"You can’t be serious."

The witch’s face went pale when she heard my offer.

"Why would I accept a bullshit contract like that?"

"Because you have no choice. It’s either me or the witch of greed who you seem so afraid of."

She gritted her teeth and glared at me. She really didn’t have any other choice, which is why I didn’t make any effort to pretty up my offer.

"Your other choice is to let me turn you."

"Over my dead body!" She shouted, spit flying from her mouth. It was really inelegant for a woman like her, which told me how unnerved she was.

I bet she had never been put in such a position before, where someone holds this much power over her, except for her queen of course. Witches are arrogant, even more so than vampires. In fact, they looked down on vampires. To be forced to bow to a wolf must’ve been a great shame to her.

"Fine, I accept your bullshit contract," she finally said, her words sounding more like a threat than compliance.

Khalissi did as I ordered and handed both of us the contract parchment containing the terms of the contract. Both of us signed it, and immediately the contract disintegrated and morphed into a tattoo, imprinted on our skin.

When the process was done, Ember glared at me.

"Since I basically signed my life away to you, can I at least order whatever drink I want?" she asked.

"Sure, go ahead."

A small satisfied smirk appeared on her face.

"Oh, and by the way," she suddenly said just before ordering, "what do you plan to do with her?"

By her, the witch meant Isabella’s mother, who was still unconscious on the seat beside me.

"It’s surprising that no one has questioned us about her so far," Khalissi commented.

"Not really, it’s the supernatural city; lugging around a body or two isn’t a big deal," Ember responded.

"I plan on using my charms to win her over," I responded to her earlier question.

"Ha!" The witch seemed amused by what I said and let out a loud chuckle. "You have a better chance of talking a wendigo out of cannibalism than you do of getting this impregnable wall on your side. She has been loyal to the Veylmont clan for centuries. The clan leader had compelled her and turned her into his personal robot killing machine. It will be impossible to break the hold he has on her; she’s too far gone."

I loved having this witch here. She knew just about everything.

"How long does it take a vampire to lose their mind after not consuming blood?" I asked.

The witch looked at me curiously before speaking.

"Normally it takes a few weeks, but the process can be sped up. Whatever you’re thinking is completely useless. She is compelled to only drink the clan leader’s blood even if she has to starve to death. Anyone else’s blood, and she starts puking her guts out."

As I said before, she needed to be fixed. My plan was simple: I would break her mind and get her addicted to my blood instead. Turning her into a junkie if I had to. Anything to bring her under my control.

We spent a few more hours drinking and talking before we were ushered to our rooms by the cute lamia maid.

"I noticed you didn’t drink anything tonight. Is everything alright?" I asked Sylvie, who was walking beside me.

"Sylvie didn’t feel like it," she answered, blushing slightly, her tail swaying from left to right in a hypnotic motion. Suddenly, a small smile appeared on her face, and her hand reached toward her stomach. "Sylvie wants to be prepared in case Lee puts a baby in Sylvie’s tummy."

Seeing how seriously Sylvie was taking this, I couldn’t help but smile and pat her on the head.

"Good girl."

Her tail reacted to my touch and began wrapping itself around me.

"Can Sylvie get a treat? For being a good girl." She looked up at me with big round eyes.

"Maybe when you learn to be more quiet. You’ll disturb the whole inn if we do. Remember, we’re trying to keep a low profile."

She began to pout, making her look like a squirrel with puffy cheeks.

"Hmph! No fair."

Just then, a drunk Khalissi snuck up behind me as we walked. She was staggering along behind us, barely keeping from falling on her face. She had ordered six of the Reaper’s Reserve Whiskey. Her legs were barely functioning, her vision doubled, and every second or so she collided into a wall. I could’ve helped her along but as they say, the dildo of consequences hardly arrives lubed.

" hick*

Since you’re our mighty alpha and all... hick* ... I bet you’ve noticed that someone has been watching us from the moment we stepped in. hick* " She whispered into my ears.

"Yes, I have noticed this person. They are still following us as we speak. I wonder what I should do with them. I let them off easy last time."

"Last time? hick *"

"Never mind them. Just ignore it; I’ll handle it."

Khalissi complied with a nod of the head and a thumbs up.

"You got it, master!"

I must say, it was really perceptive of her to pick up on the fact that we were being watched.

Asia showed each of us to our own room. I inspected the rooms the others got, and they were relatively small in size, with only a bed and desk to occupy the space.

"What about my room?" I questioned, as everyone was shown to their respective rooms except me.

"Unfortunately, we don’t have any room for a guest of your status. So Papa has decided to instead give you his room instead. It’s a master bedroom, three times the size of the rooms here at the inn."

"I see. That’s kind of him; tell him I appreciate the gesture."

The lamia smiled and clasped happily before showing me to the master bedroom.

"If there is anything else you need, let me know," Asia said as I stepped into the room, gawking at how luxurious it was decorated. With a bow of her head, she promptly excused herself, probably to give me some space.

Immediately, I went to lay down on the soft mattress and tossed the unconscious vampire down beside me. As my body sank into its softness, I felt myself begin to doze off, but just then I was awakened by a surprised knock on the door. I groggily pried myself out of bed and went to answer it.

On the other end of the door stood Khalissi, dressed in a tightly fit nightgown. From how flushed her face was and the fact that she could barely keep herself upright, I could tell that she was still drunk.

Before I could ask her what she was doing here, she threw herself at me.

"Master!"