Chapter Four

Dinah

I was annoyed at Luke for taking a call. It reminded me of Blake and how business always came first. Then again, Luke had promised to reopen the club at my request, so if his call had anything to do with that, I couldn't be upset. I stepped up to the small desk to the right as soon as I entered the building. The interior was quaint with lit sconces flickering against dark paneling. A bar sat along the wall to the left where several patrons were having a drink.

The hostess appeared from around the wall behind the desk. "Good evening. Just one?"

"No, my date is right behind me. He had to take a phone call."

"Would you like to wait or be seated?"

"Be seated, please."

The pretty woman pulled two menus from underneath the desk. "Right this way." I followed through the dining room and took the chair the hostess indicated. "Justine will be your server."

"Thank you." I opened the menu while I waited on Luke. He slid into the seat next to me a few minutes later. "Everything okay?"

Luke smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm not sure. My assistant called but hung up before I could answer. When I dialed her back, it went to voicemail. I'll worry about her later."

The server stepped up to our table. "Good evening. My name is Justine… Oh, hello, Mr. Bennett. What can I get you to drink?"

Luke gestured for me to go first. "I'll have a gin and tonic with extra lime."

"I'll have my usual," Luke ordered without looking at her.

"Coming right up." Justine didn't linger.

I smirked at Luke when he glanced my way. "So, Mr. Benett, I take it you come here often?"

Luke still seemed tense, so unlike the man I'd met earlier. "Often enough. Did you have a chance to look at the menu?"

"Not really." I perused the dinner offerings, which were several steps up from jambalaya and crawfish étouffée. Some of it I'd never heard of, so I chose a red snapper and crab plate. By the time I decided, Justine was back with our drinks.

"Would you care for an appetizer?" she asked, not looking at Luke.

"None for me. It'll spoil my main course. Luke?"

He declined, and we both ordered. I got the snapper, and he ordered the pithivier. It was one of the dishes I didn't recognize, so I would be able to see what it was without asking. Justine took our menus, and I picked up my gin, holding it out toward Luke. He raised his Scotch, and I toasted, "To the beginning of a new partnership." We clanked our glasses and each took a sip.

"Partnership, huh?" Luke asked, his head tilted. He scanned the restaurant before bringing his eyes back to me. He was clearly distracted.

"Yes. I'm counting on you to continue managing the club. From what I saw of the numbers, you're quite good at it."

Luke set his glass down but kept his long fingers wrapped around it. "I'll be honest with you, Dinah. Your father was the reason the club did so well. He was a gifted musician, and he had a large following. Nobody can replace him, but we will need to hire someone to play each night. It is a jazz club, after all." Luke lifted his glass, but it froze in front of his face as he looked around. A man just as handsome as Luke appeared out of nowhere and took the seat next to me.

"Pardon the interruption," he said.

Luke straightened in his seat, placing his glass on the table with a thunk. "What are you doing here, Laurent?"

Laurent focused on me. His eyes were lavender, so I assumed he wore contacts. He stared at me with the same intensity Luke had when I first met him. Laurent leaned closer. "You will remember nothing of this conversation."

What an odd thing to say. The air around us felt heavy, the way it had when Luke said I should sell him the club.

Laurent stared at me a beat before turning his gaze to Luke. He lowered his voice to barely a whisper. "You have a problem, Brother."

"We've already established that, but why are you in my territory?"

Brother? Territory? I picked up my drink and took a sip, avoiding either man's eyes.

Laurent leaned back and angled toward Luke. "I'm here because I had a visit from Edward."

"What's he doing in the States?" Luke asked.

"He came to warn me." Since Laurent was under the assumption I wouldn't remember this conversation, I kept my gaze locked on a painting across the room. He didn't continue speaking because Justine took that moment to deliver our food.

"Oh, I didn't realize you had a third person. What can I get you to drink, Sir?"

"A double of your most expensive bourbon, neat."

"Would you like a menu as well?" she asked.

"No, thank you."

Justine gestured to our plates. "Can I get you anything else?"

"We're all set, Justine. Thank you," Luke responded, but I asked for another drink. I had a feeling I was going to need it. Once she was across the room, Luke asked, "Warn me about what?" Luke didn't touch his food, and when he noticed me not eating, he said, "You should eat, Dinah."

I nodded wordlessly and picked up my fork. I was no longer hungry, but I couldn't let on that this conversation bothered me.

Laurent drummed his fingers on the table as Justine returned with his drink. "Thank you." He took a sip, waiting for her to retreat. "Did you know Lillith created more of us?"

Created? What the actual hell? I almost choked on my bite of fish.

"No, I didn't. When did this happen?"

"According to Edward, about forty years ago. They're spread out in the western part of the world. Or at least they were, hence, your problem."

"Are you telling me a new Ancient is here? Why didn't you call me?"

"And have someone eavesdrop on our conversation? You know better, Lukas. I made sure there were none of your coven here before I sat down. I couldn't even trust a letter not to fall into the wrong hands. Neither could Edward. These new Ancients are ruthless. They aren't satisfied with what Lillith gave them. Edward took one out about six months ago. Before going after Edward, Titus, the new bastard, killed Elizabeth."

Luke grabbed my free hand. "How is he even functioning?"

Laurent noticed the gesture. Arching a brow, he asked, "Something you want to tell me, Brother?"

Luke jerked his hand back as though he'd been burned. "No. She's just the new owner of the club. Nothing more."

Well hell. Call me all kinds of a fool, but I thought the flowers meant something. That this date meant he was interested.

Laurent continued. "Edward loved Elizabeth, but she wasn't his beloved. Still, he is now ruled by vengeance. Before Edward took Titus's head, he compelled him to spill where other newbies are ruling. They're spread out in Africa and Asia for the most part, but Titus said a few were coming after our territories. After he met with me, Edward sharpened his sword and set out for South Africa."

"How do you know one is in my territory?"

"I don't, but after what happened to Doug, I assumed it was an Ancient because one of your coven wouldn't risk your wrath. Would they?"

Luke rubbed his temples. When he looked up, his eyes were the same odd lavender color of Laurent's. I gasped, unable to stop myself.

"Are you okay?" Luke asked.

"Please excuse me. I need to use the restroom." I grabbed my purse and stood before he could stop me. I passed Justine who had my fresh drink. I took it from her, drank it all down, then placed the empty on the tray. I continued to the back of the restaurant where the bathrooms were. I sequestered myself in one of the stalls and sat down on the toilet. I attempted to make sense of the conversation, but I couldn't. I also couldn't stay there. I needed distance between myself and… Hell, I couldn't comprehend what Luke and Laurent could possibly be if they were created. I pulled out my phone and ordered a ride. There was a car nearby, less than two minutes away, so I exited the bathroom, checking the hallway to ensure Luke hadn't followed. When the coast was clear, I found the back door. Nobody stopped me, so I pushed it open and stepped out into the muggy air, running into a hard body.

"Excuse me," I apologized.

"Hello, Dinah."

I snapped my head up at my name. Like Luke and Laurent, this man was stunning. Unlike them, his eyes were an eerie red, and his canines extended into ominous points. It was almost Halloween, and I wondered if he was in costume. If he was, it was a good one, but vampires weren't real. When I tried to step around him, he reached for me, his nails digging into my upper arms. I dropped my purse in an effort to fight him off, but he was too strong. Tossing me over his shoulder as though I weighed nothing, he then took off running with a strong arm banded around my thighs.

"Luke!" I tried to call out, but it was nothing more than a croak. The beast, because this was no human, moved with a speed that was incomprehensible. Normally, I wasn't the type to get queasy, but hanging upside down wasn't doing me any favors. Neither was the ground that was nothing more than a blur.

"Dinah!" Luke yelled, although it sounded farther away than it should. How far had the beast run? Were there not people on the sidewalks witnessing my abduction? None of this made sense. Maybe I was back at the hotel, having fallen asleep, and in the midst of a nightmare. Would it be considered a nightmare during the day? A daymare? Shit, I was losing my mind.

When the beast finally stopped, he dropped me to the ground. I barely resisted the bile threatening to spew forth as I landed hard on my ass. "She's all yours," he said to someone.

A female squatted in front of me a few feet away, studying me like a specimen under a microscope. "I should have kept your father alive long enough to see what happens next."

"You killed my father?"

"Sure did. Bastard was a sucker for a pretty face. Then again, so am I." She cupped my cheeks in her hands and leaned forward, pressing her lips to mine. I was so stunned that I didn't register the pain in my neck until she moved back, studying her hand. Long claws dripped with blood, which she licked. "Mmm, you taste so sweet. Too bad Lukas won't get here in time to save you. He'll fail you just as he failed your father." She stood, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder.

I was already dizzy from the zooming, but now I felt as though I were going to pass out. My neck throbbed, and when I grabbed it, it was wet. I pulled my hand away, and it was coated in blood. I wasn't going to faint; I was dying.

"Why?" I managed to ask.

"To send a message. Lukas Benoit is weak. He leads peacefully, and that's not what we were created to do." She put a finger to my forehead and pushed. I fell backwards, gasping for air. As darkness overtook me, I thought I should have stayed in Nashville.

Lukas

I stared off after Dinah. She grabbed her fresh drink from Justine's tray and drank it all down before continuing to the bathroom. I had no problem with a woman who could hold her liquor, but her vibe had been all wrong when she rose from the table.

Laurent swirled the amber liquor in his glass. "You know, Brother, there's nothing wrong with taking a queen."

"And have her end up like Elizabeth? No, thank you. I've already lost her father. I won't put Dinah in harm's way." Of all the other Ancients – my brothers – I was closest with Laurent. He and I were most alike and chose territories relatively close. Where I ruled the southeast, Laurent's area was the southwest region of the US.

"She's Doug's daughter?" I nodded, and he sighed. "She's already at risk by being seen with you. Thank Lillith I compelled her to forget our conversation, or she might have been hurt at your dismissal of your feelings."

"There are no feelings," I lied.

Laurent shook his head. "You can lie to yourself, but I know you. You wouldn't have gotten so close to Doug if you didn't crave a partner."

My fangs extended before I could stop them, and someone shrieked. I waved a hand the waitress's direction, and said, "You saw a Halloween costume." Dazed, she walked away. Dazed… "Holy goddess, Dinah's eyes. Laurent, I'm not sure she was compelled. Fuck, I totally forgot. When we were at the club, I compelled her to sell the place to me, and she said she would need to think it over instead of agreeing."

"If that's the case, she knows too much. You have to remake her. Or end her permanently."

"No!" I took a deep breath. "No. I want her, but I will not risk her. Not while there's an unknown killer in my territory."

"Like I said, she's already at risk. All you can do is keep her with you at all times until the threat is neutralized."

I downed my drink as I waited for Dinah to return from the restroom. My skin prickled, and I set the glass down. "There's someone close. Do you feel it?"

"Yes. I'll pay the tab while you—" Laurent and I froze as several of my coven ran into the restaurant. Before I knew what was happening, they started attacking the humans. Those who weren't being targeted screamed and scrambled toward the door.

Fuck! "Stop!" I commanded both humans and vamps. The humans froze before they could get outside. The vamps turned their red eyes my way, blood soaking their lips. I stalked to the nearest one. "What the fuck are you doing?"

"Feeding."

"In a fucking public restaurant?"

"He told us to."

"Who told you to?"

"Scary vamp. Didn't get his name."

Laurent fisted his hands. "This is a diversion. Go get your female. I'll handle this."

I ran to the back where the restrooms were located, and I knocked on the door. Pushing it open a crack, I called her name. "Dinah? Is everything okay?" When she didn't answer, I entered the small room, but it was empty. Since she hadn't returned to the front of the restaurant, I found the back door and exited the building. The air was filled with scents I recognized, and Dinah's was the most prominent. Her purse was on the ground. While I had been distracted, someone had taken my female. My fangs dropped as I roared, "Dinah!"

I had no idea which way she'd been taken, but that didn't stop me from trying to find her. I used my advanced sight to search for anything amiss. I sped back and forth in every direction, coming up empty. With each mile I traveled, my anger rose so high I almost missed the scent of fresh blood. I slowed to follow it, already knowing what I would find. Dinah's essence was buried deep within me. I found her body, dumped behind a group of bushes. I lifted her out, cradling her to me. Lillith must have been in a giving mood because Dinah was still breathing. Barely. As with her father, I didn't hesitate. I sank my fangs into her neck, draining her. Her blood, unlike most, was sweet, like it had honey mixed in. It lit me up from the inside, and something about that niggled my brain. I sliced my wrist and forced my blood into her mouth, massaging her throat so she would swallow.

I didn't want her to come to in the middle of nowhere, so I stood and raced to my nearest house where I placed her in the middle of my bed. While I waited for her to wake up, I removed her ruined blouse, then washed the blood off her neck where she'd been clawed open. Having ingested my blood, the wound was already stitching back together. I retrieved one of my shirts from the closet and slid it on her. While I buttoned it, I admired her full breasts encased in a lace bra. They were spectacular, and I hoped to one day get the chance to hold them in my palms and roll her nipples while my cock was buried deep in her pussy. I rolled the sleeves up since they were too long, then I moved across the room and stood leaning against the doorframe, my eyes never leaving her. I had always ruled my coven alone. I never planned to take a queen, yet here was this divine creature who reached into my soul and latched on. I felt it the moment our hands touched outside The Limelight. The fact that neither mine nor Laurent's compulsion worked on her should have clued me in to how special she was. What truly convinced me that she was the one being designed just for me was what I experienced while draining her. Only one of my brothers had found his mate, and it was exactly as Roberto had described it.

I had given Dinah my eternal kiss, and from this day forward, no one else would share my body. I would feed from nobody else. No one other than my beloved. My beloved. And Lillith help anyone who threatened her ever again. Had Doug's death been some kind of unholy intervention? Had Lillith known Dinah was my beloved, putting Doug in my path all those years ago? Would she forgive me for turning her instead of letting her die? I was about to find out.