Read Online Night's Honor by Thea Harrison - Free Book Online Page B

forego any of the benefits that humans gain from a Vampyre’s bite, but I assume that will not be a problem for you, at least for the time being.”
    â€œNo. . . .” Her forehead wrinkled. She hadn’t slept in a bed in a week, and it had been over twenty-six hours since she had last eaten. An exhausted kind of fog had been slowly but steadily filling her mind, but suddenly it all cleared away and the fear had subsided enough so that she could truly think.
    She asked, “Why did you ask me here?”
    He smiled, and for the first time since she had met him, he looked genuinely approving. “That is the right question to ask, but it is not the right time for me to give you an answer. How old are you?”
    Taken by surprise, she told him, “Twenty-four.”
    â€œYou appear to be in excellent health.”
    â€œI am.”
    â€œDo you exercise?”
    â€œYes, usually I run three times a week, and I like to do weight training at the gym, but I haven’t had the chance—”
    â€œGood,” he said, cutting off her flow of words. “You need to know, this is a very busy time for me. After the Vampyre’s Ball, Julian holds a series of council meetings while senior members of the demesne are still in the area. Usually every year, he hosts some kind of visit from the Light Fae as well, which means I will not have much time to give to your training, at least in the beginning.”
    Relief banished a huge amount of her fear, until she felt almost normal. “I understand.”
    The light touched the corner of his mouth and the strong line of his forehead. “While I am otherwise occupied, Raoul will be in charge of your training. I warn you, physically it won’t be easy.”
    She straightened her spine. “I’m not afraid of hard work.”
    He smiled again. “If, at any time, you feel the need to end our liaison, you may do so. If you stay, you will do as you’re told. It’s as simple as that. All of my attendants receive a monthly stipend. While we have an arrangement, I will cover your medical needs, and of course your room and board. Everyone gets time off each month. Should we develop a long-term liaison, eventually I would care for you in retirement as well, although these days, we have a more mobile society than we used to, and people are more likely to want to change professions and lifestyles than they used to.”
    â€œHas that happened often?”
    â€œNot with any of my attendants, but it does happen.” He paused. “Tess.”
    It was strange to hear him say her name, intimate in a way that she couldn’t define. She looked at him curiously. “Yes?”
    â€œI will never bite you without your permission.” His voice was soft, even courteous. “I will never take anything from you that you do not want to give, but make no mistake—there are some Vampyres who would.”
    Dread had become a familiar acquaintance of hers by now. It pulsed again, sullen like an aching bruise. “I understand.”
    His gaze turned hard and piercing. “It’s important you do, because if you choose to leave, some might approach you and offer a liaison merely because you have resided within these walls for a time. I would advise against doing that. Anyone who would choose to offer for you would not have your best interests at heart.”
    She swallowed. “I see.”
    â€œOne more thing. If you are not able to give a direct blood offering, freely and willingly, by the end of the trial year, our liaison will be over.”
    She clenched her jaw, but she couldn’t keep quiet. “Forgive me, but isn’t that a contradiction? First you said you wouldn’t take anything I didn’t want to give, but now you just said otherwise.”
    He lifted one eyebrow, and when he spoke, his voice had chilled. “There is no contradiction. Everything you do here will be by your choice, and