Odyssey (The Vampire Destiny Series Companion Book 1) Read Free Page B

loudly, her dark head falling back as her husky voice echoed through the trees.  "Even though you already know my name, we have gone about this wrong. We will begin again.  I am Sofia and I am willing to give you things...any wish you desire."
The simple way she took seemingly innocent words and made them sound enticing struck a chord inside of me.  I leaned forward slightly and fell on one knee before her.  "What is it you think I desire, Sofia?"
A coy grin spread across her exotic face.  Even though her skin was pale, a bit of her olive complexion still remained.  "First and foremost, I could offer you companionship.  You are quite beautiful, after all."
"What else can you offer me?  Companionship is easy to come by."  I stroked the side of her cheek with the back of my fingers.  Her lips parted and she let out a sigh of approval.
"I can obtain freedom for you, Steafedn.  You would be sireless, free to your own devices."  Sofia nuzzled into my hand as a cat would, her long brown locks tangling in my fingers.
Ah, freedom.  She mentioned the one thing I could not resist; the one thing I longed for and had been denied for so very long.
Sofia sensed my wavering loyalty and struck like a cobra, swift and deadly.  Her fingers had crept beneath my tunic, slowly heading down to grasp at my trousers. Arousal spread through me at her aggressive nature and closeness.  She wrapped her free arm around my shoulders, drawing herself flush with my body, her lips whispering against my cheek as she spoke.  "We will start with companionship.  Then...we will work out a plan."
Any remaining fight left in me dissolved.  My meeting with this strange woman was the beginning of the end for Solveig.
***
As expected, Solveig returned near dawn with the large man following behind her.  His steps were uneven as he stumbled through the darkness.  He was in a trance-like state, deep in her thrall.   Even though he was unaware, his living moments were numbered.  He would be given no choice in the matter.
Nor was I at the time of my change.  We would have that in common.
Solveig's prideful smile slowly faded away as she entered the crumbling ruins.  Her eyes narrowed into accusing slits as her head bobbed from side to side, her nose high in the air.
"Who was here?  It was another immortal."  Solveig scurried past me, looking behind every wall and dark corner.  She spun and her accusing eyes met mine. "You bring another back and bed her in our home?"
I did not move from the floor, my legs stretched carelessly out in front of me.  Slowly and methodically, I sharpened the sword in my hands.  It was one of three I managed to salvage at the time of my death.  Along with a few trinkets, they were the only relics that remained from my human life.  The necklace hidden away in my pack had been my mother’s and had been with me when I went to battle on my last mortal day.
The blade slid across the whetstone and I did not look up from my work. "Our home?!?  This is a merely a rickety hut.  Look around us, Solveig.  It is in ruins.  You have other matters to attend to."  Glancing up at the rotting thatched roof, I jutted my chin towards the man who stood swaying side to side in the entranceway.  "What I do or whom I do is none of your concern."
Solveig knelt beside me and her fingers slipped underneath my chin.  When our eyes met, her face was contorted in anger.  "I gave you this life and I can take it away.  You would do good to remember your place."
Grabbing her hand with my own, I grasped it tightly until I heard the bones grind together under my strength.  "Your fate lies in my hands, Solveig.  Never threaten me again.   You may be my maker, however I am finished existing only as your slave.  Do we understand one another?
Dropping her hand, I picked up my sword and resumed began cleaning the blade.  She cradled her injury against her chest and stumbled backwards.
"How could you?  You have spoken with the Council?