Lucianus I didn’t smile as she looked truly haunted. She looked devastated. I couldn’t guess what she was thinking, but her expression gave me a sense of pending victory. She needed something. I could feel her fear and desperation through the blood-slave bond, and it felt absolutely delicious. I couldn’t wait to have her that desperate for more than just money and whatever she needed it for. It didn’t feel as though she just needed money to survive, but it was something else. An unexpected expense, I supposed. “Yes,” I said. “Why?” She hesitated and looked down at the ground. “What would I have to do?” I eyed her. “Blood.” She frowned and looked up at me. “Blood?” “So long as you provide a cup of blood for my friend’s company every ten days, you’ll be paid 50,000 per donation.”