“I can stand on my own two feet today because I drank from the amazing handsome vampire,” I said, my words cutting through the tension, watching with glee as repulsion rippled across Oldy’s face. The disgust that twisted his features only made me smile wider. His tightly knit control frayed further, and I revelled in it. “Now do you know who he is, Oldy? He’s the fucking vampire king. He could crush you like a little bug between his thumb and forefinger.”

I leaned in, my voice ...