Free Vampire's Hunger by Cynthia Garner

after all. It would make sense they would live close together.
    His only response to her comment was to slant a dry glance her way. As the door opened and they entered, she took a few seconds to look around. At one time she supposed it had been a separate condo, but now it served as Maddalene’s throne room. That was the only way Kimber could describe it. Gleaming hardwood covered the floor and a floor-to-ceiling window along the southern wall made the space look larger than it was. Heavy dark green drapes hung on each side of the window, ready to be drawn to protect Maddalene against the sun once daybreak came.
    There was a small seating area near a raised platform that held, instead of a throne, a plush aubergine chaise, upon which the queen of the vampires lounged like a, well, queen. Two tall, muscled men clad only in black boxer briefs stood slightly behind the chaise, one on each side like hunky bookends.
    “Kimberly!” Maddalene rose to her feet in a fluid move and glided forward, hands outstretched. She wore a long black dress that was sleeveless with a high collar. Her dark hair was piled on top of her head in an intricate up-do. All in all, she defined elegance. “I’m so happy you were able to visit.”
    Inherent good manners and a healthy streak of common sense made Kimber clasp Maddalene’s hands and let the vampire brush air kisses near one and then the other cheek. “I wasn’t aware I had a choice,” Kimber murmured as the vampire queen let go of her hands and took a step back.
    The ready smile that curved lusciously painted red lips didn’t reflect in her nearly black eyes. “My impatience got the best of me, I’m afraid. I’ve been trying to see you for so long.”
    “And now you have.” Kimber ignored Duncan’s warning glance. She was through with the social amenities. “So what can I do for you?”
    “To the point. I like that.” Maddalene walked back to the chaise and settled onto it with such a graceful move that Kimber felt like a lumbering elephant in comparison. The vampire queen studied her a moment and beckoned to the man on her left. “These are my pets,” she said as he went to his knees in front of her. “Well fed and cared for.”
    Even from where she stood Kimber could see the many puckered scars on his neck and forearms. Maddalene stroked from his shoulder down to his hand and then brought his wrist to her mouth. She bit down. He gave a low grunt and then a soft groan. Maddalene fed from him a moment, her gaze never leaving Kimber. The vampire released the man and waved him away. He retook his stance behind her, looking a little pale, but he seemed steady enough on his feet. His cock was a hard ridge beneath the cotton of his boxers.
    Kimber had known there was a sexual element to a vampire’s bite. She just hadn’t seen it demonstrated before now. She clenched her jaw and fought against sidling closer to Duncan. It would be a show of weakness. She wasn’t sure why Maddalene had decided to feed in front of her, other than to freak her out.
    The vampire queen stared at her a few more seconds and seemed to come to some kind of decision. She gave a short nod and said, “I’ll be just as direct as you. I want you to raise someone from the dead.”
    Kimber crossed her arms and stared at the other woman. “Why me? If all you needed was a necromancer, there are others that can take care of a Lazarus.”
    A slight smile edged Maddalene’s full lips. “Ah, but this isn’t just any Lazarus. This one died a human death over a hundred years ago.” Her gaze became tinged with silver. “And for his raising I want the best. Which is you.”
    Kimber felt Duncan stiffen next to her, but she didn’t look away from the vampire queen. “It can’t be done,” Kimber said, shaking her head. “And even if it could be, it’s a really bad idea. A really, really, really bad idea.”
    “Why?”
    “When we raise someone from the dead, someone who’s newly dead,” she stressed,