“I believe he’s leaving in a few days. I don’t expect I’ll be meeting his challenge.”
How senseless that Shain’s dream would collapse under a seemingly impossible request. “Don’t give up. Remember, be creative. Flip the script.”
Shain sighed while they strolled down the street back to his car. “Perhaps it’s not meant to be. I’m bled out of ideas.”
She bumped him with her elbow. “Very funny.”
Then it hit her. Blood. There was nothing a vampire coveted more.
She whirled to him. “What about me? Offer him me. My blood. Shiya blood.”
“You?” His face contorted in horror.
“Yes.” She gripped his muscular upper arms. “Think about it. Even for someone as old and rich as he is, I doubt he’s tasted shifter blood very often. Let alone a shiya’s. We’re isolated, most of us living in rural areas, constantly surrounded by our packs. I’ve been told our blood is like an adrenaline rush, times one hundred for a vampire—”
“No. A hundred times, no. Do you hear yourself?”
He smoothed her hair back, kissed her forehead, and guided her back to the car. Along the way, she tried to talk herself out of it, but didn’t see why he couldn’t at least consider it.
“Shain, I’m a healthy, thirty-year-old adult shifter. I can handle it.”
The car unlocked and they got in.
After he shut his door, he looked at her. “How would you know that for sure? You’ve never been bitten by one of my kind in your life.”
Not yet. She bit the corner of her lip. “Would you…want to be the first?”
Swallowing, she pulled the collar of her top away from her neck, offering it to him.
Shain looked over, his teeth sharpening before her eyes, his breathing ragged.
Her heart gave a little staccato, but she wasn’t frightened.
After that discussion with Sasha, she burned to experience it for herself.
A helpless, harsh exhale from Shain told her he was struggling; his voice was rough. “No, I can’t.” When she didn’t move away, his grip on the steering wheel tightened. He commanded, “Don’t offer such a thing to me. Ever.”
A prick of hurt made itself known as she slowly released her collar. “Why not?”
“Because I can protect you from vicious gossip from a thoughtless human, but I can’t protect you from my own thirst.”
“You’d never hurt me. I know that.”
“I wouldn’t want to, but… Shifter blood is not only special, it’s instantly addictive. Once taste of you and I might not ever want to stop until… I can’t guarantee I won’t.”
“But you’ve been taking Sasha’s blood for years and you’ve never hurt her.”
“It took me years to control my thirst for human blood before I could take a whilling. I’ve only tasted shifter blood twice in my lifetime. Small samples. Never from the vein. Both times, even in those minuscule measurements, took me hours to process the withdrawals. The craving for more is almost unbearable.”
Oh. So, he wouldn’t be her first after all. Not like that.
“What about Tanaka? Do you think he could control himself? Since he’s lived a lot longer than you?” she asked.
“I’m guessing he could manage much easier than I. He’s set to become a Vesser in the next century, and for him to already be considered for that privilege, means he can be trusted. If I set the conditions, and was there to watch him, his honor would dictate that he—no. I don’t know that for sure. We’re not doing it.”
She was determined to set his misgivings aside. “What if it was enough to get you the alliance, though? If you knew that for sure, would you do it? You would.”
He opened his mouth as if to argue, then looked down.
She placed her hand on his shoulder. “A few minutes, a little blood, to…what did you say? ‘Set you and your family for life’? I think it’s at least worth a try. Shain, I want to do this for you. I don’t have any experience with this, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m asking. I’m well aware. You’ll protect me every step of the way, right? You said there’s little to no pain. And…” Her cheeks heated at her next confession. “I’m curious to know what it’s like. One time.”
He thought about it, studying her as though expecting her to change her mind.
Finally, he caressed her cheek with one hand, shaking his head. “Do you know how extraordinary you are? Or are you just making it up as you go along?”
“I won’t be extraordinary unless this works.”
“Oh, no.” He drew her close for a kiss. “It’s already done.”
Chapter Twenty
The coven mansion always creaked soundly under a gloomy day.
Shain rocked in his executive chair, staring at the garden of black and red roses below, waiting for Tanaka. Other than the night on the boat, they hadn’t been face to face, although they spoke over the phone nightly.
Kimber’s offer ate at Shain like a snake trying to swallow a steer.
The deadline approached. It was Wednesday night, and he had to meet with Tanaka before Kimber departed for the villa tomorrow. He’d checked with her to confirm her mind was made up.
If Tanaka was amenable to the offer, then Shain planned to have Kimber drive to the villa, and from there, be chauffeured to the manor. He didn’t want to spoil the aura of the villa, in case things turned unpleasant.
The entire afternoon he’d contemplated all possible consequences. The bad, and the very bad. He had to prepare an answer for every question Tanaka might ask to trip him up. Subtle lies and veiled truths were part of the verbal game vampires played every day. Shain would have no problem with that.
He would have a problem with the aristocratic pürblood if he so much as flinched in Kimber’s direction. Considering all scenarios meant including a hostile reaction to the mere presence of a shifter.
Nevertheless, Kimber had several things in her favor.
Most notably, her beauty. No vampire could resist admiring a face like hers, regardless of heritage. Second, her age. Her guileless air would intrigue Tanaka, who seldom encountered shifters, yet alone one so much younger than he. And third, Shain. He was in her favor. Forever in her favor for even suggesting it. Regardless of which way it swung, he’d never forget it—or her.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
His cell phone filled with three more email notifications.
Allies were getting restless for answers.
Had he always been that involved? Could they not make a move without his approval?
No, he reminded himself, they can’t, and you designed it that way.
The only fortunate aspect of Tanaka’s unexpected arrival was the fact Shain could use it to suspend communication with his allies. After sending polite but terse replies that he was indisposed for a good reason, every single one apologized and begged off from needing a response to their tedious questions.
“Tanaka has arrived,” Brooks announced on the intercom. “Shall I call the kitchen to send up a cart?”
Shain stood, buttoning his suit jacket. No need to go overboard; he was about to offer him what most vampires would never, ever be offered. “No, thank you. What I have in my bar is sufficient.”
He took his time making his way to the foyer, one hand in his pocket, mouth in a flat line. While respect would always be extended to Rhyuu, he couldn’t feign enthusiasm or extend any special reverence, for he knew the alliance was not forthcoming.
By the gods, he’d pictured this so differently.
Tanaka bowed, and Shain did the same.
“Welcome.” He escorted him down the long walk back to his office. “What do you think of Atlanta so far?”
“I’ve enjoyed my stay.”
“Good to hear.”
Atlanta was one of the best cities in America, steaming with culture, circled with elegance, vibrant yet sophisticated, old world mingling with the new. It’d always be his main home.
He stopped at his door a
nd waited for Tanaka to go in first.
“I have to say, I expected more of a chase from you, Trevyn.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my hearing. You told me not to bother with the chase.” He went to stand behind his desk.
“You’d be astounded how many hear what I say but don’t actually listen.” Tanaka nodded at Shain’s look of surprise. “Oh yes, just because you stand high in your community doesn’t mean people can hear what you’re saying from up there. The challenges don’t stop. The problems, the inconsistencies. The disappointments.”
“Such is life.” Shain gestured for him to sit, then did the same. “Thank you for coming.”
“Yes, I was eager to. I take it you have something in mind.”
His reluctance showed through his hesitancy. But he promised Kimber he’d at least present the idea, but at the last second, chose not to share exactly what it would be. “I do, but we must go out of the city. There’s a manor, about two hours from here, one of the coven’s oldest properties. Discretion is important.”
Tanaka’s interest—however subtle—was piqued. “Done. Send the address.”
That was all? No questions? Well, perhaps the more mystery about it, the more exciting for him. Not much mystery in life when you’re a vampire. And since Tanaka probably couldn’t guess what Shain had in store, the reveal would be even more shocking.
“Excellent. We’ll say eight o’clock.” Enough time for his driver to pick Kimber up from the villa and bring her to the manor. He didn’t mean to sound bored as he checked his cell phone when it vibrated. “I look forward to it.”
Tanaka continued to watch him. “Why do you want my alliance, Mr. Trevyn?”
It was the first instance Tanaka had used his name with a title, and that drew Shain’s focus back on him. “Haven’t I answered this already?”
“Not really. If you’ll recall, I made my assumptions and commanded you not to answer.” He adjusted in his chair, as if getting comfortable for a long conversation. “I realized that was uncouth. I’ve been meaning to apologize. I tend to make a lot of assumptions in my extensive age. Quick to assume, slow to regret. You’ll know what I mean in time.”
Shain sat back in his chair.
Tanaka, apologizing? To him?
Shain hadn’t even been offended. “No apology necessary, sir. My reasons for an alliance are likely the same as anyone’s.”
Tanaka raised a finger, as if he was a detective who’d discovered a clue. “A-ha. ‘Likely’ is the operative word.” He shook that finger with a tsk-tsk. “No, no. I don’t think so. While facts and figures on paper are all well and good, conversation is everything. I changed my mind about seeking out others and made the rounds at the places you frequent. I talked to the owners, the hosts, the vendors, the servers. The building manager at your loft. Anyone who could be lured to give information. Without being disloyal.” Tanaka steepled his long fingers. “How one treats these individuals speaks more than his fortune ever will. To align with someone of certain character is to say you approve of that character. I must admit I expected little, because your allies are mostly common. Common of vampires in their station, that is. Frankly, you weren’t very discerning.”
Shain had no misgivings with his choices. “I aligned with whom I needed to. You’re the first one I ever…wanted to.”
Tanaka gave a single nod. “Now we’re getting somewhere.” He went to the bar, picking up the decanters one by one, plucking off their tops and circling them under his nose. “I smell Jameson. Into the economical brands, are we?”
“Not every liquor has to be hundreds of dollars to taste fine.”
“I agree.” And he poured the Jameson. “Join me?”
“I’ll take the gin. The ice spheres are in the drawer next to you.”
Tanaka seemed happy to oblige and brought him a glass. “You haven’t asked me what the others have said about you,” he remarked, sitting back in the chair, setting an ankle on his knee.
“And I won’t. Those inquiries were for your knowledge, not mine.”
“You’re not curious to hear what they said?”
“If satisfying my curiosity doesn’t serve me, no. If you think it’s important to share, by all means.”
Shain knew how he treated others and their establishments. Regardless of the circumstances, he never wavered from being respectful, courteous, and appreciative. He’d learned—early on—that those in his coven who acted entitled received the minimal service they paid for, nothing extra. If one expressed genuine gratitude and tipped generously, if one inquired about others’ families, donated to their interests, and didn’t treat them like servants, the service was raised exponentially. On several occasions he encouraged others to do the same, but they dismissed him as being soft-hearted, and his advice fell on deaf ears.
And yet, this soft heart experienced the very best each club, restaurant, lounge, bank, hotel, and art gallery offered. And his allies thought it was just because he was “new money.”
Tanaka sipped his whiskey. “I suppose you don’t need to hear. By the look on your face, you already know the impact you’ve made on people, and their opinions of you.”
Shain hid a small smile with a sip of his drink.
“I find it… What’s the word?” Tanaka paused. “Hmm. Maybe it’s a combination. I find it disturbingly fascinating that you treat those below your class with the same graciousness as you do your equals. That isn’t a quality found in my circles. Something you’d eventually have to wean yourself off of, if you seek approval in the uppermost echelons of vampire society.”
Shain frowned. And then gave a mental pause.
Was all this talk telling him Tanaka was considering an alliance? Would he go through the trouble of vetting Shain if he wasn’t otherwise?
Even so, he didn’t enjoy being told he’d have to change his manners in order to “fit in.” It was one of the many reasons he became ravenously wise in finances, real estate, investments, and mergers. He wanted to reach the peak where no one could tell him what to do or how to think, so he wouldn’t have to agree with idiotic beliefs or laugh at insipid jokes. And now the only elite vampire he admired had just told him what he didn’t want to hear.
“Is approval required to maintain a status such as yours?” Shain asked.
“Required? No.” Tanaka linked his hands together. “Wise? Yes. You should be aware the game doesn’t end at the zenith. It simply evolves. The players. The rules. The board on which we play. Much more complex than what you’re used to.”
“Why does this sound like you’re trying to dissuade, even warn me, about pursuing an alliance with you?”
“It is a warning. I sense you think you know what you’d be getting into. But you’ve only skimmed the surface.”
“Well, I won’t be dissuaded.”
“I would hope not. I just want to be candid. Now, back to my original inquiry,” Tanaka said, setting his empty crystal on the desk. “Why do you desire an alliance with me? And before you answer,” he interjected as Shain shifted, “Trifling responses like wealth, influence, prestige are basic. Be honest. I’ll know when you’re holding back. If I’m going to align my reputation and word with someone, I want no secret agenda. Whatever it is, I need to know now, not later. And if I decline this alliance, you have my word I won’t share your reasons with anyone.”
This was why he’d chosen Tanaka.
Men in his circle expected to be seduced, their cocks sucked, asses kissed, so to speak. Not Tanaka. He stood out because he wasn’t easily won over. After considering over twenty other elite vampires, Shain wasn’t impressed by any of them, until he’d overheard someone at the last Centurias utter, “An alliance with Rhyuu Tanaka has to be the most challenging of them all.”
His decision had been made, no matter how long it took him.
What did he have to lose by telling Tanaka his deepest dream?
Only everything.
But Shain Trevyn had gotten to where he was because he pl
owed into obstacles others didn’t dare to go through. His gut said to go for it, even while his heart thudded furiously in fear.
The time was now.
He steeled his nerves and began. “Ours is the longest history in the underworld in this realm. We are the ones who gave the early humans the idea of tradition, because without it, things would change even faster than they naturally should, inciting madness, lack of principles, no utopia—however unobtainable—to strive for. And what have we learned but that every species needs goals bigger than themselves to thrive?”
He cleared his throat. “We’ve thrived, even while we begrudgingly evolved to continue to do so. We believe we are where we are because the elite are limited in number, but with unlimited power. Although we haven’t collectively changed, the world has, and it’s become increasingly challenging to keep our underworld a myth. Once and again, we’ll have to evolve. And soon.”
A purposeful pause was given to discern if Tanaka was with him so far, or already against him.
The man’s brows lowered. “I’m listening.”
The passion billowing inside Shain wouldn’t let him stay seated. He got up and paced. “This realm has changed more in the last fifty years than it has in the last two thousand. The technology, the ease of recording, the rapid population growth of humans, the opioid epidemic and processed foods making it harder for us to find untainted blood. These are simmering problems, eventually coming to a boil, Tanaka.”
A frowned turned Rhyuu’s mouth. “I agree. We are at a precipice no one wants to discuss.”
Shain stopped pacing. “There, respectfully, you’re wrong. There are many discussions, just not at the elite level. From what I’ve gathered over the last quarter century, these issues are largely dismissed.” In case Tanaka was offended, Shain was sure to add, “Not because of ignorance or blindness, mind you, but because we’ve survived thousands of years, from natural disasters that drove us out of the shadows to wars that forced us to fight, to plagues that forced us to near starvation. We’ve come through it all. And so, the elites assume we’ll survive what’s coming, too.”
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