The Vampire’s Servant
Chapter 41

[Gray]

We arrived at Echo's place before lunch. She made a big meal. I was happy. It was like she knew werewolves needed more food.

After we ate, we took her to the grocery store. I never saw anyone shop with such focus. She was cheerful and polite when talking with people who worked there. In the meat area, she talked with the butcher about how much meat she would need for the coming weeks and he actually referred her to a proper butcher shop in town to place an order.

In the car, heading toward the house again, she explained that she needed to talk to someone in the kitchens at the pack house about how much meat she'd need for feeding three werewolves. I remembered that her trainers were coming soon. They would need a lot more than she was used to cooking for just herself.

Val and I helped her put the groceries away and followed her to the family room to play games. She was smiling so much the whole time. This was the Echo I wanted to see. The one who was happy and vibrant.

"I got your message about Sean and the ticket. I'm glad you figured something out. I was having a hard time. Is he really sure he's okay with giving up a ticket?" I asked.

"Yeah. I told him I would dance with him a little and that I'd take a picture with him to make his parents happy."

I didn't like that. Sean seemed to have a problem whenever I got a hug from Echo. I was worried that he was interested in her too. I didn't need another man competing for her heart. Fighting to win her while she was living with the vampire was hard enough. We went back to playing and I didn't even notice time passing until Echo's alarm went off and she excused herself. When she was out the door, I told Val I would be right back and followed her. She did this when we visited earlier in the week too. I wanted to know what she was doing.

I followed her scent upstairs and thought she may have gone to her room for something, but I noticed Victor's door was open. Quietly, I approached the door and peeked in.

She was standing next to his bed, fiddling with something. An orange light lit up and I was able to see a control box for a heated blanket in her hands. I moved back to the stairs and headed down.

Val was in the entry way. He raised his eyebrow at me and grabbed my arm when I got close. I let him lead me to the family room again.

"What were you doing? Don't give me any bullshit about being lost." He growled.

"I wanted to know what she was doing when that alarm went off. I didn't know if she would tell me if I asked. I wondered if it was something I could help her with, but it's not." I admitted. There was no point in lying. I had nothing to hide. I wasn't doing anything wrong.

Echo came back in the room with a snack for us. We ate and Val glared at me. I didn't know what his problem was. On Monday he'd asked me to back off of Echo and give her room to breathe. She needed to figure out who she was outside of her parents' house. That clicked in with the resolve I had on Sunday to make her love me. As she became healthier and realized who she was, I knew Echo would feel the pull of the mate bond. I wasn't used to being patient for things, but I'd wait for her. I'd wait as long as she needed. It didn't mean I was going to just let it go, but I needed her to know I wasn't going to push. Val was keeping me in check and I was grateful for it. So I knew he was pretty frustrated that I followed her like that.

"Echo, what did you go do when the alarm went off?" Val asked.

"Oh, I was turning on the heated blanket for Victor. Vampires don't get warm, so I make sure his bed is warm when he wakes up. I thought it would be nice and he really likes it." She smiled.

"Does that mean he'll be up soon?"

"Yes. I start it about a half hour before he wakes up."

I felt a little disappointed in myself. I should have tried talking to her instead of following her. That's one of my biggest issues. I want to be there as soon as she needs me and I act like a freaking stalker. I resolved to try and change that.

It wasn't much longer before I could smell the scent of vampire get stronger. He would be down here soon. I needed some way to mark my territory.

"Echo, can I have a hug?" I asked.

"Sure, Gray." Echo said and moved to give me a hug.

I rubbed my jaw against her hair as I held her, marking her with my scent. Not something anyone without a sensitive sense of smell would pick up on. Echo just thought I was being weird and giggled in a cute way.

She pulled away and moved to clear the table. Val and I started putting away the controllers and games. We got everything in order and turned to follow Echo.

Victor stood in the doorway. He looked at Val and gave him a tight smile and a nod. His eyes locked on mine and I fought to look away, when Echo came to the door.

His attention snapped from me to her and his nose wrinkled like he smelled something rotten. He looked at me again and tilted his head back a little. He was assessing me. I could tell.

"Valor, why don't you go with Echo to help her get her things together. Grayson, I'd like to speak with you in my office." Victor said.

"Sure thing." I smiled at him.

Echo looked between us with a concerned expression. I wanted to assure her that things were alright, but I didn't know exactly where he was going with this. It would be good for me to be able to talk to him and stake my claim.

Val walked past him, taking Echo's arm and leading her down the hall. I followed Victor to his office. He didn't talk to me or look at me. I didn't like that it felt like he was dismissing me.

When we got to the office he waved me in and closed the door. Victor walked around the desk and indicated one of the chairs in front of it as he took his seat. I sat and stared him down.

"I know what your intentions with Echo are. You scented her. You believe her to be your mate and want me to... what?... back off?" He chuckled dryly.

"She's meant to be mine. I appreciate that you saved her from her family, but, in the end, she will be mine. I want you to remember that. The moon goddess gave her to me and I won't give up." I told him.

"Echo doesn't want you. She doesn't feel anything for you, except friendship. Tell me the words she has to say to reject you properly so your goddess can give you a female that is... more fit for a wolf's mate."

"She's not healthy yet. She can't feel it, but she will. I'm not giving up until she's healthy and telling me that she doesn't want me. I can wait as long as I need to." I smirked.

"True." He nodded. "She's not healthy yet. When she is, Echo may be different than you imagine. You can already see her vampire tendencies peeking through. She won't always be this sweet, innocent, little girl. I'm prepared for that, are you? Are you really ready for a woman who won't need you to protect her? A dhampyr isn't a vampire, but they are stronger and faster than wolves. Plus, they have the tenacity of a human. Even if you take her heart, she will always come back to me."

"You love her." I glared.

"I do, and I won't lose to a jumped up pup who thinks he knows better than my centuries of experience." Victor sneered.

"You better not touch her." I growled.

"Let's make a deal. I don't want Echo to lose friends or feel like she's being cornered into a relationship with either of us. I want this to be her decision." "What's your offer?" I asked.

"Simply that we let Echo get healthy, we let her make her own decisions, and we wait until she's eighteen before we try to get her involved in anything. When she's ready, we act as properly courting gentlemen. No initiation of contact. We take her on dates and spend time with her. After some time, she can choose who she wants to stay with. I won't mark her as my human servant until she makes her decision. If she chooses you, I won't mark her at all. If she chooses me, you tell her the words she needs to say to reject you. Is this agreeable?" He smiled a little.

I thought about it. That would be a simple solution. He had an advantage over me, though, she lived with him. I grinned.

"I have a couple things I'd like you to agree to first." I said.

"Of course. What would you like added?" Victor asked.

"Echo gives me hugs every day to soothe my wolf. I want that to continue. Of course, that means you can keep hugging her. I smell you on her every morning, so I know you are."

He nodded.

"And I want to move in here. Echo gets to know you more because you're in the same house. I'm at a disadvantage. Equal time would be more possible if I were here."

"That's incorrect. If you were here and at school with her, then you would get more of her time." He replied sternly.

"I work four nights a week and don't get home until after eleven. On Sundays I would have to be home for family dinner night. For things like a pack meeting, I would have to go without her. I could help with her training." I offered.

Victor looked thoughtful. He was really considering it. I would only need to tell Trent I was moving off the pack lands. As an adult, I was in control of my living situation.

"Give me time to think on it. I don't like the idea, but I understand your position. It will be better if Echo doesn't know of this until we work it out. I don't plan to keep it from her, but I don't want her to worry about it while it's still in the air. I'm sure you understand." He said.

"Gladly. Is there anything else?" I asked.

"Don't scent her again." Victor replied with a deadly look.

I hadn't been afraid of him until that moment. The air seemed to chill. I was surprised that I couldn't see my breath. Rex was cowering in my mind. That was rare. He was practically fearless.

Looking away from his eyes was impossible. I couldn't move. A slight whine started growing from my chest. I didn't want to, but it was the nature of animals to bow to those more dominant.

My head shifted to the side and a bared my neck to him. I hated him so much in that moment. He was definitely stronger than me and he wanted me to know it.

There was a knock on the door and he smirked as he looked away. The invisible grip on my body released and I took a deep breath. Maybe I'd overstepped. I didn't realize vampires could be like that. "Come in, Echo. We're just finishing up." Victor called out.

The door opened behind me and I saw his face soften the slightest bit. If I hadn't been looking right at him, I would have missed it. He really did love her. This was going to be a harder fight than I was expecting.