And now . . . " Her expression softened. "It's good for you to love your Mistress. Wouldn't it please her to see us . . . Feel us . . . " Jacob shook his head, but managed to make it look regretful. Taking her hand, he kissed it. Diplomacy. Richard was one of Lyssa's overlords, after all. Truth be told, after spending this time with Se- anna, he didn't find her nearly as offensive as he had during the night of the dinner. Arrogant she might be, but she was entirely committed to the lifestyle she'd chosen. He was the one who didn't fit, as he'd been told often enough. "Not right now. But thank you for your kind offer. " Her hand rested in his as she studied him. Behind the cultured facade, Jacob caught a hint of the young girl from the New Orleans brothel who'd decided to follow Richard into a better life for herself.

"You're different, Jacob, " she said at last. "But then, so is your Mis- tress. Be careful here. Differences in servants are tolerated only as long as they amuse or arouse. When they disturb, your days will be numbered. Know your boundaries. " Not a threat, but a warning, similar in tone to what Debra had told him. Though it rankled, he could tell it was sincerely offered. When he nodded, she moved away, her provocative saunter suggest- ing she was going in search of company more receptive to her urges to play. Monogamous he was. Dead he wasn't. He couldn't help watching that generous ass swivel from side to side, the cleft tantalizingly re- vealed by her movements, the long legs. Intuition as well as countless hours of training with Gideon had him spinning around, ducking his head and throwing up an arm. The long end of the swinging javelin he caught would have smacked smartly into his back or ass, a successful attempt to hu- miliate him. The man who held the other end had an olive Medi- terranean complexion and dark hair cropped short, emphasizing patrician features. Jacob tightened his grip, hauling forward, but his opponent let go at the same moment, overbalancing him. Jacob took the roll backward across the soft turf and came to a half- crouch defensive position, the javelin tucked under his arm and firmly in his grip. The man's face darkened as several of the other men who had paused to watch expressed appreciation of the recovery. "He might just be quick enough for you, Malachi, " one of them suggested with a chuckle. He had a broad Australian accent, unruly red hair to his shoulders, and an open affability to his features. On his chest was a tattoo of a raven with wings spread over each pecto- ral. While Jacob wasn't in the habit of ogling men's genitals, the Aussie's were hard to ignore. Hung like a horse, literally. His eyes twinkled. "Like staring at your granny's face tumor, isn't it? Can't hardly look away. Have to have my pants specially tailored, which is more than these blokes can say. "

At the wave of jeering responses, he grinned. "Anyhow, Lord knows, we're all tired of getting thrashed. " He inclined his head to Jacob. "Knock this bastard on his arse just once, mate,and I'll shout you your first beer in Sodom and Gomorrah. " "You're Lyssa's new Irish whelp, then?" The observation was made by a muscular Viking with tied-back blond hair and clear blue eyes. His cock, while not as sizeable, was pierced with multiple gold rings. He towered over Malachi but stood at his back, making it clear he was the Mediterranean man's ally, if needed. The Aussie stood off to the side, his body language neutral, though Jacob sensed a level of concern under that amiable expression. Though he seemed noncon- frontational, he was all lean muscle and therefore a potential threat until he proved himself otherwise. Jacob kept his eyes on all three. "That's Lady Lyssa to you. " His tone stayed cool as Malachi took up another javelin and paced forward, making it clear he intended to engage. Jacob fell into rhythm, pacing a half circle around him as the others dropped back, giving them their space. Malachi had a muscu- lar, compact physique. He'd be quick and powerful, and wouldn't tire easily. "If you want a fighter, call a Roman. If you want a ballad, call an Irishman. Can I make you sing, Irishman?" He switched direction to pace out another half circle, moving the javelin in a comfortable rotor twirl, apparently to impress Jacob with his grasp of the weapon. Jacob stopped in place, choosing a closed grip on the shaft and a ready stance. He cocked his head. "Are ye goin' t'ask me t'dance then, or should we be proceeding with yer arse whippin'?" A burst of laughter emitted from the outside circle. Even Malachi curled his lip back in a fuck-you grin, telling Jacob his opponent had been gauging his capacity to be goaded. "My lord Belizar feels you need a lesson in humility. " Jacob flashed his own teeth. "Then see if you're the man to teach it to me. " Malachi inclined his head and sprang. There was precise skill and speed involved in using a double weapon, where both ends could be brought into play.

There were op- portunities for displays of raw power when the opponents held toe- to-toe, testing strength until one would get clever and shear off the wood, trying to come under and rap the shins or, better, sweep the feet. He and Malachi were well matched physically. Comparable heights and builds, almost equal training, though he suspected this was not Malachi's preferred weapon. He was trying to pull the sharp end into play more often than not, quickly telling Jacob the man meant to do him some damage as part of his Master's bidding, not just beat him. He was equally aware of a gathering crowd. The singularity of the sound of wood hitting wood told him other sports, both the sensual and physical, were coming to a halt to watch theirs. Which likely meant they had the attention of the upper verandah as well. Of course. They wanted to see what this new servant of Lyssa's could do. Malachi's javelin rolled, jerked back and turned faster than Jacob expected, rapping his knuckles hard enough to knock his hand off the upper part of the staff. Jacob dropped to one knee, took the brunt of the next strike along his weapon one-armed. The impact sang down the length of it and reverberated in his shoulder joint. When Malachi flipped the javelin to thrust with the point, Jacob dove into his legs, taking them both down. He didn't agonize over the mixing of weapons practice with hand-to-hand. This wasn't a match. Mala- chi was spoiling for an out-and-out fight. They rolled over the ground. The sudden wetness of soft sand told him they'd made it to the shoreline. Malachi drove his elbow in hard under his rib cage, and Jacob retaliated by getting a leg under him and connecting to his face with a yell and a strong uppercut that knocked his opponent back from him, making him stumble in the wet sand. Both men scrambled for their staffs, and Jacob spun in time to knock away the spear point that would have gone through his face below his left eye.

Not a fight then. Something deadlier. With a snarl, he rammed Malachi full body now, taking him into the water and rolling him, bringing the weapon into play to hold him under. After a satisfying moment on top of the struggling man, he shoved away, flipped and came back up in the same crouch as before. Only this time he had both spears, one balanced in each hand. Malachi got to his feet, his lip cut and bleeding. "You've fought to the death before. " He spat. Jacob raised a brow. "You want to push this that far?" Malachi's gaze flickered, just enough. Jacob spun in time to be struck a glancing blow on the temple by the Viking's javelin staff, instead of taking the full swing that could have compromised his skull. Malachi lunged forward, seized his spear and yanked, recov- ering it, though Jacob managed to hold on to his own weapon. He fell backward, bringing the two of them into his range, creating a melee of arms, legs, thrown punches. When a point grazed his thigh, he heard Malachi's curse as he missed the penetration angle. Jacob propelled himself to his feet with a roar and used his bare fist to strike Malachi as the man rushed him. Spinning, he engaged the Viking behind him, ducking under his guard and thrusting up- ward to deliver a sharp blow into his throat, again with his fist. The man stumbled back, wheezing. One out, back to one-on-one. Jacob, do not engage further. Back off and surrender. Malachi will cease. He is only seeking for you to concede dominance to placate his Master. He can wait for that until Hell freezes over. Jacob, obey me. This is important, for reasons more than your ego. Jacob gauged his opponent. I don't think that's going to do the trick, my lady. I know what Belizar seeks in this. I know my opponent. As he knew his. Jacob. He bit off a snarl. Knowing it was a mistake, and one galling to the point he thought it might choke him, he spread his arms, an open gesture.

Reluctantly he tossed the spear to the watching Aussie, whom he'd noted had not been one of the ones who'd tried to unbal- ance the struggle. "Your match. " He gave a slight bow, though he didn't take his eyes off Malachi. "My lady sends her high regards for your skill. " Malachi nodded, wiped his brow with the back of his hand and turned to offer his gasping mate a hand out of the water. Diplomacy. Jacob managed to create a mask of it as he turned to the Australian, though from the man's look he suspected he wasn't concealing his expression of murderous fury well enough. "So, this drink–" "Watch out!" The man shouted it a mere second after Jacob sensed it and spun. The movement kept the spear from going through his kidney. Instead, it tore into the meat of his thigh, the blade end as razor sharp as a sword. He had time to see the red spurt of blood, telling him Malachi had hit a vital artery. But that thought was immediately consumed by a surge of bloodlust so strong, he knew it didn't come all from him. Perhaps most of it didn't. Malachi and the Viking charged, slammed into his body and took him down into the water. Struggling for control of emotions not his own, plus the male fury that was, he reached out to her. My lady? Kill him. Every man had a reservoir of primal rage. He'd learned that in fighting at Gideon's side. When opened, fear disappeared, and there was only blood. Propelled by the force of his lady's reaction, it con- sumed everything but instinct now. The solid spike of fury in her response confirmed the source of the nuclear rage boiling through his blood. It made him understand why she commanded so much fear and respect. If she turned even a tenth of what was rushing through him on her enemies, none of them would survive it. Surging up, he seized th