The Salvatore Saga, Part Four: My new Life

I was busy preparing lamb racks to be cooked in the oven after a satisfying quickie with number four in the fridge, leaving me eager for more. It kept me on edge and ready for whoever was next. As the bones were roasting in the oven, I planned to use the marrow for the lamb racks.

These wild sheep racks were less tender and meatier, with less fat compared to store-bought lamb. However, the taste was exceptional. I had my own seasoning ideas, having reviewed Mariella's notes on Charles's dietary needs and lab results. Everything seemed well-covered. For Salvatores, I was making sausages wrapped in suet, rich in organs to boost the nutritional value of each meal.

Damon read Mimi's thoughts and understood her plan for Charles's food.

He softly suggested to Mariella, "Darlin', Mimi is preparing those lamb racks for Charles based on his blood tests. Should we ensure she's doing it correctly?"

Mariella hesitated, not wanting to challenge the alpha female and risk a confrontation.

She replied, "I trust her judgment. I'll taste Charles's blood and assess the situation. You can go ahead and check on her since you're the alpha male. It's not my place to overrule the alpha female."

Damon smiled thinly and explained, "These lamb racks are not ordinary. They're from wild mutton, offering unique nutrients compared to regular lamb. Missy needs some variety again. It's time for her to share."

"Mimi, is the stock ready yet? I'm running out," called number ten.

I replied, "The beef stock is boiling outside and should be ready in half an hour after simmering for 24 hours. The pork stock is almost done too."

I removed the large pressure cooker from the stove, containing plenty of bones and pork to boil for stock. Once done, I would season, roast, and grind the bones for further use.

Our beef stock outside contained various items that are not commonly used every day, such as whole beef heads and joints. The bones would also be processed, with some being stored in the freezer by Salvatores to be used as treats for our animals and possibly cubs. However, we had a new popular calcium source.

I mentioned to Charles, "My love, see, Mariella is over there; you might want to offer her something to eat."

Charles, with a beastly smile, approached Mariella, causing her to instinctively step back until she reached the wall. As Charles pulled her head to the side, I could sense her fear.

"Good going, Cornick," I thought to myself.

Soon, the scent of peach and white wine filled the air as Mariella shuddered under Charles's skilled fangs, overwhelmed with pleasure.

Charles's actions irritated Damon, prompting him to clear his throat. Finally, Charles stopped, and Damon stepped in to assist Mariella in sitting down. Charles then offered her his wrist for her to taste his blood. She hesitated, unable to reciprocate just yet. With Damon by her side, she had no opportunity to tease Charles. I focused on my lamb racks, knowing they would require a different blend of spices.

As I reached for a bowl to mix my spices, Wulfe approached me and whispered, "You're one damn naughty minx. That was so genius that I wouldn't have understood it if I hadn't been in your mind. You're truly skilled at what you do."

I smiled subtly and replied, "I enjoy manipulating situations; it gives me a thrill to carry out my schemes. Besides, I won't let Salvatore come and boss me around just because he's feeling he has found his nuts again, meaning in fancy words that he is assertive again."

Wulfe smiled back and suggested, "I can go check on the stock in the yard."

Glancing over, I replied, "No need. Eight and nine just went in. They are such eager beavers."

Wulfe then expressed, "I have never tasted anything as delicious as that Wagyu brain butter. It's to die for."

I agreed, mentioning, "I'll have rice pies ready soon as snacks for us. Do you have our eggbutter prepared?"

Wulfe confirmed that it was done, complete with chives, so we could enjoy our snack shortly. We had been so busy that we truly deserved this break.

It was enjoyable cooking all kinds of fun dishes and then treating myself to some snacks. I had plenty of rice pasties, which Salvatores would likely put in the freezer or use in their meals.

Taking the trays of perfect rice pasties out of the oven made Mariella look sharply at me as she caught a whiff of them. I let them cool, melted some butter, and started brushing them with it.

Wulfe was practically salivating, and Mariella's voice interrupted my focus, "Wulfe, please come here so I can catch up with you, too."

Wulfe rolled his eyes but walked over to Mariella, catching Damon's sharp gaze.

Wulfe reassured Damon telepathically about me, "She is safe. I'll keep her safe. No need to worry."

Damon inquired, "Thank you, but have you completed that potion yet?"

Wulfe explained, "Dresden and Constantine are working on it. It'll take a few days to infuse powers into it, starting from the weakest to the strongest donors, meaning Mimi will be the last donor or I. It's a time-consuming process."

Damon nodded, not entirely pleased, especially when Wulfe walked away after Mariella tasted his blood. She had Wulfe's book where she was jotting down information, and Damon realized Mimi's subtle manipulation.

Determined to assert himself and show Missy how things are done, he approached Mimi as she was opening a pressure cooker and getting ready to remove the bones.

Unnoticed by me, Damon silently approached and whispered in my ear, his hand firmly around my waist, creating a strong sense of being pursued and hunted.

He expressed his displeasure, his voice was fucking dangerous, making my pulse shot right up, "Now, my wife, let's cook, and you can educate me on these new, interesting techniques, like boiling whole cow heads and bones for 24 hours."

My heart raced, my breath quickened, and he showed no mercy. Feeling chased and being trapped stayed on even more.

It was only when Wulfe intervened sternly, "Oi! Stop that, or I'll make you stop. Enough!"

Damon, clearly unhappy, backed off. 

He finally let me go as Wulfe glared at him long enough.

I said to Damon, "I have been cooking while you have been busy, so don't take your self-hate out on me. Despite our big revelation, I do know you better than anyone else, so I understand how your mind works."

He grunted and gruffly replied, "Don't think you get to have too many of those," as he looked at my pies.

I calmly took a hot pie. Wulfe had brought our egg butter, so I slathered it and handed it to Damon, along with a glass of blood that I had just drained. I gave another glass to Wulfe. Damon took the pie, and after gulping down the blood, he focused on enjoying the pie. It's true what they say - the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

Damon then remarked to me, "It seems, my love, you have come up with quite a few fancy tricks after manipulating me into Mariella. I just snatched it from your mind, baby."

I swallowed my unease and calmly responded, "You are just so predictable, and I know you much better than Mariella ever did. I'm not ashamed to admit that I enjoy manipulating situations to my advantage."

Damon grunted, realizing that this was his ultimate challenge - to learn and counter every manipulation that I, this intriguing creature, was capable of. Though it frustrated him to realize how easily swayed he was, it was a bitter lesson he needed to learn.

He glanced at Mariella as he shared the idea with her.

Mariella's brows shot upward, but a corner of her mouth curled up, and she said smugly to Damon, "I must admit, Mimi can do it. She has pulled off quite a few 1-0s against you in a short period of time, and you haven't even noticed them. She's a pro. I must learn from her. Oh, the chaos I could cause you someday."

Damon felt torn in two directions. Initially, he wanted to wipe that smug smile off Mariella's face, but then he thought of Mimi. He understood that this was Missy's little game - she anticipated that he would inform Mariella, who would take it as a challenge and react this way.

Damon's lips curled into a cruel smile; it was time to teach. He informed Charles of the situation and asked him to ensure that Mariella wouldn't feel the need to manipulate. Damon had noticed Mariella's fear of Charles and was using that to his advantage. As Charles approached, a little psychic pressure helped things move along swiftly.

I fished those bones out of the stock into yet another tray. Soon, I would season, roast, and grind them. They were huge, thick pieces of femur, now empty of marrow as it had all leached into the stock.

As soon as I had taken the last piece out, number ten walked to me, took my pressure cooker, and carried the stock to himself. I could spot a few more cookers in various stations, as we liked to make our own stocks.

Damon said to me as he looked at the bones, "I will season them, baby. You don't have to. Actually, you could eat something, but first."

I had no time to react as he sank his fangs into my throat and guzzled my blood greedily and fast, making my head spin.

After a few long minutes, he dislodged his fangs, licked his lips, and said, "You know, baby, blood is different in your wrist than your heart, so I need to check the real deal."

His voice was smug, but I did not let it affect me.

I was about to start tending to that lamb rack when Mariella, looking a little pale, walked up to me and said, "I'll take this. I know what he needs, so you don't need to cook for him anymore."

I nodded. I still had plenty to do. Damon had made some kind of herbal paste that he spread on the bones before putting them in the oven. He kept his alpha power out, just checking my reaction to it, but I controlled myself.

I took the next pile of turkey thighs. These would go in number three's dish, and I was going to fill them with mashed meat and organs and roll them in suet, too. My sausage mix was almost ready, as were the casings. I had several things going on, but I was fine.

I was a protector, and one of my protectees was standing next to me. As I saw that I had everything under control, I grabbed Damon, sank my teeth into his throat, and felt hot blood gushing down my gullet like a stream of pure euphoria. Of course, Wulfe and Damon kept an eye on me so I wouldn't indulge too much.

Bloodlust was a problem for me, more or less, and it had been a long time now, almost as long as I have been a vampire. I am just a greedy one.

After my meal, I rolled my eyes internally, but I had to do what I had to do. I walked up to the fridge alone, went in, and fetched one of the smoothies. I also took a jar, bit my substance, and mixed it into the smoothie.

As I exited the walk-in fridge, I observed the hustle and bustle around the kitchen. It was organized chaos, but it also felt like family - pack life at its best. The kitchen gleamed with steel sinks and marble countertops adorned with pots and pans. The surrounding aromas, the chatter, and the babies' giggles and coos all contributed to the lively atmosphere.

I felt my pocket buzzing, drawing my attention to my phone. I noticed that my local order was ready, and I would have to pick it up today. It was all fine, as we had been driving with the babies daily to help them get used to being in the car. Taking Mona and Mario with me would soothe them, especially since they had colic and tended to get upset easily.

I turned to one of my husbands, whom I affectionately called "number two," and said, "Babe, my order is ready. I'll pick it up in a few hours when it arrives. I'll take Mona and Mario with me to help with their colic."

Number two turned around, kissed me passionately, and as we finally stopped kissing, he said, "Fine, baby. Don't take too long. Those two cranky pants will benefit from a little drive."

Smiling, I walked over to number one and handed him the smoothie. He didn't ask any questions and downed it quickly.

I remarked, "You're backed up, but that should help soon enough."

Damon looked at me, cursing under his breath, "Really, you motherfucking, goddamn wench, you did it again with the laxatives?"

Mariella smiled and came to Damon, pressing a few spots on his belly, making him groan.

She said, "My love, Mimi is just looking out for you. You were backed up."

Her smile was syrupy sweet as she returned to her station.

I maintained a neutral expression, knowing that I was simply looking out for Damon.

He turned to me and remarked, "Number two, get your kisses, and I get laxatives. It seems like you have issues with me."

I shrugged and replied, "That was me looking out for you. You were being lazy and not bothering to take a dump. So, learn your lesson. My kisses are earned; they're a privilege."

His expression was perfect, making me smile smugly. Shadow, who had been nearby, started to giggle, further irritating Damon. Perhaps he had learned a lesson about the consequences of inaction and the importance of taking care of oneself.

I mentioned to Damon that I had to go for a little drive in a few hours. I explained that I was going to the market where local produce rings would bring my order through a delivery system.

Mariella, who had been close by gathering nuts and ground bones, overheard and commented, "Oh yeah, those organic produce rings, I have heard of them." She then suggested to Damon and me, "I have an idea. Why don't we go with her and the babies? It will be so much fun."

Damon grunted as the first cramps hit his bowels and remarked, "I am not sure if I will have stopped shitting by then."

Mariella reassured him, "Oh, you will. Just remember, bodily functions are not good to suppress, and you have a good protector here."

Damon stiffly nodded and instructed me, "Go to your seat. I will give you food. You have gained some meat on your bones, but you still seem hyperactive."

Rolling my eyes, I walked to my seat as Damon pushed a trolley from Salvatore's station to another, collecting plates and beverages. He piled the plates in front of me in order, starting with a tray of smoothies.

"This should keep you plenty busy, my love, so eat away," he said.

I nodded and began eating. It was a pleasant task, and I had no problem fueling my body. After all, as they say, the body is like a temple. Maintaining my temple can be fucking challenging, but when it works, it is truly a freaking sanctuary.