Free Feral: Part One by Arisa Baumann Page A

promiscuity, at least not the mature ones,” he said calmly. “Sexual vampires are the only breed capable of reproducing, but they can only do so if they are what we call blood-born, meaning they themselves were procreated instead of changed.
    “It is also the blood-born that cannot avoid a period of promiscuity, a period that takes place during their adolescence. It is a time when they require substantial amounts of blood and energy to sustain their existence, and it is the behavior during this period which has spawned the reputation that succubi and incubi have.
    “Turned sexual vampires and, indeed, adult blood-born are perfectly capable of mating with only one being, and do not require sexual intercourse with anyone other than their mate to survive. However, mated couples do tend to hunt for energy together, usually by socializing at a bar or club. They will often flirt with the other patrons to ensure they have the humans’ attention, then they become intensely affectionate with each other for the… entertainment of the others. This greatly increases the sexual energy in the establishment, and the mated couple feed off it together, creating a loop that sustains them for quite a few days.”
    “What about unmated ones?”
    As soon as the question left my mouth, I wanted to take it back. It was rude and incredibly presumptuous. However, he answered me candidly.
    “That depends entirely on the individual vampire. Some unmated incubi and succubi will engage in sexual intercourse every time they feed, others will only engage in sexual intercourse when it is absolutely critical that they do so, and others in between. And I will not insult you by not giving you the answer you truly wish,” he said with a hint of a self-deprecating smile. “I have not engaged in sexual intercourse unless my health required it. I do, however, engage in socializing to obtain a modest amount of energy.”
    Another thought drifted through my consciousness, and despite my hesitation, I found myself inquiring anyway. “Do you drink blood?”
    “Yes.” There was no hesitation, though I could see he was unhappy. “I have and still do drink from living human beings, but I try to alternate my habits with bagged and animal blood.”
    “Have you ever killed before?”
    “Yes. Early in my existence, I was unable to control my intake, and I would kill.”
    “When was the last time you killed a human? How many have you killed?”
    “Twenty-seven years ago. And in the six hundred-plus years I have been alive, approximately two hundred, and most of those being in my first few years as an incubus.”
    “Stop,” I commanded suddenly, feeling overwhelmed. “I need a few minutes. I need to think. Please?”
    “Certo. Certainly, ”  he said with little emotion. “I will leave you to your thoughts. If you wish to leave, I will not keep you. Call for me if you wish to continue.”
    He disappeared, and I was left to an unending stream of thoughts, concerns and questions.
    Simon had taken the lives of humans. He was a killer. Could I really accept that? It wasn’t like he was some psychopath killing for twisted gratification. He was a vampire. Was there a difference between him feeding from human beings and human beings taking the life of innocent animals? After all, human beings were, at our very core, animals—mammals, if one wanted to get technical about the issue.
    I supposed the bigger question wasn’t whether or not I could accept his being a vampire and having taken the lives of others, but whether or not I could accept breaking off my relationship with Simon and not having him in my own. And in the end, the answer was no. I couldn’t imagine altering our relationship in any way, because I knew something would be missing, something that would mean I was less joyful, content, fulfilled.
    I was also having difficulties interpreting what mate meant, and I couldn’t imagine that it would be an easy thing to integrate into my vocabulary,