Chapter One
“Who goes there?” a gravelly voice demanded from behind a heavily enforced door.
The small open window revealed beady little eyes that glared out at them. The night was chilly with snow littering the ground. It was the middle of January and early evening. Darkness arrived early during the winter months, giving vampires a longer night to be active in the town without the worry of the deadly sun’s rays.
Corbin glanced at the dark sky that was smattered with twinkling stars. His fangs pushed at his gums, demanding to descend. Tonight would be a night of pleasure. He looked forward to entering the establishment. A gentle wind blew, sending a small chill through him. He pulled his wool cloak around him. He did appreciate the modern-day fashion for men, but there were some things the designers and seamstresses of today could not duplicate. His cloak was made by an older vampire seamstress who he had been a customer of for at least fifty years. Not that his body couldn’t tolerate the cold. He just didn’t like it.
“Lord Corbin Apostu, the royal advisor to the Princess Hegna Riskel, firstborn daughter of King Niall and Queen Mira Riskel. Son of —” Kendrick, the royal guard’s announcement was cut short.
“Yeah, yeah. Come in,” the voice replied dryly.
A few chuckles filled the air at Kendrick not being able to continue. He always got a kick out of presenting someone and their official title. Nolan, another guard, clapped him on the shoulder and shook his head. They were going to hear plenty from Kendrick about him being cut off.
Corbin arched an eyebrow at the rudeness of the club’s doorman. Madam Rice’s club was a discreet feeding club that allowed vampires to have their choice of feeding or fucking—or both if they so desired. Human donors were made aplenty here. They were well compensated for their time and blood. Madam’s Rice had established clubs such as this one all across the country.
The heavy door opened and revealed a stocky vampire with bushy eyebrows, a thin build, and dressed in a dark suit. He waved them in and bowed his head to Corbin as he passed him.
Corbin was well known from his close association with the future queen of the vampires. He was loyal to Hegna Riskel and would forever be, even after death. One of the most horrific nights of his life almost ended with him perishing in a fire.
That night a pack of lycans had tracked his people down and had every intention o f killing every vampire in town. He and his people had fought hard, but they were no warriors. They were good vampires. Hard-working farming villagers who were peaceful and living off the land. It was a period where most humans were unaware of the presence of vampires or any other supernatural creature. They blended in with the humans and even worked with them, being that his coven was a family community.
All hell had broken loose. Lycans murdering and attacking the vampires. Hegna and her warriors had been traveling through nearby and heard the ruckus. When they’d arrived, they’d immediately jumped in to protect the vampires. Corbin had ushered elderly vampires into a cabin in hopes of protecting them, but it was set on fire. It had been a trap. Either stay in the building and burn to death or escape it to meet their death by the lycans.
Corbin would never forget that night. He and the others had decided to meet their fate in the building and die rather than be subjected to the horrors that awaited them outside. He had been at death’s door when a lone figure dragged him outside to fresh air.
Hegna.
He’d pledged his life to her. She had refused to have him with her, but soon relented and appointed him as her assistant. As the years went by, he had worked his way up to her advisor. He and Hegna were as close as siblings, and he would do anything for her.
Even die for her.
Because of his position as the advisor to the future queen, her parents, King Niall and Queen Mira, had awarded Corbin the title of Lord. And with his connection to the royal family, he would always need security detail when leaving the safety of the castle. He, who held the ear of the princess, was a valuable asset.
Hence, the royal guards escorting him to the feeding club.
Corbin nodded to the club’s doorman and continued on behind Kendrick. They were traveling light tonight. He’d refused to have a full detail with him. Two would do. These vampire warriors had fought alongside Hegna and even protected her. Thanks to Hegna, she had forced Corbin to train over the years. He was no warrior, but he could protect himself.
The hallway was dark with the only lighting provided by the sconces on the walls. The madam kept her clubs reminiscent of the old ways. Stone walls, concrete floors, but still tastefully decorated. At the end of the short walkway was an elevator. Kendrick tapped the button, and the door immediately opened. He stepped inside first with Corbin following close behind. Nolan entered last and stood in front of Corbin as the door closed.
“Tonight is a night for us to have fun and relax,” Corbin announced. Lately, he had been one busy vampire. With everything that had been occurring with the lycans and Hegna killing the lycan alpha, he and Hegna knew this was not a time where they could let their guard down. Just because the deranged alpha was dead didn’t mean the lycans would forgive the vampires for it.
Corbin and Hegna, her general Bijou, and the captain of the armies, Nezera, had been hard at work securing their territory. All of the vampire princesses had been doing the same thing. It was only a matter of time before the lycans retaliated.
Tonight, he would relax and allow a human to relieve him of his stress.
And other things.
“It’s much appreciated,” Nolan’s deep voice broke through Corbin’s thoughts.
He took in the big vampire who glanced over his shoulder at Corbin.
“You work hard for the crown and your princess. You deserve a night out on the town.” Corbin flashed his fangs.
Kendrick chuckled behind him.
“Yeah, we’ll go with that excuse on why we are here at Madam Rice’s in the middle of the week, my lord.” Kendrick snickered.
“It’s a reasonable excuse. If anyone says anything to you, send them my way,” Corbin murmured. The ding of the elevator announcing their arrival to the lower level sounded. His heart skipped a beat in anticipation of what was to come. He truly enjoyed visiting the madam’s establishment. Tonight, he had a particular taste in human, and he was sure the madam would be able to provide.
The door slid open, revealing the club in its entirety. Nolan stepped out of the elevator first with Corbin behind him. He paused as a figure came to stand in front of them. Kendrick flanked Corbin’s side.
“Greetings, Lord Apostu,” the small female vampire said. Her bright-blue eyes lowered in acknowledgement of his status. Her dark hair fell forward, hiding her face. She was in a black dress that stopped mid-thigh.
Corbin held up his hand and moved in front of Nolan. He gave a slight nod to her when she lifted her head and met his gaze.
“Evening,” he said.
“My name is Sonya, and I will be your hostess tonight.” She offered a demure smile. She tilted her head slightly to acknowledge his guard. “How may we be of service to you? For feedings, do you prefer live donor or blood on tap?”
“Live,” Kendrick and Nolan said at the same time.
“But of course.” Her smile widened. She raised her hand and snapped her fingers.
Another female vampire appeared at her side.
Sonya gestured to her. “Please see to the royal guards that they have whatever they may need or want.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the woman replied. She turned to them and motioned for Kendrick and Nolan to follow her. “Please, gentleman. Allow me.”
Corbin nodded to them. The guards pounded on their chests above their hearts in a sign of fealty to their house. He didn’t need them to stay by his side the entire time. Just being in the establishment was good enough. There was a low risk of anything occurring while they were in the madam’s establishment. She provided excellent security details that ensured the humans and vampires who patronized her establishments were all safe.
“And Lord Apostu, please allow me to present an array of humans for you. I’m sure I will have whatever you desire tonight,” Sonya announced.
“But of course,” Corbin said.
Sonya spun on her heel and walked along the marble floor pathway. Corbin followed her, and while doing so, he was able to take in the club. There were open feedings, women and men engaging in sexual acts without restraint. Vampires were very sexual in nature, and here at the club, they could be themselves. The humans were taken care of very well by the madam and were compensated well. They were all willing donors and sexual workers.
Large pillars were constructed throughout the establishment. Sheer curtains were hung throughout, giving them a sense of ancient Greek times. Fountains and tall, fake potted trees were included in the decor along with large candles and sconces along the walls providing light.
Corbin’s gaze landed on a naked human male bent over a sofa with a male vampire pounding into him from behind. The human was thoroughly enjoying it by the cries escaping his mouth. Corbin immediately felt himself become aroused. His cock pressed hard against his slacks, demanding release. He reached down and adjusted himself.
She took him to an area off the side of the club. He’d been in here plenty of times. It was the club’s parlor. It allowed those who resided in this room to still have a view of the club. There were couches and recliners that were for guests. Luxury at its finest. Since they were underground, there were no windows. The walls held priceless artwork, and a fireplace was the center attraction.
Vampires of a certain status always were allowed to choose from the latest stock of humans. Be it new humans who were recently employed by the feeding club or had yet to be bitten by a vampire. There was a tall male vampire standing off in the corner. He was dressed in a dark suit, but Corbin easily made him out to be security.
“May we take your cloak, my lord?” Sonya asked. “And would you like to change into something more comfortable?”
“But of course,” Corbin said.
The male vampire stepped forward and assisted Corbin with the removal of his cloak. Sonya escorted him over to a door in the corner. It was a changing room for honored guests. He went and closed the door behind him. There was a dark-golden robe hanging on a hook. Corbin removed his clothing and placed it in a neat pile on the shelf with his shoes. His lengthy cock, already stiff, stood to attention.
“Soon, my friend.” Corbin chuckled. The damn thing had a mind of its own. It rested back along his stomach as if to defy him. He slid his feet into the sandals that were provided then put on the robe. He knotted the ties to hold them in place. A shiver meandered down his spine as the soft material caressed his dick. He bit back a curse and exited.
“Please have a seat. The humans will be in shortly,” Sonya announced. She kept her eyes averted from his groin area and motioned for him to take a seat in an oversized recliner.
Corbin would have preferred to stand. He was anxious to claim a human for his use tonight. Normally he would prefer two, but he would not be greedy and would pick one. His appetite for blood was high on his list. It had been a day or so since he’d last fed from a live donor. He preferred live donors than the bagged stuff. It was fresh and didn’t have the slight hint of preservatives they put in the bags to allow the blood to keep longer.
He settled back in the chair. She went over to a phone that was perched on a table next to one of the couches. She lifted the receiver and spoke into it softly, then replaced it on the base. Within a minute, seven men and women strolled into the room, each of them dressed in the club’s human attire of sheer silk material that was wrapped around them in a toga fashion. Some of them wore white while the others wore black.
Corbin was aware of the significance of the color difference. White was pure. The human was a virgin to the bite of a vampire, and the black signified they were not. Some vampires preferred to be the first to bite a human. Corbin didn’t give a shit if he was the first or not when it came to donors. Humans who had never been bitten may react differently than those who had. They experienced a euphoric feeling that overcame them when the protein from the vampire’s saliva entered their system. It heightened their arousal and their orgasms.
Corbin pushed back from the chair and stood. He eyed the humans being presented to him.
“If there are none to your liking, my lord, then I can have a few more join us,” Sonya said, coming to stand next to him.
“The madam always provides such magnificent specimens,” Corbin murmured. He ignored the hostess and walked over to the humans.
The women were curvaceous with their silk togas not hiding anything. He was never a man who was attracted to one sex. He liked to sample both men and women.
Tonight, he had a desire for a male.
He ambled in front of the humans. Their eyes were wide as they took him in. He knew what he looked like. A powerful male vampire. His silver hair was pulled back away from his face. The rest hung down his back. He was tall, as most vampires were, and naturally slender but fit.
“Anything in particular you need? A specific blood type?” Sonya tilted her head to the side as she regarded him.
He turned back to the humans and stopped in front of a male with shoulder-length, dirty-blond hair, large brown eyes, and a pouty mouth. His toga displayed a lean, muscular figure. Corbin’s gaze dropped down to the pulse racing at the base of his neck.
“Blood type matters not, but a deep throat and a tight ass is definitely required,” he replied and flicked his gaze back up to the male’s. Corbin bid him forward with a flick of his fingers.
He moved close to Corbin with a small smile on his lips.
“You’ve made a wonderful choice, my lord. Austin here will serve you well.” Sonya nodded. “Only one?”
Corbin flashed his fangs and glanced down at the rest of the humans. His need blossomed. Who was he kidding? At least two would be needed in order to satisfy his appetite. He motioned to the beautiful voluptuous woman with brown skin and wide hips.
He would indulge in all of his desires this evening.