The Vampire’s Claim, The Demon’s Desire

Blood ties

MIKA

Family Week is my worst week every year.

At the beginning of the week, we have Follow Your Parent to Work Day. At the end, we have Bring Your Parent to School Day.

It is obvious why I hate it.

My parents were mostly unemployed, and when they did work, their jobs were the last places anyone would want to visit.

I have never done Family Week with my father. He either gambled his life away, disappeared into brothels, or got involved in stealing. I am not kidding. I can always tell when he was planning a heist to the local store.

Mom, on the other hand, has spent most of her life cleaning up after people.

When I was younger, she worked as a secretary once. Maybe an assistant. Back then, she dressed like someone society respected. She smiled more too.

Now she wears faded rags to work and comes home in even dirtier ones.

It embarrassed me.

And I am ashamed that it embarrasses me.

She practically raised me alone. She carries the financial burden by scrubbing toilets and mopping floors. I hate the job, but I can never hate the fact that it has kept us alive.

Today, however, I find out exactly where she works.

For Gavin Beltran.

Lucien’s father.

And Levi was right about him. The man is a complete monster.

He storms into the dressing room without caring that it is the women’s section.

“What time is it?” Gavin asks coldly.

He stands in the doorway like patience has never existed a day in his life.

For a second, I forget how to breathe. Lucien looks so much like his father. Gavin is just an older, harder, crueler version of Lucien.

“My daughter was sick,” Mom answers quietly, shrinking into herself.

“Is she dead?”

The room falls silent.

“Even if she died, it still wouldn’t be enough reason. I’m sorry, Mr. Beltran.”

Mom keps her head lowered. I almost choke on my spit.

I want to stand taller, want to glare at him. But Levi’s voice echoes in my mind.

Lay low. It isn’t safe for you here.

I glance up anyway. Mr. Beltran catches my eyes immediately and I look away so quickly.

“Son,” Gavin calls. “Come here and see this.”

Lucien appears behind his father.

Of course he is here.

Lucien’s hands are tucked behind his back, his posture is stiff and military straight.

“These are the cleaners,” Gavin says casually. “They handle the dirty work, toilets, floors, windows if they can reach it–Margaret… why is your daughter here on the same day as my son?” Gavin interrupts himself to ask about my presence.

“It’s Family Week, sir. They attend the same school.”

Gavin laughs before Mom even finishes speaking.

Even his laughter feels dangerous.

“Interesting,” he says, dabbing at his mouth with a handkerchief. “No child of my cleaner should be touring my company at the same time my son is touring. Margaret, put your daughter to work. If she cannot be useful, send her to her useless father instead.”

My stomach twists. Lucien says nothing to defend me.

He barely even looks alive standing beside his father. And somehow, seeing him so quiet scares me more.

Lucien follows Gavin away like a shadow forced to obey.

Levi was right. A man like Gavin Beltran will never allow someone like me near his son.

Especially if he discovers what I truly am. The last witch alive.

LUCIEN

I check every door in the west wing looking for Mika cause I need her. Despite the risks, I need her.

If anyone catches me feeding from a human, it will disgrace my family name. Father will skin me alive, strip me of my daylight ring, and leave me burning beneath the sun until he gets bored watching.

Respectable vampires do not feed directly from life sources anymore.

Blood bags exists for a reason and animal blood is the cheaper alternative.

But feeding from skin of a person or an animal? That is considered barbaric. Forbidden.

And still, Mika’s blood haunts me.

I recall how it moved through my veins like fire.

If she gave me even one proper taste tonight, I will be able to face father at the match tonight. Maybe even impress him too.

I reach the last door and push it open. Empty.

I’m about to leave when I hear her voice.

“Mama? I’m almost done here. You didn’t tell me this room goes on forever.”

I slip inside quietly, lock the door behind me, and slide Father’s stolen access card back into my pocket.

“Mama?” Mika calls again. “Who’s there?”

“It’s me.” I step into the light.

Mika inhales sharply.

Her aqua-green top clings to her skin, her chest rising and falling too fast.

“Working hard?” I tease lightly.

She folds her arms across herself looking annoyed. “That’s the joke you chose?”

“I thought you’d laugh.”

“Your dad found it funny so why am I surprised you’d find it funny too?”

I smile faintly, biting down my tongue. “I would never mock your status, Mika.”

Mika just stares blankly.

“What do I do to prove it?” I ask. “Help you clean?”

“Oh, please do.” She shoves a broom into my chest.

My mouth actually falls open.

“You sweep,” Mika orders. “I’ll mop.”

“You want me to sweep?”

“You offered.”

For the first time all day, Mika smiles and her cheeks turn a bright red. .

I clear my throat awkwardly. I can be nice but Lucien Beltran doesn’t sweep, not even for their mate.

“You actually want me to sweep?” I ask again.

Mika shoots me a glare.

“Fine, I’ll sweep,” I say but make no effort to start.

***

I get closer, the invincible threads between us crackles with warmth. “I wanted to talk about Levi and you,” I add quickly, glancing around the narrow hallway like someone might appear out of nowhere.

The room tightens around us. Metal walls. Stacked tables and chairs. Barely enough air between our bodies.

Mika leans against the mop handle, watching me carefully.

“What about us?”

I step closer before I can stop myself.

“What happens in that place when I’m not there?”

She blinks slowly. “I work.”

“What kind of work?”

A scoff escapes Mika. “You were there, Lucien. What do you think?”

Something rises sharp and ugly inside me. Possession, obsession. Ego.

“Why him?” I demand it suddenly.

Before I realize what I’m doing, I have her pressed lightly against the wall behind her.

Mika inhales sharply. Then, to my annoyance, she just laughs.

“Are you jealous?”

“I’m confused,” I mutter. “I want answers. I want…”

You.

Your blood.

Your attention.

I swallow the craving down but it pops back up like a sore thumb. “All of you.”

Mika’s eyes lifts to mine immediately.

She understands not just desire, but the hunger too. She sees it behind my eyes.

Hunger.

“You wanted to know what Levi said to me?” Mika asks quietly. “He said I shouldn’t become the reason for your sins.”

I clench my jaw.

“You can’t feed from me whenever you want, Lucien. It’s wrong and it’s not safe for both of us.”

“And Levi gets to decide what’s wrong?” I snap. “Levi runs a brothel club, Mika. That place is filthy, it can ruin your life.”

“Our life,” Mika corrects me coldly. “Don’t forget that.”

The words hit harder than they should have. Mika sighs and looks away for a moment.

“Levi and I haven’t completed our bond yet,” she admitted softly. “He refuses to touch me.”

She’s sad because he refuses her and yet, she won’t give in to me.

Because you want something more.

I’m nothing like Levi. I take what I want whenever I want it. Seeing her pain as an opportunity, I latch onto it.

“That’s ridiculous,” I murmur. “You’re pretty and you’re…you. From your hair, to your toe tips, you should be worshipped and desired completely. Entirely.”

Her expression softens slightly.

“He wants me,” she whispers. “I know he does. But he’s careful with me. Too careful sometimes. That’s why I was able to trust him when… I love him for his respect but I want to feel wanted as much as I feel protected.

I smirk, playing my charm at the perfect moment. “Good thing you have us both.”

I dip my lips to graze her neck. I taste what is almost mine, seperate by layers of skin I can rip through.

Mika buys my crap, she shuts her eyes and draws in a slow breath through her slightly parted lips.

“And what do I make you feel?” I still ask.

She bites her bottom lip, pulling her cherry-red lips into a crooked pout. Mika’s mouth parts slightly, and a breath rushes out before she finally finds her words.

“You make me feel…” She swallowed. “Like my entire body wakes up when you’re near. My senses are heightened, my heart beats faster, harder..”

I place my hand softly over her racing heart, then guide her toward my chest, where mine pounds violently against my ribs.

The hunger inside me sharpens instantly.

“Do you know what you do to me?” I ask Mik.

She shakes her head slowly. “Tell me,” she says, a small smile splitting across her face.

“I’ll do you one better,” comes my reply. “I’ll show you.”

I pull her against me as my lips crash onto hers without warning. Mika’s hand slips to the back of my head, her shaky breaths brushing against my lips.

Mika bites lightly at my lip, teasing more than hurting.

It’s nothing close to the hunger building inside me.

“You ruin my self-control,” I say, my voice breaking at the edges.

A shaky breath escapes her lips and the bond between us stirs violently.

Our lips move with growing hunger.

Mika grabs my collar, pulling me closer as if she has forgotten how dangerous I am.

Maybe she has. Maybe I want her to.

I lift her onto one of the empty tables and stand between her knees. Her hands disappear into my hair while my mouth moves against hers again and again until neither of us are breathing properly anymore.

“Lucien…” she whispers. “Don’t stop showing me.”

I drag my hand carefully along her thigh but Mika pulls back first, dazed. She starts to spiral

“This is what Levi warned me about,” she admits quietly. “I lose control when I’m with you. Its happening again.”

I rest my forehead against hers. “Then let go for one second.”

“I don’t know how,” Mika whispers.

“Yes, you do.”

Her eyes search mine like she’s looking for permission to become someone else. The reckless and dangerous versions of her.

“I’ve never done this before,” Mika confesses suddenly, her voice fragile beneath all that fire. “Not with anyone. When I tell you he’s never touched me, I mean it.”

For once, guilt cut through my hunger. I touch her face more gently this time.

“So let me touch you, Mika…”

But she kisses me before I can finish.

And every good intention I have vanishes. Its only my hunger I feel at the moment.

I slip my hand under the hem of her skirt, and Mika tilts her hips, drawing in a sharp breath.

“It will hurt a little,” I say softly, “and then it won’t ever hurt again. I promise.”

Each word I feed her is a lie. And still, she leans in like she wants new lies to swallow.

The bond reacts instantly.

Heat spread through both of us, violent and addictive. I can feel her magic moving beneath her skin, answering me.

Calling me closer.

My fangs pressed painfully against my gums.

Blood.

I need blood.

But I want her too.

Mika nods and bites down on her lip as she waits for me to be one with her.

I kiss her neck again, holding myself back even as the instinct to cross that line burns at the edges of my control

And then I push my way into her as slowly as my lustful needs can allow me.

Mika gasps, shutting her eyes as she throws her head back. Our bond sparks to life the moment we connect, a feeling unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

Even I let out a low growl, caught off guard by the intensity of it. It is not blood but it feels almost as perfect being with her.

Mika holds me there for a lingering moment. When her grip finally loosens and her knees unclasp, I start to move inside her.

“This feels so good. You’re so big and I’m so stretched. I can’t believe it, Lucien,” Mika moans beside my ears.

She traces the lines of my body as if it were sculpted for her alone, every part of me carrying a story she can almost, but not quite, decipher.

“You’re so perfect too. All of you. I wish I can have every part of you all at once. That would be heaven for me and I can’t imagine just how good it will feel.” I bait her.

Mika cups my face in her hands, her eyes struggling to hold mine as I move closer. My pants hang below my knees and cold air from the air conditioner tickles my naked skin.

Mika’s skirt is rolled up above her waist.

“This is not going to be a recurring thing. It cannot become normal for us,” Mika whispers against my lips.

“It won’t, I promise,” I lie softly.

Even I hear the lie.

Mika looks at me for another long second before slowly tilting her head to the side. Trusting me.

My control shattered.

I press my mouth to her neck carefully at first, breathing her in before letting my fangs sink into her skin.

Mika gasps sharply, gripping my shoulders. Fire explodes through my veins. Our bond is pulsating with life like never before.

Mika doesn’t scream. Her knees buckle and her fist tightens, but no force throws me across the room this time, and I get more than a taste.

That is until my father walks into the room, looking for me.