Rosko, Mandy - Night and Day (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) (5 page)

Would his sun sprite return before then? They traveled during the daylight and were unable to transport themselves at night. Of course, there was always that human friend of his who could teleport at a whim.

Regardless, Silus couldn’t risk it. His sheets were a horrid mess of his own fluids, and his body needed a wash. It would not do to take his new lover—even a sun sprite lover—in the state he was in. He needed to rise and prepare.

He lifted himself from his bed, his body strangely rejuvenated.

Using the intercom, he called for a manservant to come and collect his sheets while he showered. After finishing, he toweled his hair and found crisp, fresh sheets waiting for him when he returned.

Magnificent.

Using the intercom again, he had a servant relay a message to his father and mother that he would not be joining them for breakfast because he was unwell. He had to stress to the servant to tell his parents he was well enough to be left alone for the night, just not well enough to leave his room. The last thing he needed was for one of them to send for that horrible little physician.

And then he was able to prepare.

Silus deemed it better to not dress. He threw his used towel into the cupboard under the sink and pulled himself back into bed. His little sun sprite had given him such a gift last night, and then fled into the dawn before Silus could return the favor.

Oh, how he wished to return that favor. His blood already pumped to his cock with the fantasies he had.

That troublesome intercom on his wall buzzed again. Silus released an irritable sigh. Perhaps if he ignored it, the caller would assume he was still resting.

Five buzzes later, Silus sprung to his feet and stabbed the button that would answer the summons with such a sharp motion ‘twas a wonder the contraption didn’t break.

“Yes?”

“My son, it took you long enough to answer.”

There was no mirror, but by the chill he felt, Silus could tell his already pallid complexion went even paler. His father was summoning him. For what purpose?

“Forgive me, Father. I have not been well.”

“And I can understand that, if you spent your previous evening with a sun sprite.”

If Silus’s body chilled any more, he would produce a frost. How could he possibly—? “A sun sprite, Father?”

“That
creature
that fled your bedchamber last night. A guard brought the security footage to my attention, from the door outside your chamber of that
foul thing
disappearing into the dawn.”

Silus clutched at his beating heart, hoping to calm the excited organ.

“Tell me you did not have relations with it.”

“Father, I—”

“Nay, speak no more. I am coming to you.”

“Father, I did not soil myself in the bed of a sprite,” Silus said desperately.

The silence stretched so long he feared Wiktor was already on his way. Then, he said, “Truly?”

Silus prayed his father would believe the lie about to spew from his lips. “I brought him to my chamber, and not long after, scented what he was. I bid him leave before I destroyed him for daring to enter your noble house.” Silus wet his lips. “’Tis why I am not well today. I cannot tolerate that I even touched him.”

It had been strange when he discovered Cedric’s identity, to be sure, but what he could not tolerate was that he’d been unable to finish what they had started. Still, the lie tasted foul on his lips.

“You are certain you do not wish me to be there?”

It was his father’s way of asking if he wanted to talk, or needed some sort of emotional balance for the ordeal he surely must have suffered. “Nay, I wish to be alone to brood. I pray you will not tell mother of this.”

“She knows nothing. The guard was confused as to why a sun sprite, of all things, would be exiting your bedchamber, however. A story can be created for him and the others.”

“Others?” Silus asked.

“I have sent orders to have the number of guards doubled. The grounds, the area surrounding your bedchamber especially, are to be watched should the heathen creature return.”

“Do you believe it to be necessary?”

“Aye.”

Blast! Shit. Shit.
Shit
.

“I thank you for the concern, Father, but I am certain he will not return here,” Silus said. Then the proper adieus were spoken before the call ended. Silus leaned against his wall, naked both figuratively and literally.

If they found Cedric on the property, the guards would kill him. And Silus, blasted idiot fool that he was, had invited Cedric to return this night.

He should not be so concerned. ’Twas a sun sprite he spoke of. What did it matter to him if one was killed or not, regardless of how good his blood made him feel?

Damnation, but it did matter. Regardless of his species, Silus could not take the risk that Cedric would be harmed when he had done no wrong. How would he warn—?

Then his mind brought up the coma-inducing orgasm from his tasting of Cedric, and Silus grinned with his victory. Yes, of course, he drank the little sprite’s blood. They were connected now as long as that blood flowed through Silus’s veins.

Silus calmed his mind. This tended to work with humans. He prayed it would do so for sun sprites. It was the mild telepathy that allowed vampires of past centuries to call to their victims, luring them away from the safety of their homes so the hungry vampire may continue to use the same human again and again.

This, however, would be slightly different. He sent out a command for his lover to
not
return, to stay away from the manse just a little while longer until Silus could think of a way for them to meet. As he’d foolishly just faked an illness, he would not be able to leave the property without raising the suspicions of his father.

Then an idea struck him. The pool house. ’Twould be perfect. He could simply claim he wished for a soothing swim and ask the guards for his privacy. They would never dare to deny him.

The doors to the pool house were never locked. Cedric could teleport and hide in there until Silus could meet him.

Silus sent the command out, and again, he prayed it worked.

He dressed and sat on his bed, all the while his attention switching between sending Cedric the command that would keep him alive, and watching through his tinted windows as the last rays of light were consumed by the growing shadows.

If Cedric did attempt to return, regardless of Silus’s warnings, and was captured, would Silus be made aware of it? Or would his father tell him the sun spite had returned only after he’d been put down?

Finally, Silus could stand it no longer. He shot to his feet and forced open the doors leading into the garden, breaking the locks in the process.

The sky above him was a navy color, diamond stars peeking out from beneath its blanket, but still not pure darkness. The remaining light in the distance was only enough to bring a slight wince to his face and a mild burning sensation to his skin. He expected more, but he would not look a gift horse in the mouth.

Should his parents ask of his burned skin later, he would tell his mother the truth—as much of it as possible—and explain that he left his room before the sky was ready to have him. To his father, he would blame the burning on Cedric, claiming it was when the sun sprite glowed and burned him that he discovered the truth about his would-be lover. That would certainly put the appearance of truth to his lie of being ill.

Plans in mind, Silus continued on to seek out his lover. He needed to be sure that Cedric received his message.

The werewolf guards were most surprised to see him. “Sire, what are—?”

“I wish to be alone to swim.” Silus’s polite nature, even to the servants, had always given them a sense of calm and peace around him. A sense that they could freely ask of him questions and small favors they would never dare to ask of his parents, or any other vampire family for that matter. Silus hardened his eyes and voice, letting them know in no uncertain terms would that be acceptable today.

The three guards barring his path separated for him, their holstered guns hidden beneath black suits useful only against human trespassers. For anything else, like a sun sprite, they would be required to transform and rip the intruder to pieces. Silus shivered.

One of the guards, a man Silus did not recognize, attempted to speak as he passed. “My lord, your father—”

“Has given orders for the manse to be well protected, of that I am aware.” Silus waved away their concerns haughtily, then stripped out of the button-down he’d just put on to prove he would not be swayed. “I am no simpering child. Should I require your assistance I will call for it from the pool house, understood?”

All three deadly men, who easily out-muscled him, meekly lowered their shade-covered eyes and nodded.

“Aye, milord,” said their leader.

Though he felt terrible for the lack of manners, Silus gave them his back and went on. They did not follow.

The pool house was a small thing. Inside was a single room furnished to provide the utmost comfort to the high class. It was really used as a place for cool drinks and shade on nights when the moon was bright. On the inside was a simple room with a wicker couch, a side table, mini fridge, and low watt lamps. The outside was designed to give the appearance of a lake cottage, with an extended roof for a porch, which was perfect because it would give the added protection from anyone who happened to be looking out through the windows of the main house behind the pool.

He went immediately for the double doors and pushed them open, his heart hammering. No one was inside. The pounding in his chest ceased as though a fist had reached under his breastbone and grabbed the beating muscle.

Cedric wasn’t here. Good Lord, what if Silus had made a mistake by not waiting for him in his bedchamber? What if Silus’s commands had not reached him and Cedric used the last of the sunlight to teleport himself outside of Silus’s chamber? He could have been caught and killed in the time it took Silus to walk here. What if—?

“You look so scared.”

Chapter Five

Silus spun, and there stood his lover, arm in arm with that strange human. Neither was under the protection of the pool house deck. Silus reached forth and grabbed the both of them, dragging them to safety. The human squawked loudly, and just as Silus opened his mouth to command his silence, Cedric pushed him down and against the floral padding of the wicker couch for a mouth-meshing kiss.

“Oh, I totally get this. He punctures holes in my arm with those eagle talons and you suck his face off for it.”

The sarcastic jibe thrust Silus back into their chilling reality. With great regret and force, he pushed Cedric away from him and flew up.

The dark haired human—what was his name again?—seemed to think he was the target and so leapt off to the side to avoid Silus’s reaching hands. Silus grabbed both door handles and shut them inside the pool house instead. He locked the doors more for his own peace of mind rather than any protection it could possibly offer.

Breathless, Cedric righted himself on the couch. “What’s the matter?”

Silus moved toward him, and again, Cedric’s little human friend jumped, this time crouching into a battle position, fists ready should he need them.

Silus stared, dumbfounded. “Do you really believe you could fight me off should I wish you dead?”

The poor creature lowered his arms, realization dawning. “Oh.”

“Ben’s just being paranoid.”

“Well, we are back in a vamp nest with one who happens to know what you are.”

“Not just one. Everyone.”

Both men snapped their heads toward him. Silus only paid heed to Cedric’s shocked golden eyes.

“Everyone?” he asked, mouth hanging slightly.

Silus nodded. “Everyone.”

Ben slapped a hand over his face. “You flashed under a camera, didn’t you?”

Cedric’s cheeks reddened. “I—shit.”

“Clever human,” Silus muttered.

Cedric buried his face in his hands. “Fuck. I was in such a hurry to leave—”

“Understandable.” Silus cut him off, and then he turned to Ben. “You may leave us now.”

The human bristled like an offended hedgehog. “I’m not leaving here without him. Cedric, this was a mistake man, let’s go.”

Cedric pulled his face from his hands, and again Silus was able to see more than just that pretty head of golden hair. It was unfortunate that the face was so solemn.

“Your guard is wise to assume danger. You could do well to learn from him,” Silus said. “However, I do not wish any harm upon you. Do you wish it upon me?”

Cedric shook his head. “No.”

He would have to be the stupidest of earth’s creatures to believe that one little word. But, Cedric had come to him in the first place, after all, fully knowing that Silus was a creature of the night. And, if he truly wished harm on Silus, he could have done any number of things whilst he was busying himself writhing on the floor of his bedchamber.

He could easily cause him harm
now
by glowing bright enough to turn Silus into a pile of ash.