As a sense of anticipation swept over the vampires, Jacob felt that familiar tightening in his lower bel y. The first time he'd been part of “vampire games,” it had been a nervous, sick feeling, fairly unpleasant to manage. Seanna, Lord Richard's servant, had told him that night that it would become better over time. His very nature, how much he wanted to serve his lady, would make it better. And he found she was right, that what he felt now was an odd mixture of apprehension and anticipation.

Checking on his brother, he thought Gideon was stil in that earlier, unpleasant phase. And though she was glowing with her news, such that he hoped it would bolster her courage about it, he knew Jessica would face it with deep trepidation as well. While the babe was not far enough along that Mason could justifiably pul her from such activities, he could exercise his very Mason-like force of will and deny her the opportunity to perform as his ful servant.

However, it was obvious this night was vital y important to Jess for just that reason. Though she already looked nervous as hell again, she didn't look ready to back down on it.

Of course, if ever Mason was going to all ow Jessica to act as his true servant in a mixed vampire environment, there was no better time than this night.

The Council members were treading careful y, but many of them knew this version of Lyssa, the all - powerful queen who had helped establish the Council. As such, it told them their world wasn't going to be turned completely upside down, just redirected. While that gave them room to relax somewhat, none of them would be giving one of her inner circle a hard time tonight. If Mason decided he wished to set boundaries on Jessica's participation, it would likely pass unremarked.

Then Lyssa spoke, and Jacob realized he should have known his lady would take care of all of them in one masterful stroke.

“Lord Brian has made some valid points, and we need to consider our response to them cautiously.

We should promote an environment where these bonds can happen more easily. However, the bond between vampire and servant is sacred, and sacred things do not happen in an easy flow, but against strong currents. A vampire must ever be assured that his or her servant's loyalty is absolute. We choose them based on an intuitive sense that the desire for service runs deep within them, so deep they themselves may not recognize it until we pul back the layers, with seduction or more forceful means.

“The things we demand of them during a gathering like this is part of that process. However, this is a night of transition for all of us, vampires and servants. I believe our servants themselves can give us a gift to reinforce that. They can show us that, while change might be necessary, some constants will always form the foundation of who we are.” Lyssa let her gaze slide around the table, meeting each Council member's eyes in turn. “While we continue our dinner conversation in the main atrium, I'm going to divide our servants into three different groups and position them around the area for viewing. They will determine how best to entertain us. We will give them a limited freedom to prove their understanding of the bond we share with them.” She lifted a shoulder. “As always, if we wish to modify the picture, add or subtract a factor, then that suggestion may be made. But let us see what they come up with. Who knows our deepest, darkest cravings better than our servants?”

There were smiles, chuckles at that. “To make it interesting,” she added, “at thirty-minute intervals, one servant shifts to the next group, stepping into whatever that previous servant was doing, though you servants may decide to change the scene once an appropriate amount of time has elapsed.

Alternate by gender. First shifting person will be a female servant, the next a male, and so forth. At a certain point, every servant must have shifted to each group. If that has not been the case, that particular servant or servants will be cal ed to the center for the entertainment of the vampire master or mistress's choice. For those of you who welcome such punishments, no feet-dragging is all owed.” Lyssa gave Torrence a pointed look at that, eliciting more chuckles. Helga's large servant, a known extreme player, offered the queen a half bow, though his eyes sparked at the chal enge. Helga, a fond smile on her face, stroked her hand over his cheek as he bent forward. “No servant is all owed to release,” Lyssa continued. “Not until your vampire Master or Mistress gives you express permission to do so. Have fun with it. We shal certainly enjoy watching.”

Lyssa didn't need to see the tight jaw or dangerously stil expression on Mason's face to know the turmoil within him. Let your servant do this, Mason. She wants to do it, and it is your confidence in her that will get her through it.

Lyssa could tel the girl was terrified, the ghosts of past demons dogging her heels, but her resolute chin, the clench of her hands, said she had the courage of a Viking warrior and was determined to face this. It told Lyssa what she already knew—the true problem wasn't Jessica.

There was a reason Mason had preferred the desert sands for so long, and Middle Eastern cultures that were openly territorial about their women. Unlike most vampires, who did in fact get aroused by watching their servant be compel ed into play with others, he loathed seeing male hands on his servant. In fact, except in situations he orchestrated completely, it inspired certain homicidal urges that, even for a vampire with his age and control, could be problematic.

I've done the only sanctioned kill today, she noted firmly. There will be no others.

How about maiming? Are you fine with that?

She gave him a quel ing look and rose. After she broke the servants into three groups, she signaled the vampires it was time to retire to the atrium.

Holding Kane in her arms, Lyssa gave Jacob a nod, a curl of that sensual lip, her green eyes as mysterious and compel ing as a siren's.

Let the games begin, Jacob thought. God help us.

The castle atrium had a glass ceiling to all ow a view of the sky. The several large fireplaces had been lit to fil the room with warmth. The exotic foliage in the atrium made it one of the less bleak places in the castle, and Jacob was sure that was why Lyssa had chosen it. Scattered throughout it were sofas, chairs and other props to make for comfortable socializing.

And viewing.

Daegan had absented himself from the group, agreeing to take Kane to their rooms during the more adult after-dinner entertainments. Since he could see the goings-on through Gideon's eyes or Anwyn's, the vampire would stil get an enjoyable view of all that would happen, participating through Anwyn's mind and Gideon's.

As the vampires settled in, talking and considering their dessert and wine choices, Jacob knew he was supposed to take the lead here, get things started.

When Lyssa had divided up the servants, he, Gideon and Jessica made up one of the groupings. His lady's ability to think quickly on her feet always amazed him. Gideon's aggressively protective nature toward a fearful female was positively engaged, because he would be directly involved in her first experience, and Jessica knew Jacob the best of any servant here.

“My lady, if I have your leave to begin?” He murmured it as she paused in conversation with Lord Belizar. She gave him a glance, nodded.

Moving from behind her chair, he was conscious of the not-so-casual regard of the assembled vampires, mainly because of who he was about to face. He was probably the only servant brave enough to approach Mason when it was obvious what kind of dangerous vibes were pulsing off him. well , except for Gideon, and he didn't count, because he'd always had more guts than brains when it came to spoiling for a fight.

Mason had helped him through the difficult months of his transition to vampire. He'd taught him how to manage his power, joining Gideon in keeping Jacob contained when his bloodlust and overwhelming need to be with Lyssa had turned him into a mindless, savage animal. But that Mason was not present in the room tonight. Accordingly, Jacob dropped respectful y to one knee before the vampire, where he sat with all the watchful stil ness of a coiled cobra. Jessica stood behind his chair, her hand on the carved head rest near his shoulder.

“My lord,” Jacob said. “With your permission?” He could feel Jessica's apprehension and yet anticipation at once. She had a powerful need to validate herself here, and he'd no doubt she'd made that clear to her Master, but she was equal y aware the decision was his. However, if his decision was against it, Jacob knew it would crush a part of her.

No matter that she understood Mason's possessive tendencies, the part of her mired and chained to her volatile past would think it was because he didn't think her strong enough to handle the responsibilities of a ful servant.

After a long pause, Mason reached up, closed his hand over hers. Guiding her around the chair, he offered the slim fingers to Jacob.

Jessica let out an unsteady breath, her gaze flicking to her Master with love and gratitude, though of course it didn't add color to her pale cheeks, or change the fact that her hand was trembling and cold. Jacob expected it was one of the hardest things Mason ever had to do, because in his shoes, he would feel the same damn way.

As Mason released her, Jacob closed a firm reassuring grip over her. Then he motioned to Gideon. His brother pressed a kiss to Anwyn's shoulder where she was in conversation with Helga.

Anwyn paused to give him a Mistress's look, a softly voiced, “Make me proud.” Gideon responded with a show of teeth, a quick nip on her shoulder, then he came to join Jacob and Jessica.

The center of the atrium had a platform used for dancing or other activities, like this, that required more elbow room. Perfect. As Jacob moved toward it, the next most senior servant fol owed suit, gathering his or her group to take up position in a different part of the atrium. Right now, they were not his concern, but he noted the next group clockwise had Torrence. Hopeful y, when the first rotation occurred and Jess had to move to that group, Torrence could keep some of his extreme practices in check. Else Jacob expected Helga would need a new servant and the staff would be polishing spattered blood off the leaves of the many plants.

As Gideon joined them, he put his hand on Jessica's waist, a calm caress. “Jesus, girl. You're an iceblock. We'l have to warm you up. Clothes?” he inquired, raising a brow.