Elemental Reverse Harem Quartet (part 1: Earth)

Chapter 11

The territory of the lone Romanian elder

Varu Vasile

The whispering, scratching, and scraping at a pitch that humans couldn't hear pulled the focus of my senses away from the amusing delights within my house. I would never have survived so long if I'd ignored my enemies when they gathered at the very edge of my territory.

"You two witches have much to discuss, and you don't need me for the conversation. I will leave you for a while."

"Are you going out to eat?" The longing look in his eyes begged me to stay and drink from him. Water Boy bewitched me in a way I hadn't known in decades. I didn't know why Beck got under my skin in a way that very few people did.

With Malka's innocent, curious eyes gazing at me, I didn't think it appropriate to discuss my dining habits. Finding out about witches was probably enough for one night.

"Malka is staying here as my guest tonight. You know your way around my house, Beck. Please, show her where she can get cleaned up and sleep."

I didn't want to leave them. On the contrary, I wanted to stay with them both and satisfy my hunger.

My younger self would have struggled to resist fucking the girl who wanted it so badly. The delicious perfume of her arousal affected me greatly. In order to fuck her, I'd need to feed, and I longed to taste her forbidden blood and feel its nourishing power inside me.

The sweet-smelling virgin boy would have gladly offered to feed me as he had done many times before. The blood of a virgin elemental was usually more tempting than sex, and for several years Beck had provided me with the very best sustenance.

Ideally, in my daydreams, I'd bask in the combined fluids of both of these dangerous, powerful witches.

All my senses, the incredible hearing, and the enhanced sense of smell and sight warned me that the nearby threat was real and growing.

Stepping toward the hallway, I bade them farewell. "Call Maria if you need anything. She'll do your bidding, Beck." I rarely trusted a witch in my home and in command of my servants; there had been none since Malka's parents.

Before exiting, I stood at my threshold to compose myself, ready for battle. It was at a time like this that, if I were human, I would take a few deep breaths. Instead, I emptied my mind for several seconds to ready myself. I opened the door but didn't step out onto the street. I set my senses on a preliminary reconnaissance mission.

The fragrant herbs and spices hit me first: the essence of tomatoes and the dough of the lahmacun that the people ate before they fed these vampires. It was as if I ate it fresh from the oven. They were all of Turkish origin, the vampires and their food, and their food's food.

Too late, I realized that I should have drunk what Water Boy wanted to give me. These vampires would sense my hunger just as I smelt their food.

They considered hunger a sign of weakness even though it could be a matter of choice. It was a strength that we vampires didn't have to feed.

On the other hand, if I'd approached them with the scent of elemental blood fresh on my fangs, it would have been an impressive show of strength. Few vampires had the opportunity to drink from elementals. I had drunk from many over the years.

There was little more prized than their blood, especially when willingly given.

There would have been no better way of showing the enemy that the witches and the sole vampire of Summer House Road were united in solidarity.