Ambrosia (Nectar Trilogy, Book 2) (17 page)

“Gotcha,” was Kyla’s reply.

Yeah, based on the long list of possible outcomes for Kyla listed by him, Grandfather Dearest seemed the type to run continuous experiments.

-8-

The dress fit her like it was designed for her. She loved it; it was gorgeous. She felt beautiful. She wished she had this dress for some other event in some other place, though. If only they lived in a world where she could wear beautiful little black glittery dresses or long coral dresses without it being when her life was at stake!

She’d put her hair up in a twist with a claw clip at the back but Tristan walked into the bathroom as she was just about finished with her mascara and he immediately yanked it out.

“Hey! It took me like fifteen tries to get that just right!”

“Yeah, well your bare throat isn’t something I want on display,” he grumbled, tossing the clip aside, “Bad enough your body’ll be on display.”

“Oh,” she said softly and picked it up, deciding to use it to pull back the sides of her hair, since she didn’t have nearly enough product or styling tools with her to do anything fancier. The dress was too fancy for her hair to just hang limply after air drying, “If that’s your way of saying I look hot in this dress, thank you.”

He raised his eyebrows at her.

“Levity?” she suggested.

He rolled his eyes.

She shrugged and went back to working on her mascara.

Tristan was gorgeous in his dark suit, dark shirt, and black tie. Of course he was; he was always gorgeous. She called out, “Wait,” as he finished running his fingers through his still hair and gooped up her hands with a little styling gel and started to run it through his hair.

“I really don’t give a fuck what I look like tonight,” he mumbled, backing away from her.

Yikes.

~~~

They left their suite hand in hand and there were five men stationed outside the room when they entered the hall. Tristan had told her that Adrian promised security going forward.

One guard (they were all dressed in a black suits, looking like secret service agents) walked ahead of them, leading the way: two walked on either side, and two walked behind them, effectively surrounding them. Kyla tried to ignore them.

They walked down the stairs to the first floor and through the open lounge area, which was still littered with “people” (she felt eyes on her but didn’t make eye contact with anyone), through doors to a hallway with several sets of doors and to the end, where French doors were opened for them into a dining room that was breathtakingly beautiful, designed like what Kyla could only imagine might be themed after a palace in France in the last century or even the one before.

The room had a long table set and seated were Adrian, at the head, Sam at one side, Kyla’s father at his other side, and a tall dark-haired goateed man beside Sam. Tristan sat her at the foot of the table and he sat beside Lyle, swapping Kyla’s water glass with an empty goblet. Clearly, changing the planned seating arrangement, not wanting Kyla beside Lyle.

“Kyla, meet Claudio,” Tristan introduced with a sweep of his hand gesturing toward the man with the goatee.

Kyla looked to the man and he was watching her, an assessing gaze, a glass of red wine in his hand. 

No, wait, not red wine. Blood.

She gave him a nod as she sat down. He didn’t return it but watched her.

A server moved to Tristan and was about to fill that goblet with blood but Tristan waved his hand in refusal.

“Nothing for you, Tristan?” Adrian queried, his brow notched and his eyes darted to Kyla.

“Wine. White.”

“Good to meet you, Kyla,” Claudio belatedly said and Kyla’s eyes moved to him. 

At once Kyla was struck with the fact that he appeared arrogant, cunning, predatory. It was written all over him. He was a handsome man, looked to be about ten to fifteen years older than Tristan. His hair was short; his eyes were grey but fairly luminescent. He had a goatee and a squared jaw. He was sitting down but based on his posture and the lines of his expensive-looking grey suit, Kyla suspected he was a bodybuilder.

“Tristan?” Adrian interjected, “Have you fed?”

“I have,” Tristan didn’t look at Adrian.

“But we agreed…”

Tristan waved his hand, “We’ll discuss it later.”

A server moved around to top up water glasses and then two more male servers moved in and began delivering an orange soup to everyone.

Tristan immediately leaned over and inhaled deeply over Kyla’s bowl. Then he lifted her spoon and tasted it.

“Honestly, Tristan.” Adrian said, amused.

Tristan glared at him and his fangs shot out.

Kyla steeled herself and clutched the edge of her chair.

“Gentleman, I realize emotions are high at the moment with all the revelations that have come to light. Let’s enjoy a nice meal, some conversation, and move forward, shall we?” That was Claudio.

Tristan continued glaring Adrian’s way for a beat and then his fangs retracted.

Kyla reached over under the table and put her hand on his knee and gave him a small reassuring squeeze. His face gave nothing away to anyone else at the table but he put his hand on top of hers and his thumb skated across the back of her hand.

“Bon apetit,” Adrian said and raised his glass. All others but Tristan raised their glasses. Kyla raised her water glass.

A server moved over and offered her wine. She nodded, asking for white as well, and he poured her a glass.

Tristan leaned over and lifted Kyla’s wine glass and put it to his lips and drank some and then passed it to her with a nod.

Kyla glanced at Adrian, who was watching Tristan.

“Royal taster?” Lyle mused, “I’m impressed.”

No one replied.

The soup was cream of carrot. It was delicious. Kyla decided to focus on the soup.

Does he really think they’d poison me? Or maybe slip me one of Adrian’s so-called concoctions?

“There are a few things that need to be settled,” Claudio started, “Tristan and I have spoken briefly but I wanted us to enjoy this meal together so that we can put everything on the table. Move forward. As discussed, this was planned 27 years ago when the last Kovac mating experiment failed. We need to move forward. We all want the same thing. Prosperity for our kind.”

Kyla couldn’t hide her jolt of surprise.

He continued, “Alexander, along with other counterparts around the world, and Adrian, along with Adrian’s medical council counterparts, have worked together closely to solve problems of a medical nature as well as ensure our population continues at healthy levels, despite the challenges we’ve faced in that area. There are regular ongoing clinical trials as well as contingency plans in addition to this plan for Tristan. Tristan, you have the allegiance of myself, of Sam, of the entire leadership team. You have the ability to do amazing things for our kind. You’ve already done impressive things for Kovac Capital as well as on the councils you’ve participated in. Breeding is the next step, a royal responsibility. You have already demonstrated the skills and you have the lineage to lead. Your offspring are essential to our future. Your bloodline with hers?
This
blended bloodline, it will ensure strength. We can only imagine what kinds of results we’ll get with a blend of Kovac and Constantin blood. I know Adrian has outlined a variety of options for you. I want you to know that myself, Sam, and Adrian are here to help. All our resources are at your disposal to ensure success here.” Claudio kept looking at her during this little speech.

“I’m still reviewing options, Claude. I’m not jumping the gun.”

“Kyla’s too important, Tristan,” Claudio said, still looking at Kyla, “I know this. And we will take every precaution we can. As mentioned, there are alternatives if you want her taken out of the equation but you need to make some decisions and I hope that logic and the usual foresight you display will prevail over emotions.”

Tristan looked like he was carefully controlling his anger, “Well, given the course of events I’m sure you’ll understand if I’m not immediately jumping on board. I’ve been deceived. For a decade I’ve been deceived. And after finding out what Alexander went through…”

“We’ve learned,” Adrian said,” We’ve learned from those errors and we need to move forward.”

What the hell was he talking about? Failed experiments? Errors?

That didn’t sound like it boded well for Kyla.

“Tristan?” she asked before she could stop herself.

His eyes moved to her and he jerked his head in a “No.”

She moistened her lips with her tongue and gazed around the room in a quick sweep but then her gaze doubled back to Sam.

Sam was staring at her and his chest was rising and falling rapidly.

Kyla’s eyes met his and his widened. She felt an incredibly sharp sense of impending doom. Sam was struggling with knowledge of her blood. She knew it. She
felt
it.

Tristan went wired, “Kyla?”

“Stop him! He’s gonna…” Kyla shrieked at Tristan at the very same instant Sam’s fangs shot out and Sam sprang from his seat, looking like he was heading toward Kyla.

Tristan jumped up. Sam wasn’t heading to Kyla, though; he was heading for the door. He was a blur and he was gone.

“Excuse me,” Adrian said and zoomed out behind Sam.

“Clearly,” Tristan motioned toward the door Sam and Adrian had left from, “the science isn’t refined enough. I’m not taking chances with her.”

“Sam’s bloodline is what makes him a wildcard. Believe me, he’s loyal to you. I’ve been working closely with him for 25 years and he is the most trustworthy friend you’ll ever have. There will be safeguards in place for you.”

“Regardless…” Tristan shook his head and sipped Kyla’s wine again.

Servers moved in and began clearing the soup bowls.

“Tristan,” Claudio said in an attempted placating tone.

“Why not you?” Kyla spoke up.

Claudio’s eyed darted to her.

“Why haven’t you been mated with an enchanted pet?”

“I have two,” Claudio answered, “Mating attempts have not been successful. We’ve had repeated miscarriages and stillborn births.”

Tristan’s body locked tight in response. Claudio continued.

“All true vamps, often referred to as super vamps, those who are vamps with vamp DNA rather than just being turned vamps, are given enchanted pets at their ten-year anniversary. Vamps aren’t informed of this until they receive their pet and demonstrate to us their common sense by the acts that follow. We do not want news of this to travel. Tristan’s case was handled differently because of what was at stake with your blood as well as due to who he is. Your lucidity was also an unexpected twist. I expected a phone call when he tasted you. I expected my protégé to confide in me. He didn’t. So we watched him to see how things would progress. It has all been very enlightening.” Claudio’s expression was sour, “If Tristan were any ordinary vamp it would not have been looked on favourably. But based on who he is, I’ve overlooked a few missteps.”

“So you haven’t killed any pet by accident?” Kyla asked, not sure how to respond to Claudio’s comments.

“I have not. Being a true vamp, I have the control necessary.”

“Are they mesmerized, entranced, whatever?”

“Th
ey are
.”

Kyla took a big breath, “But Liam…”

“Liam is neither royal, nor a true vamp. He’s turned. The problem with enchanted pets occurs when turned vamps stumble across them. They do not have near the control or power that we do. The older a turned vamp gets the more strong and powerful he becomes. The better he lives, the more powerful he becomes. Turned vampires are very accountable for their actions. It affects their longevity, their power, their health. Super vampires, true vamps with vampire DNA are better equipped than that. Tristan here, he could eat garbage and not exercise for a decade and he wouldn’t be depleted. That’s because his blood is not only true but also royal. Tristan, being who he is, wouldn’t do that to his body. Tristan, being who he has been… I expected a different outcome from him after you were delivered. I did not get what I expected. You are not what we expected.”

Kyla didn’t know what to make of that last comment. Tristan watched Claudio, expressionless. Kyla looked over at Lyle. He sat there quietly. He didn’t look reflective, bothered, anything like that.

Tristan’s phone made a text noise. He lifted it and then began thumbing away at it.

“And what about you?” Kyla asked, “What do you think about all of this?”

“All of this?” Lyle asked.

Kyla nodded, “Yeah. Your life plans are railroaded and that results in a whole lot of things happening. They orchestrate a bunch of things, including your marriage, me, and then turn you and your wife into vampires. I’m taken away from you and then you find out I was created to become a gift for a royal vampire. How did that make you feel?”

Lyle gave her a smile, “Proud.”

Kyla raised her eyebrows and her mouth dropped open.

Adrian was back. Adrian guided Sam the long way around so that he walked by Kyla instead of directly to their seats. Clearly a test. Tristan rose and stood behind Kyla. Sam looked at Kyla and gave her what she took to be an apologetic look. Sam then made it to his seat.