Chapter 28

Ben stepped out of the car in front of the drawbridge to the castle. This time without the feeling of trepidation that he was going to get into serious shit. Since Sebastian was in the know about his adventures in publishing and Ashley’s father had given them his blessing for their liaison after a fashion, he intended to enjoy this visit. He never claimed not to like being the centre of attention. Especially when it was for something positive, and he hadn’t been able to bask in the adoration of being Evelyn Howes so he would enjoy being the Dark Earl of Crofton as it was now on his terms.

Unlike last time he was met at the door by Niall, although he wasn’t expecting that and had thought he’d be seeing Lady Swann. “Lord Crofton. An auspicious day.”

“Indeed it is, Mr Niven. I did not expect you to greet me in person.”

“Yes, well, as important as the Dark Earl of Crofton is, I’m here in a different capacity. As a father to be exact.”

“Ah.”

“So if you would indulge me for a few moments before you get to have your big moment.”

He could hardly say no. Niall could be far too important an influence in multiple areas of his existence. He’d never thought he would have to consider the concept of an in-law, prior to Ashley on the rare occasion he had mused over the concept of a permanent partner the image had always been of a vampire, although the gender was immaterial, and as such parents were either irrelevant or long dead.

“I’d be delighted. Ashley is very important to me.”

“To both of us. In different ways.” Niall turned and Ben followed him inside, away from the Council chambers. They veered into a part of the castle Ben had never been before, it was no less opulent, in fact it was nicer than many of the rooms he’d been subjected to during his tenancy of some of the projects he’d felt duty-bound to volunteer for.

They took a spiral staircase climbing upwards and Ben realised he was in the Invigilators’ area, the banners on the walls had the crest of the Warlock Ruling Committee next to those of the various families who made up the four houses, his own crest with the pewter chalice and ruby ivy leaves nestled among them. As far as he was aware this was usually off-limits to anyone else and he wasn’t sure Niall was supposed to invite him into their inner sanctum but then his relationship with Ashley was uncharted territory.

Niall led him into an office with all the hallmarks of a personal space occupied by the same individual for a significant amount of time. Piles of papers covered the desk and there were knickknacks and ornaments from travels and personal mementos including a World’s Best Dad mug.

“Please take a seat, Lord Crofton,” Niall said, pointing to a chair in front of the desk.

He did as requested. Since being turned he’d had a healthy stream of lovers, most had been one-night encounters, he’d indulged in repeat sessions with friends such as Robin, but no one had stuck and he had no idea how to deal with his current situation.

“I have some questions regarding your relationship with Ashley—mainly your motivation and commitment. Your reputation is not of someone wishing to settle down and play house.”

“I’m happy to answer any questions you have, but Ashley isn’t a na?ve virgin, you should give him credit that he knows his own mind.”

“That’s half the problem though, you vamps and your thrall can skew things a bit.”

His thrall had not been part of the equation, and if anyone had been exerting undue influence it was Ashley, even if it had not been intended. “I did not use my thrall on your son, we were both surprised at the level of our attraction, which was and still remains the case.”

Niall pursed his lips. “I see. And did you go into this attraction with an endpoint in mind?”

He could hardly tell Niall his darling boy and him had tried to get each other out of their systems with a good fuck, and when it had failed decided to give it a go. “No, I didn’t have a preconceived best-before date if that’s what you mean.”

“Not exactly, but good to know. What I meant was did you go after Ashley because he was my son? You were facing an investigation by the Invigilators and if you thought you could manipulate him then you would get a free pass.”

It wasn’t as if the idea wasn’t unthinkable. Ben was a vampire and as such had no moral high ground he could perch on, but he didn’t have to like the implication. “No, I did not. I knew there was no basis for the accusations made against me and knew justice would prevail.”

“But you didn’t know that for sure.”

“If that were the case, and I had no feelings for Ashley, then I would have ended our involvement the minute the report was filed and I was exonerated. You must realise that I have as many reasons to think Ashley was using me rather than the other way around?”

Niall scoffed. “Unlikely.”

“Not so. You could have asked him to get close to me and influence my decisions once I took my seat. I will be receiving questions about him and his impartiality, but I haven’t made such ridiculous accusations because I have got to know him, and he’s not capable of such low tactics.”

“He’s not a vampire.”

“I had noticed. Niall, my interest in your son is genuine. I’ve plans to take him on a date once the next few days are out of the way, not at your insistence but because I want to show him off. I’ll be proud to have Ashley Niven at my side.”

Niall stared at him. Ben stared back. Now was not the time to show weakness. “Fine. But I’m watching you.”

“I thought you watched us all.”

“As I mentioned, this conversation is not about my official role. I’m a fair man, Benjamin, as long as Ashley’s happy I’m happy, and he seems to think you’re a keeper. I would recommend you don’t prove him wrong.”

He didn’t react to the use of his first name, the familiarity he was going to have to get used to now he hoped Ashley would be a permanent fixture. “I happen to think he’s rather special myself.”

He couldn’t promise they’d never part or one of them wouldn’t want to call it quits but the thought of Ashley walking away made him feel queasy and he was sooner or later going to have to accept to at least himself that he’d fallen for the bastard. Whether he liked the idea of Eternals or not, he couldn’t deny his reaction to Ashley had all the hallmarks of the vampire concept of finding a single person who could help him navigate the long stretch of a non-mortal timespan.

“Oh, I see.” Niall sat further back in his chair and Ben thought Niall had come to the right conclusion. “So I might have to adjust to you being around for a while, an eternity even.”

If he were to head into his usual spiel about how Eternals from a scientific position were a load of old hokum now would be the time, but he was seeing acceptance from Niall and he didn’t want to lose that. “Quite possibly.”

Niall stood. “We will speak again. But for now, please do make your way to the Council chamber. I’ll join you shortly.”

A door opened with a flick of Niall’s wrist, and Ben was happy to leave, the blunt end to the conversation a positive in his opinion. He liked to think he’d swept out of Niall’s office, his cloak doing a marvellous job, and he followed the spiral staircase to the bottom where he was surprised to see Ashley leaning against the wall, in a navy suit that gave Ben all sorts of ideas.

“Sorry about Niall,” he said with a rueful smile. “I tried to intercept him getting to you but he’s a crafty sod and very single-minded.”

“Now I know where you get it from.”

Ashley pushed off the wall and crowded into Ben’s space. “I thought I’d grab a few minutes with you before you became important.”

“Wanted to make sure I don’t get too full of myself?”

Ashley smirked. “I can fill you with something later. If you’re good.”

Ben loved this wanton side of Ashley. “I wouldn’t say no to a private celebration.”

Ashley kissed him, as much as Ben would have loved to have stayed pinned to a wall at the mercy of his sexy warlock, he did have something important to do. He broke the kiss and Ashley stepped back and retrieved a small package from an inside pocket. “I got you a gift. To mark the occasion.”

He peeled back the black tissue paper and found a gold cloak clasp with two amethysts set in an intricate double spiral. “It’s lovely.”

“I made it myself. I remember you vamps like your swishy cloaks and I thought you’d appreciate the reference.”

“Reference?” He carefully put the clasp in place, it was more decorative than anything and he was touched Ashley had gone to the trouble.

“To amethyst powder.” Ashley grinned. “It was the first time I put you on your back.”

Ben grinned at the memory, the amethyst powder being the underlying reason why the potion had reacted and him ending up on the floor, Ashley sprawled on top of him. “Now that is something to think about when I wear it.”

Ashley stole another kiss. “You better get going. I’ll join you later at the reception, myself and Jack have been invited because of the investigation but I suppose I’ll have to get to used milling with the other partners of the Council members.”

“You say that now but you’ll soon be moaning at being my arm candy.”

“Possibly. And it won’t be for a little while yet. I don’t think either of us are ready for that sort of scrutiny.”

They walked along the hallways, heading deeper into the castle and as they reached the Council chamber Ashley stepped to one side. “I think you have to wait here to be called. See you later.”

Unlike the last time Ben was here he was buoyed with excitement rather than worrying about what could go wrong. He stood in front of the wooden door waiting for admittance, this wasn’t a coronation, he wasn’t to be crowned, but Charles would offer him his seat and he would take it. Last time, Charles had made it known he wanted to step down, and what should have happened was a simple changing of the guard but Ben had buggered up the narrative.

The door swung open and he saw the current twelve members of the Vampire Council seated around the table, even the Dark Earl of MacLove was there.

Niall was present and his affable smile gave no hint to their previous conversation. He bowed his head. “Lord Crofton, on behalf of the Invigilators, welcome.”

Charles smiled as he stood. “Lords and ladies,” he began, “I previously declared my intention, so tonight I, Charles Redbourn, do officially cede my place in the House of Hewel, and I invite Benjamin Redbourn, to become the 3rd Dark Earl of Crofton.”

As was tradition, the other two members of his House stood. Both Marchent and Claude Flint, Robin’s sire and Viscount Whetford, looking proud. Charles pulled out his seat. A small part of him had thought Charles might change his mind, but then he’d realised that Charles had wanted to travel with Timothy for a while now, and thinking about Ashley, he could finally understand why Charles might want to. He’d been surprised when the concept of how he would become the earl was explained to him, it seemed inexplicable anyone would give up the title, power and influence, but he’d also never appreciated the desire to shackle himself on a permanent basis either. Ashley Niven was not a good influence, but he was a fucking wonderful man.

Something made him glance up to the small gallery above the chamber. The four Heads of House were there. Sebastian winked at him, and the other three acknowledged him with a nod. Cartwright was an ox of a man, huge in comparison to the other three, but Devereaux was a petite blonde woman, so even Sebastian was sizable next to her. Langley was as normal as could be, and Ben had been surprised when he’d first seen him that he could really be such a powerful vampire. He didn’t think he’d seen them together before, their business had very little to do with what the Council did for them, but here they were making sure the kids were behaving themselves.

Ben walked forwards, bowed his head to Charles and sat down, from his little finger Charles removed the ruby ring and handed it to Ben. “The Earl’s ring. Don’t lose it.”

He laughed and slid it onto the little finger of his left hand. “Thank you.”

The reactions from around the table were different from last time, there was no intrigue, only acceptance. The report about the investigation had been circulated and that had closed the matter. A servant was handing out glasses of blood and Niall had a glass of what Ben thought was probably red wine to play the part.

“Lords and Ladies, raise your glasses in welcome to Benjamin Redbourn, 3rd Dark Earl of Crofton.”

Ben smiled and took a sip of his wine. He’d never tasted anything like it, deep and intense, as if carrying the story of forever through its flavour, there was no one clear note as multiple sources had contributed and he couldn’t recall ever being served anything that had made his fangs tingle with the intensity.

“With the blood of the four Heads of House, the succession is sealed.” Ben saw Marchent’s knowing smirk, the bastard hadn’t warned him and he would have never expected such a piece of symbolism, this spoke to a joining beyond just words that the Council were to act as one, a combined force with no room for playing favourites or one-upmanship. Whether that would be the actual case Ben would have to wait and see. He glanced back up to the balcony but it was empty.

Niall placed a leather binder in front of him, embossed with the Council’s crest and that of the Dark Earl of Crofton. “Now we get down to business. You may not be surprised to hear that Sebastian Hewel has asked for the revision of the bylaw that caused your recent trouble.”

Sebastian might have thought what he’d done to be clever, but he was also clear that Ben shouldn’t try to do anything similar again. “I’m sure myself and the rest of the Council would be relieved to remove a bylaw that caused so much anxiety.”

“Indeed.”

Ben was ready to serve the Council. And now it was on his terms. He knew some would have thought him churlish to have delayed taking the seat for his potions work, but it hadn’t really been about that, more that he’d wanted a say in the matter, and in the end everything had played out beautifully.

Not only had he the earldom, but also Ashley, which was a wonderful and unexpected benefit. He still had his academic freedom to conduct his research and Sebastian’s blessing to do so. Ben sipped his blood, the new phase of his afterlife was beginning and he would grasp every opportunity by the fangs.