Chapter 26

Crowley's POV

I couldn't help it, as soon as the smell of her blood had hit me I had difficulty constraining myself. After our little moment, I allowed her to leave to go to her room if she wished. Which she sadly had.

I was sitting alone in my office again and sulking. There was so much to unravel from the past hour I didn't know where to start.

As soon as she had started talking about her human commander I had felt jealous and angry. I knew she wanted to know his whereabouts so she could try to escape with him. I won't allow that. In a few days Ferid will be here and he'll know what to do.

But then the taste of her blood came back to my mind. It was as sweet as nectar. She was lucky I had satisfied myself only a day before her arrival here, so I wouldn't need much blood until maybe tomorrow or the day after. But still, that had not stopped my instincts from taking over. She had been scared, and rightfully so. I could have easily gone too far, I need to remember she is so fragile as a human. My instincts screamed at me to drink more from her. To bring her to my own chambers and claim here. But she would never forgive me if I forced myself on her like that, I was in it for the long run. No, what happened today was good. She had seen a piece of me that she would have to get used to from now on. Although she was scared, I could also sense her curiosity and desire towards me, which is why I tried my best to stay as close to her for as long as possible. To give the mating bond a chance to effect her more.

I let out a frustrated sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. Humans were to complicated, too fragile. It was immensely frustrated that Hana had to be of their kind.

A knock on the door got my attention. "Enter." I say, trying to ease my posture.Horn walked in. As straight backed and professional as always."Lord Crowley. We got information that a couple of nobles and their men are planning on visiting us tomorrow. They survived the human attack and wish to seek shelter until the reinforcements arrive." She informed me.I frowned, displeased with the information. I put down my legs from the desk, fully focusing on Horn now.This was bad, especially now that I had my little mouse in my possession. They might know the human lieutenant is here, but they would not dare touch him for fear of Ferid. Hana on the other hand was not valuable to the cause. If I told them she is my mate they would force me to turn her into one of us, or they might do it themselves.

"I see. And how many can we expect?" "Two nobles and about a dozen of their guards." She replied.I nodded. If it came to it I could kill them easily myself. However, then I would have to explain my actions to Farid, who would not be pleased with me having killed off nobles. The best solution was to keep Hana hidden altogether.

"Right. Horn, get Chess in here. We all need to talk." Horn nodded and left the room to go get Chess.If I played this smart the visiting nobles would be non the wiser about Hana.

Once Horn returned with Chess I told them my plan."I don't want the nobles to know about our human guests yet, so I want you to take both of them to the upper level of the building and make sure they can't leave. Is that understood?" Horn nodded but Chess crossed her arms and huffed."But lord Crowley, will me and Horn's absence not be noted by the nobles? We go everywhere you go after all." She said childishly.I nodded in agreement, it would be suspicious if one of them were absent."That's true. You will just have to lock them up really well before our guests arrive and then return to me." Both females nodded.

I had other vampires under my command here who I could ask to watch the two humans, but none of them were aware of Hana, the only exception being Horn and Chess, and I liked to keep it that way for as long as possible. The less who knew about her the less complicated everything would be.

Noticing that the two ladies were still standing in my office I gave them a look."Is there more?" I ask.

"The livestock leader wishes to speak to you." Chess says.My eyebrows rise in surprise. The lieutenant colonel wishes to speak to me, that can be interesting.I rise out of my chair."Has he said anything of importance since our last conversation?" I ask no one in particular as I walk out of the office, knowing Horn and Chess are not far behind.

"No, he has stayed silent ever since." Horn informs me. I hum and start imagining what Ferid might do to him, will he kill him to make a point to the other livestock or will he keep him as a pet? There were so many options.

My train of thoughts stopped as I neared the door where the human had been placed. I opened it and just like last time he is lying on the ground bound up like a pig.

I crouched down to get closer to him. "You wished to speak to me, so speak." I command. Not interested in wasting my time."What have you done to my soldier?" He asks calmly, but I could sense a kernel of dread and anxiety in him. Probably afraid of what I might answer. I smile knowingly. "She's alive." I answer shortly. I've learned over time that the less you tell someone the more desperate they become, and the more they talk."What have you done to her you blood sucking bastard." He was fuming, probably imagining the worst scenarios possible.

I stood up again, not interested in continuing the conversation if I didn't gain anything from it."Why should I tell you human, you give me nothing of interest in return." I say bored and turn around to leave.Before exiting though, I say."Her blood tastes wonderfully though." And it wasn't a lie. My little mouse had the sweetest blood I have ever tasted, nothing could be compared to it. My mouth started watering just by the memory of it.

"Wait!" The human shouts.I turn around, looking down at the pathetic creature that he is."I'll tell you what I know if you release her." He says, sounding regretful that he is offering this bargain. "Now that does sound interesting. But sadly she is way too entertaining for me to just let her go. Even though your information does sound tempting, I need a better offer." I say, again turning to leave."Okay wait you bastard, god dammit! I'll tell you what you want to know if I can talk to her. Alone." He says looking at Chess and Horn who are standing at the door opening.

I hum for a moment, pretending to be in thought. In reality, this was even better than what I had hoped for. They would have been put into the same room anyway when the nobles came, but getting new intel is a bonus.

"Fine. You'll get to talk to her tomorrow. Now tell me what you know." I say crouching back down again to listen to him.He laughs, a harsh and humorless one. "You bloodsucker thinks I'm that dumb? I won't say a word until I see her with my own eyes." I huff in annoyance and stand up again."Fine. Tomorrow then." I give him a kick in the stomach for good measure. Hearing a satisfied grunt in return, I turn one last time and leave the room.