Free Possession of Souls by Lacey Weatherford

to be truthful, I did acknowledge if it hadn’t been for the magic Vance and I probably would’ve never gotten together.  That hurt.  I couldn’t imagine my life without him.  I needed him in any way, shape, or form I could get because I loved him.  Having him with me was like having air to breathe … he completed something within me.
    I heard his steps a moment before he rounded the corner, staring down at me.  His eyes were still red, and he glared at me.
    “I don’t like it when you walk away from me,” he stated flatly.
    “Well, I didn’t want to argue with you,” I explained, and his look softened a bit, but not much.
    He regarded me with an irritated gesture before speaking in clipped tones.  “I need more blood.”
    “I figured as much.  Here.” I held my arm out.  He hadn’t fed from me since I helped him regenerate.  I knew he would be getting hungry.
    He sat next to me and took my wrist, biting into it, drinking several large swallows before pulling away.
    “Why’d you stop?” I asked as he continued to hold my wrist, looking at it.
    “Because you need your blood too.”  He sighed, leaning back to rest his head on the stone against mine.  “I’ve been thinking about things.  I’m going to ask Damien to bring me blood to drink from now on.”
    “What?” I gasped turning to look at him in surprise.  “You can’t be serious.  You have no idea where he could be getting it from.  It could even be my dad’s!”  I was completely horrified.
    “All I know is I don’t care whose it is, as long as it isn’t yours,” he replied.
    I jerked my arm back from him.  “This is ridiculous!” I shouted.  “I’ll not have you risking someone else when I’m right here.  My blood is stronger and more powerful than any other you can drink, and you can’t turn me either.  Why would you even consider this?”
    “Because I’m trying to protect you,” he said, the frustration apparent in his voice.  “If you’re depleted of blood then you’re completely unaware of what is happening around you.  It makes you vulnerable, defenseless.  This way if something happened to me you would at least stand a fighting chance.  I need to know that mentally you’re on your best game, able to think clearly, especially if he is going to require you to do something for him.”
    I was shocked into silence.  “Oh,” I said softly, touched at his concern.  “I’ve never looked at things that way before.  But I still don’t like the idea of you taking it from someone else.  Damien is ruthless, Vance.  He’ll use this to his advantage.”
    “Then I intend to be ruthless right back,” he said, getting up and striding away from me.  “This discussion is closed, Portia.”
     
    A couple of hours passed, but it seemed much longer since Vance didn’t speak one word to me.  It was at the end of this time frame Damien strode back into the room, followed by a bevy of servants, who sat up a different dining table with all new food items.
    My traitorous stomach growled at the wonderful sight.
    Damien didn’t look any worse for wear, and one would’ve never guessed he’d been so battered prior to this.
    He waved a hand of dismissal, and most of the servants disappeared as he sat down with a flourish.  Two people did stay in the cavern though, flanking either side of the door.  Apparently Damien felt he would be better protected if we were out numbered. 
    I could feel the satisfaction oozing off Vance.  He knew he had gotten to him.
    “Shall we try this again?” Damien asked, gesturing to the two seats on either side of him.  “Or should I arm myself for battle?” He looked specifically at Vance.
    Vance shrugged.  “That depends on what you want,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
    “I want to talk.”  Damien lifted a linen napkin to place it in his lap.  “And I want to eat breakfast with my son and daughter-in-law like a civilized person, if that’s okay with