by Eve Newton
“What can they give us?”
“Two suites. Yours and Mr. D’Arcangelo’s and this one.”
“So, Sebastian, you and Linc have to give up yours. Where is Linc by the way?”
“Took an opportunity to conduct some business.”
“Oh. Well, we have two rooms, and this has two rooms. That leaves one unaccounted for.”
“Aefre,” CK interjects, “I am not altogether happy about sharing.”
“We don’t have much of a choice. Besides, we shared with Sebastian back in New York.”
“That was before he… you know…”
“Fine, Lincoln can have the other room.”
“Humph, not likely,” he says.
“Scott, looks like you are ‘It,’” I say to him and grimaces at me.
“I’ll take my chances elsewhere if that’s all the same to you,” he says and CK snickers.
“We promise to keep it down if it will make you feel any better,” he says.
Scott blushes bright red. “I will still know. I may be able to focus my gift better now but it’s still not a hundred percent around you,” he says haughtily, and we giggle at him.
“So, Sebastian or Lincoln? Which will it be?” I ask CK.
“’Bastian,” he says reluctantly. “At least I know you won’t be sneaking into his bed in the middle of the night to get some.”
I laugh out loud but quiet at his murderous look. I turn back to Scott. “Where will you go?”
“I’ll find somewhere. I don’t mind slumming it, unlike you guys,” he says ruefully.
“There is nothing wrong with enjoying the finer things in life, when you can afford them,” CK says patronizingly.
“I’m sure. Maybe you should talk your girlfriend into giving me a raise,” he says smartly. CK and I look at each other in amusement at the word ‘girlfriend.’
“I think I pay you quite handsomely,” I say, somewhat offended that he thinks his six-figure salary isn’t enough.
“You do. I was only kidding. Believe me, I will be the first to come to you with a request should the job description exceed the compensation.”
“I would expect nothing less from you,” I say proudly.
He pouts. “Although, it has to be said, I think I may need some therapy sessions to be paid for after this particular trip. There are just some things you can’t unhear, however much you try.”
“Tell me about it,” CK and I agree in unison.
“Are you ready to go?” Devon asks, coming into the sitting room.
“Go where?” CK asks.
“Downstairs. Dev needs to get out of here. We, or rather, he, is going to go and win us a shitload of cash.”
“Like you need any more?”
“The cash is not what is important. It’s the winning,” I say with a smile.
“Maybe to you,” Scott says, standing. “Mind if I tag along? Maybe get in on some of your action.”
“Sure,” Devon says. “Constantine? You in?”
CK and I practically pick our jaws up off the floor at that offer. “Erm, shouldn’t someone stay here with the girl? Just in case,” he says.
Devon shrugs. “It’s only been twelve hours. Doesn’t seem likely under the circumstances.”
“True, but stranger things have happened. Especially considering what Aefre said about it not being possible to begin with, save for you feeding on her.”
“Stay, come. It’s up to you. I’m going,” he says.
CK glances at me, concerned that he isn’t more worried.
“I’ll come and find you in a bit,” he says to me with a kiss.
I nod. “Okay, my love.” I get up to leave with Devon and Scott.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE
“He seems awfully protective,” Devon muses on our way down.
“No, it’s not that so much as he still feels he is…” I pause, trying to find the right word.
“King of the world?” Devon remarks and he is back, my smartarse boy.
“Yeah, nice Titanic quote, by the way.”
“Epic film. It seems almost unreal that had we been a couple of years later, we probably would have been on it.”
“I know. Pretty insane, really.”
“Erm, Liv,” Scott says.
“Yes, Scott?”
“I have a question for you, about me.”
“Go on.”
“What am I? I mean really. Am I still human or what?” he asks, completely embarrassed.
I blink at him. “No, sweetie. You aren’t human. You never were. It was assumed so at first, but you are of your own kind. Empaths, Shifters, Vampires, Demons, Dragons. We are all the same. Well, sort of.”
“Oh. Do you mind if I use some of Saxon’s resources to try and find some more of my own kind?”
“Oh, of course not, no. You should have mentioned it sooner. Or rather, told me to do it. You know what I’m like,” I say by way of explanation and he snorts.
“I do. I think the words ‘vain,’ ‘selfish,’ and ‘willful’ came up at some point.” He half smiles at me and I stare at him open-mouthed.
“Eavesdropper!” I say, good-naturedly.
“Mind Reader,” he corrects me.
“Oooo, remind me to dock you for being cheeky,” I say, glaring at him, but it’s all in fun.
“No. Can’t say that I will,” he says breezily as he saunters off the elevator.
I shake my head at him. He has come out of his shell around us so much the last few days. Despite all the drama, it is doing him good to be in the mix.
“He is one of us now,” Devon says, reading my thoughts.
“Yes, he is.”
“Will Jess be one of us?” he asks.
“She left us no choice,” I say grimly. He doesn’t look happy, but I am sick of trying to be all happy-face about this when I could stake her myself for doing this.
My phone buzzes in my hand and I cast a quick glance. Blocked number. Oh, geez.
“I need to take this,” I say to Devon. “I’ll meet you at Roulette.”
“That’s where I’ll be,” he says, and he too saunters off.
“Cade. I thought I had a few more hours,” I say, answering the phone once alone.
“You do. I just wanted to check in, make sure you were thinking about me.”
“About you?”
“About my proposal,” he amends.
“Indeed. I don’t need until tomorrow. I agree. Although, I have conditions.”
“Of course, you do,” he replies.
“All of my own stay unharmed, you don’t even look at them funny and you tell me everything. Everything,” I reiterate.
“Done,” he says. “Just make sure I know exactly who ‘yours’ are. You know… just in case.”
“Cade,” I warn him.
“What? I don’t know, do I? Seems I am quite in the dark when it comes to you. You are bewitching.”
Bewitching?
“Everyone who is here with me is one of mine, and my husband of course.”
“He doesn’t need protecting from me. Is that all? I wouldn’t want to accidentally happen upon someone.”
He still doesn’t know about Cole? This is just bizarre.
“Well, we are a tight-knit group. It’s us and that is all.”
“So, the rest are fair game?”
“No! I didn’t say that.”
“I know, I’m just messing with you. You are so easily riled, it amuses me.”
“Humph.”
“I will do what I said I would do. I will protect you from those that wish you harm.”
“I’m still curious as to why you would do this? It goes against everything you were taught,” I say. Not one to poke the bear or anything….
“I know when to choose a side. Your rise to Power has shifted everything. And yet, I still get to do what I was born to do,” he corrects.
“Kill Vampires?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s just be clear on so
mething, Mr. Sinclair. You will not harm any Vampire, any being, unless they pose a threat. Do you understand that?”
“Yes, Mrs. O’Dell. I am quite clear on that. But you should be aware that there are those out there who oppose you.”
“I know. I just want you to know that if we do this, you do it on my terms.”
“Of course. So, do we have a deal?”
“Yes.”
“Unopposed?”
“Mine is the only vote that counts.”
“I see. A sole ruler. Good to know that I won’t have enemies.”
“I never said that,” I say slyly.
“Hm, I see that you will ensure that I don’t. My job is risky enough as it is.”
“Of course. You will be one of mine.”
“One of yours? That doesn’t sound very appealing to me,” he says.
“You will be one of mine so I can protect you. Otherwise it’s up to you.”
There is a pause as he thinks it over. “Do you think I will need protecting?”
“Cade. You are talking about being my security, protecting me against any threats that come to me. That puts you in a dangerous position. I will place you in my protection so I know you will be safe from undue threats from those who know differently.”
“You want me safe?” he asks with a smile in his voice.
“You can’t protect me if you aren’t.”
“I think I will like working for you. You are a straight shooter. And very different from what I thought.”
“I get that a lot. Can you tell me one thing, though?”
“You want to know the Vampire I killed,” he states.
“Yes.”
“His name was James. British, like you. Hated you. I took great delight in killing him.”
“James?” I stammer. “It was James?”
“Yes. You didn’t hold any affection for him, I assume, with the amount of hatred he had for you.”
“I…I killed his sire. He had every right to hate me,” I say sadly. There was no love lost between me and James at the end, but we did once feel something for each other.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED FORTY-SIX
Dublin, Ireland, 1825 – Leah
“Don’t look now but there is a gentleman staring at you from across the tavern,” Devon said to me.
“What does he look like?” I asked, patting my perfectly coiffed black hair vainly.
“Not really your type,” he answered.
I turned then, intrigued, and my green eyes landed on a bright blue pair belonging to a very handsome man with light blond hair. No, not my usual type, but I was in the mood for some fun and I sensed as he got closer that he was also a Vampire.
“May I?” he asked, pointing to the empty seat next to me. I looked at Devon, who shrugged. “I’ll leave you alone,” he whispered to me. I smiled gratefully at him.
“Please,” I said, “I am Leah.”
“I know who you are,” he said. “I’m James.”
“You know me?”
“Constantine’s girl. Aefre, is it?” he replied.
“Perhaps. Who do you belong to?” I asked rudely, as by a tacit arrangement among our kind, this was not a question that we should ask. I trailed a finger lightly over his arm.
“My Mistress is Eloise,” he said with a wicked glint.
Oh, that bitch. “Mistress?”
He ignored my question in favor of his own, “Do you like to play, Leah?”
“That depends on the game,” I said seductively. His eyes went darker as he gazed lustfully at me.
“I have something in mind,” he said quietly. “Come.” He took my hand and helped me rise.
“Where are we going?” I asked him as he pulled me out of the tavern.
“Wait and see.” He walked us down the banks of the River Liffey to an inn not too far away.
“I think you are being a bit presumptuous,” I huffed at him.
He led me into a bedroom and laughed softly at me. “You are free to leave if you don’t want to play.”
“Lucky for you, I am bored, so I will stay,” I said and smiled serenely at him.
He stepped closer. “You are very beautiful in this guise,” he murmured as he kissed me gently. “I prefer it to your natural look.”
I pulled away. “I beg your pardon?”
“You don’t have to pretend with me, I know of your ability.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “You seem to know an awful lot about me.”
“I came here looking for you.”
“Why, pray tell?”
“I wanted to make your acquaintance and being with you is going to go a long way in angering my sire. Something I am quite inclined to do right now.”
“I admire your honesty,” I said to him. I knew a thing or two about needing to anger your sire and I wouldn’t mind being the cause of such for that god-awful woman. “Never let it be said that I wasn’t happy to help out,” I said, and grabbed him, pulling him to me with a renewed sense of satisfaction as I pictured her face when she found out that I had defiled her boy. I was stronger than him, but only just and he let me take him my way. But only that once.
We fell into a pattern over the next few months of spending every day together, every night. He was fun and clever and in spite my initial reasons for being with him, I found that I liked him. He was a devil in the bedroom, made me call him “Master” and he called me his slave. I liked to play with him. I didn’t mind being submissive with him as I got to take out my domineering side on Devon straight after. The best of both. He told me he was falling in love with me, and I thought I was starting to feel the same. Little did I know it would all end in tears.
“Well, I won’t apologize for ending him. And certainly, not on your behalf,” Cade declares.
“No, I’m not upset, really. More just shocked that you managed it…I don’t mean that as an insult, as I have no idea as to your capabilities, but he was nearly as old as I am.”
“Hm, maybe so, but you really do have no idea as to my capabilities. Well, with regards to every other Vampire. You, on the other hand, are a tricky devil.”
“You have no idea,” I murmur.
“What will you tell your posse of us?”
Again? Why do I need to keep explaining myself?
“My posse, as you call it, will be pissed. Don’t expect a warm welcome.”
“Well, if I am to be by your side, you need to tell them something.”
“I will explain it. But I’m certain there will be no enthusiasm.”
“I can handle that. I just don’t want fangs in my neck the second I step through the door.”
I chuckle. “You wouldn’t say that if you knew what it felt like.”
“Not a chance, Queen Liv. I am off-limits.”
“Okay, deal. But remember, if you change your mind, my fangs are always available,” I tease.
“Never.”
“I will find it hard to resist you,” I taunt him.
“Oh? Why is that then?
“You are AB Neg. My blood of choice.”
“That’s just gross.”
I smile a slow predatory smile, “How do you think I came upon you in the first place?”
“Ergh,” he says with disgust. “You hunted me. Perhaps I should rethink this offer.”
“I did! I won’t bite you unless you ask me to. I can assure you.”
“I will hold you to that,” he mutters darkly.
“So, when do you start?”
“How about now?” he says from behind me.
I turn and hang up the phone. “Sure. But I need one thing from you first.”
“What is that?” He looks suspicious.
“Come with me.” I take his hand and lead him into the empty conference room.
I face him and tell him, “I need an oath from you, of your loyalty.”
“I already told you I wouldn’t harm those that are yours.”
“That isn’t how we do things. Your word is not your hon
or around here." I unbutton his shirt and he tries to stop me.
“What are you doing?”
“I need contact with you. This will only sting a little,” I say with a wicked smile as I Shift and place my hand over his heart. I dig my claws in and he flinches as I put pressure on him to kneel in front of me. He puts his hand up over mine and glares at me.
“Cade Sinclair, do you offer me your allegiance and loyalty? Your protection to me and my family?”
“I do,” he hisses.
I pull back my hand and he breathes in deeply as I slit my wrist, drawing blood. I wipe my finger over the cut and smear it onto his open wounds, much to his disgust. “We are bound now,” I say breezily. “You are incapable of hurting me or those I love, and you are sworn to protect me, just in case it was your plan to infiltrate and destroy from within,” I add.
He stands, buttoning up his shirt with a look that could kill. “I am hurt that you would think my intentions were less than honorable.”
“I haven’t lived this long without learning a thing or two about betrayal,” I tell him.
“Hm. I am curious. How long have you lived?”
“You don’t know?”
He shakes his head. “You are quite the mystery, it seems. They can’t find a single record of you.”
“Who are they?” I ask him again.
“The people I work for. Used to work for,” he amends. “I will tell you all about it sometime. Right now, I would like to get this show on the road.”
“Show?”
“The introductions. I want this over.”
“Okay, follow me. Oh, and a thousand and seventeen years.”
“Impressive. I knew you were strong the first time I saw you in Milan.”
“Now I am curious, were you there because of me?”
“So it would seem,” he says cryptically.
I find the boys at the Roulette table, where Devon is cleaning up as usual. I don’t know how he does it. Scott is delighted as his own winnings are piling up and even Sebastian has joined in on the action.
“Looks like you are having a good time,” I say to Devon.
He flashes his perfect grin at me. Happy again. “I don’t know why I don’t do this more often,” he says.
“You know why,” I mutter to him with a pointed look at the pit boss, who is glowering at him.