Chapter 1

Ben stared across the club. The writhing mass of bodies on the dance floor below made his fangs ache. He sniffed at the bottled blood in his glass and then threw it to the floor. Tonight he wanted the real stuff, straight from a warm body that would squirm and panic and then finally succumb.

“What’s wrong, Crofton?”

Robin was sitting petting one of his current hangers-on, a pretty red-head who hoped he would turn her. They never learnt. He wouldn’t fuck her either… but that was a different preference that had little to do with her blood type and more that the next Viscount Whetford preferred men.

“I fancy a live performance.”

“You only had to say. I’m sure Kirsty here could go and find you someone. What do you fancy?”

“I’m not fussy.”

Robin snorted. “Of course you aren’t.”

“I meant when it comes to the wrapping. Vibrant, red and warm, the vessel is immaterial.”

Robin grabbed Kirsty’s chin, making her look at him, Robin’s thrall had always been special. “Go and find Lord Crofton someone pretty. Understood?”

She nodded and stood then, barefoot, she padded away. Ben picked up his martini, this place had the most marvellous witch mixologists, and turned back to Robin. “I hear there’s wedding bells in your future.”

Robin huffed. “Only in the sense that the minimum waiting period is up in three months, but I’ve not heard that MacLove’s father is in any hurry.”

“I suppose it would curtail your activities somewhat.”

“There are ways and means around the peculiarities of any contract, even if it was made to shackle me to a vampire-fae. Only someone truly special could do that.”

“Aren’t vampire-fae, by their nature, special? There are people who deny their existence.”

“There are idiots everywhere. Although between you and me, no one’s shown me conclusive proof that MacLove is one. It’s all rumour. They’re such an old family, and James has been the only Dark Earl, so who knows what he’s hiding. Maybe the vampire-fae and the legends around them are just that.”

Ben wasn’t sure either way, but there were some secrets that were closely guarded by the Vampire Council, and during his time working on the periphery, he’d never met the Dark Earl of MacLove. “Still, some of those contracts have bonds with subclauses that mean you’ll have no desire to look elsewhere. You could find yourself enchanted and ensnared.”

Robin smirked although there was an edge to it that Ben couldn’t decipher. “If that is true, which I do not believe to be the case, then that’s even more reason not to marry him too soon. And I know a few friendly warlocks who’ll help me get past a bit of fae hocus-pocus.”

Ben was grateful he’d not been successful in his offer to marry Simon, the earl’s son. He’d been instructed by the Head of the House of Hewel to put himself forward as a contender, but in the end, he had lost out to Robin, although he’d didn’t think it a failure and he wasn’t disappointed in the least. “But you must be curious about him.”

“I suppose so, as I’ve not even met him. Well, not really. When the contract was signed he was a babe in arms, so it doesn’t count and that was seventy-five years ago.” He laughed and knocked back his gin sour. “Who knows what I’ve let myself in for.”

Ben snorted. Robin had been keen enough back then to be the one to unite the houses of Hewel and Cartwright, but that had been before he’d made a name for himself in LA, where the beautiful people flocked to him for even a dusting of his influence. “You should ask for his photograph. See when he stopped ageing. He could be an old man now.”

“Fuck off, Crofton.”

“Well, he could be, and how would that make you look in front of the hordes of your Hollywood wannabes who drape themselves across you hoping you’ll make them a star? Robin Flint, attractive, with timeless looks, blond hair and blue eyes… I’d say even beautiful if I’m drunk and being charitable, and a wizened, bent old prune on your arm.”

Robin rolled his eyes. “You need not concern yourself, like I said there are ways and means to ensure I have the lifestyle I prefer.”

“I’m sure Dorian will understand.”

“Dorian is never a consideration. As if I would ever permanently associate with a dragon shifter. He has delusions that serve my needs when I wish.”

“Come on, Robin, he’s gorgeous, and fucks like a god.” He played every so often with Robin, friends with benefits and nothing more, but a few times Dorian had been part of the mix. He was the quintessential Hollywood dreamboat, although no human would guess the A-lister could get smoking hot in the literal sense.

“He’s pretty enough, but that’s about it.”

Ben almost spilt the drink he was holding as someone landed next to him on the sofa.

“Oi, watch it.”

“Sorry, Ben. But I thought I saw you two.” Isaac grinned, his baby face and sandy curls lured many into forgiving the sod before they should.

“Isaac, aren’t you a little young to be here,” drawled Robin.

The newly turned would always be a butt of the joke, although to be fair to Isaac he’d been a vampire nearly twenty years now and Ben thought the Dark Duke of Denmouth had been right to choose him as his heir after the disastrous incident with his previous choice.

“Does His Grace know you’re out?” Ben asked.

Isaac nodded behind him, and Ben spotted two of the elite Vampire Council security guards, usually reserved for Council members. “Of course, both Richard and Jacob are aware. I appreciate the extra scrutiny.”

“Jacob? He’s involved?” The first duke had long since retired, passing his title and Council seat to Richard two centuries before. “I doubt Charles would like it if Anthony were to stick his nose into House of Hewel business.”

Robin leant forwards. “I agree, why would he be involved now?”

“Richard sought his wisdom over the situation in which Jennifer caused… worry. As far as I’m concerned, it’s fine. They have to answer to Liam, and if I fuck up, he’ll be annoyed. Last thing I want is to annoy my Head of House.”

Liam Cartwright was the Head of the House of Cartwright, and Ben wouldn’t want to annoy him either, fucking lunatic might be too soft a mantle.

Kirsty returned. He would circle back to this conversation at a later date, talking to Charles, as the current Dark Earl of Crofton, to see if he had more insights. As far as his own House was concerned, it would have taken something monumental to have a previous tenant be involved.

Ben examined the lovely specimen Kirsty had brought with her, he was young, barely into his twenties and dressed in black jeans and a mesh top, with pale skin. The sort of ubiquitous type who’d read too much gothic horror and thought vampires were romantic, Ben ached to sample him. He patted the space between himself and Isaac.

“How about we get to know each other better? What’s your name?”

“Kel.”

He turned up his thrall a notch, not wanting to work too hard for his dinner. “Well, Kel, I’m Ben and this is Isaac. Come here.”

Kel did as he was told, sitting close and Ben enjoyed the warmth from a live human being pressed against him. He traced a finger across Kel’s neck, he could feel the beat of Kel’s heart, he could smell his life blood running through his veins. Ben slid his hand across Kel’s stomach and pressed a kiss under his jaw.

“You’re so tempting.” His fangs descended. “I’m not one to deny myself pleasures.”

He extended his incisors and plunged them into the soft flesh of Kel’s neck, piercing his jugular, and drank deeply, the rich tang of Kel’s blood like the sweetest nectar. Kel made a soft mewing noise, he was one of the submissive types, probably used to being sampled. He didn’t often drain them these days, they tended to be a useful reserve for clubs like this.

Ben glanced up as Isaac tapped him on the shoulder. He should learn better etiquette. “Any good?”

He withdrew and sat back. “You want a taste? Perhaps you’d like to try first?”

Isaac smirked and leant in and they shared a kiss, he’d done more than kiss Isaac in the past and the taste of Kel’s blood and Isaac made him hard. Once they’d sated their blood lust he’d take Isaac home to sate another need.

Kel made a keening noise. “So hot,” he muttered.

Ben grinned and sat back in his seat. “All yours, Isaac. But remember we need to release Kel back into the herd.”

Isaac bared his fangs and swooped down to claim his meal. He was an attractive lad, Isaac’s sire always had an eye for the pretty ones, even if they weren’t always the most stable.

He heard Robin snort. “Are you taking Denmouth home?”

“Jealous?”

Robin pouted. “Always.”

Robin was not one to get clingy, but he didn’t like missing out on anything.

“Then you can come with us.” Ben stroked his fingers through Isaac’s hair as he fed. “He can be very amenable. Likes a firm hand.”

Adding Robin into the night would give it an eclectic mix. One Ben was very much looking forward to.

“But, Robin, what about me?”

Ben had almost forgotten Kirsty was there. Robin reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and handed her a little bag of white powder. “You’ll be flying solo, sweetheart.”

She didn’t argue but took the coke and slunk away. She’d have no trouble finding company.

Kel made a whimpering noise. Isaac needed to stop. Ben tapped his arm. “Enough. Or he’ll be too far gone and I don’t want to get bitched at by Gabriele for running down his stock.”

Isaac pulled back and wiped a trickle of blood away with his thumb. Ben wanted to fuck him while he put that pretty mouth to work on Robin. “Let’s head home shall we, gentlemen?”

“Crofton Hall?” Isaac asked.

“No, I’ve a little place I keep on The Strand. You’ll love it. Or at least you’ll love what I’ve in mind.”

Ben removed a few notes from his wallet. He had a tab, but this was to thank the servers who’d cleaned up Kel, it was always a good idea to tip the staff well. He led Isaac and Robin out of the club, an exclusive place in Chelsea specially invited members of London’s vampire elite gained access to. A car drew up and they were whisked across the city.

“I heard Marchent got called to a Council meeting,” Robin said. “Do you know why?”

Ben shook his head and rested his hand on Isaac’s thigh. “No. I’m sure if it’s important Charles will let me know. The Council like to flex their muscles, half the time it’s nothing more than hot air or a perceived slight.”

“Sounds hideous.”

They arrived at The Strand and as they reached the concierge the tell-tale signs of a level-three demon manifestation stopped him. His valet appeared from the rolls of black smoke, the only sign of his agitation was his horns weren’t as polished as usual.

“Karl, I didn’t expect you to be here tonight.”

“Apologies, my lord. I thought it wise to intercept you. Lord Crofton is in the apartment.”

Given some of Charles’s recent jibes in Ben’s direction around his choice of bed partners and that he wasn’t going to find his Eternal the way he was going about things, Ben didn’t want to show up with Robin and Isaac in tow with obvious plans for a spot of fun.

“Is Charles entertaining Timothy?”

“No, my lord. His lordship said he was waiting for you.”

Robin slapped Isaac on the arm. “Looks like a change of plan. You can come to mine if you want. You’ll have to do as you’re told, though. I’m a bit more authoritarian than Ben.”

Isaac smirked. “Yes, sir.”

Ben needed better quality friends, but he had other things to worry about with Charles arriving unannounced. “Karl, did he say why he was here? He doesn’t tend to track me down on a night when I’m… busy.”

“No, my lord. He did mutter something about a Council meeting and how he’d be well shot of the lot of them.”

Ben did not like the sound of that one bit.

He followed Karl into the lift to the top floor of the building and Karl was quick to open the door. “Call if you need anything, my lord,” he said, retreating back into his black smoke.

In the hundred and ten years since he’d been turned, Ben thought he had experienced every one of Charles’s moods but had never seen him look as carefree as he did sitting in a chair by the fireplace, lit although he had no need of the warmth, and swirling a brandy.

“Ah, Benjamin, my favourite of all my sired children.”

His and Charles’s relationship had always been paternal, even when he’d turned him there hadn’t been a sexual element. “That’s quite a claim given the number of vampires you’ve sired over the centuries.”

“But I chose you to be my successor. You’ve been learning the ropes for quite some time now.”

Oh fuck, he didn’t like where this was going. “But I have so much left to learn.”

“Well, I’m a believer there is only so much knowledge that can be gained from watching from the sidelines. On-the-job training is by far the most reliable way of understanding what you will face.”

“Charles, you’re worrying me.”

“You’re an intelligent man, despite your best impression to the contrary some days, but it’s time. I’ve served the House of Hewel for more than two hundred years as the Dark Earl of Crofton, and now, as tradition decrees, I am handing the title over to you. Council acceptance depending.”

Robin’s mention of the Vampire Council’s unplanned meeting now made more sense. “You’ve already told them without speaking to me first?”

“You knew it was coming. You can’t expect to have all the privileges you’ve enjoyed without paying for it.”

“But I was only selected as viscount five years ago.” The statement hit him hard as did Charles’s grin. Bollocks. “It’s really time, isn’t it? You’re not going to use the caveats to extend your reign.”

“No.” Charles stood. He was an elegant fellow and must have looked marvellous in his frock coat and breeches back when he’d become earl in 1815. “I told you that when you became viscount.”

“But I thought you’d change your mind.”

Charles tutted. “I haven’t. And it’s not as if I’ve thrown the earldom over the fence and legged it. Let’s face it, you’ve been doing most of the work for a few years now.”

“But—”

“And there are protocols and procedures to follow.”

The penny dropped and clattered. “Which you started tonight at the ad-hoc Council meeting.”

“See, you already know the score. You’ll be a natural and it won’t curtail your fun that much.”

“I don’t want to curtail my fun at all.” Although it wasn’t the fun he was worried about, the Vampire Council did throw excellent parties.

“Tough. You wanted to be the Dark Earl of Crofton and now you will be. Get ready to be called to Council.”

“But I’m not ready.”

Charles’s demeanour softened. “I thought the same when I took over from Anthony and all went well. If I didn’t think you suitable or ready then I would not have put the wheels in motion.”

It was cold comfort, and he hoped Charles would change his mind. Charles probably thought he would be upset that his life of leisure was slipping away before his eyes, replaced instead by Council meetings and responsibility for things he shouldn’t have had to worry about for decades, but the reality was he had other things to do. Projects he was working on that couldn’t be dropped from one day to the next. He might have been able to step up in a few months, but not straight away, he could lose years of work. The trouble was, Charles was right, he had wanted this, and if he said no now there might not be another opportunity. Still, that didn’t mean he was willing to sacrifice everything he was working on. There had to be a way to buy some time. “What happens next?”

“Prepare to be called.”

Ben wrinkled his nose. Surely something could be done. He had resources at his fingertips others could only dream of, he would find a way—he had to.