Free God Save the Queen (The Immortal Empire) by Kate Locke Page B

as well as rare beef for the weres, who often preferred to eat, rather than drink, the protein their evolved bodies craved.
    The blood came from willing donors – often humans related to aristo families. Mandatory blood donation for healthy humans over the age of eighteen had been put into place fifty years ago. Every three months, British citizens were required to give a pint. Some of this blood went to human hospital blood banks. The rest went to aristos. There was also a supply of foreign blood – purchased from America, Canada, Mexico and other human-rich countries. China was a huge supplier. I had no idea if the rumours were true, but it was said that foreign blood tasted more exotic than domestic.
    Some of the other RGs came up to me and offered their condolences – news of Dede’s death had travelled fast, all the more so because of the scandal attached. I took each well-meant word as it should be taken, and thanked my colleagues, even though I wanted to scream from the rooftops that it wasn’t true. I held myself together well, until my father approached.
    The Duke of Vardan wasn’t an overly tall man – somewhere in the vicinity of six feet. His thick wavy hair was dark and his eyes were the same clear green as mine. He was as handsome as he was intimidating.
    “My dear Alexandra,” he said, giving me a quick, loose hug. I wanted to lean into him and hold him a little longer, absorb some of his strength, but he moved away before I could. “I heard you went to New Bethlehem today. I’m so sorry you had to go through that ordeal.”
    It was a sign of his age that he referred to Bedlam by its proper name. “Thank you, Father, but it had to be done.”
    He shot me a sympathetic look. “The burden should have been mine, child. Not yours.”
    Tears prickled the back of my eyes at that simple admission. I blinked them away.
    He stepped closer, so that his arm almost brushed mine. Not a speck of lint could be seen on the fine black wool of his jacket. His cravat was impeccably knotted. He was the perfect gentleman in every respect.
    “Are you certain it was Drusilla?” he asked me softly.
    I started. Did he have the same misgivings as I had? Or was he simply clinging to the hope that his child was alive? Regardless, something inside me stopped me from answering truthfully. He was regarding me in a way that made me paranoid that maybe he thought I was delusional. Val or Avery – or Church – must have said something to cause him concern about me.
    “As certain as I can be, sir.” The lie slipped off my tongue with all the ease of butter gliding across a hot dish.
    He seemed almost relieved, and I knew my suspicion was right.
    “You look pale, my dear. Are you taking care of yourself? Getting your injections, making certain you eat properly?”
    Anyone else and I would have rolled my eyes, but it warmed me knowing he was so concerned about my welfare. In addition to individually prescribed supplements, halvies got vitamin shots once a month. Every three months I had to get an extra shot because of some deficiencies I’d suffered since childhood. It was certainly no great scandal, but it added to how freakish I’d felt when I was younger. “I’m well, sir. Only mourning the loss of my sister.”
    “Of course you are.” He patted me on the shoulder. “Make certain you take the full amount of leave. You are a good girl, Alexandra.”
    I preened, though I knew he’d probably say the same to Avery – or to Dede. “Thank you, Father.”
    He left me shortly after that, so that I could return to my duties. First, I paid a visit to the refreshment room. All manner of delicacies and sustenance was laid out for the guests’ pleasure, including a platter of live Russian leeches raised on a diet consisting solely of the blood of virgins fed the best beef and the purest vodka. Apparently aristocrats of vampiric nature considered them a delicacy.
    I didn’t share the sentiment. Wiggly, slimy little buggers.
    I