Chapter 1
Today was the day.
Theday.
I took a deep breath in, filling my lungs and reminding myself to breathe through any lingering anticipation and stress at what this new venture could bring me.
“Today’s the big day, right?!” The human’s cheery tone had me clenching my teeth despite her seemingly genuine intrigue as I approached the counter.
It was no secret in Haven Pass that I was breaking ground at my new adult entertainment club today. A club I would start and finish, by myself, with no help from the Becketts or anyone associated with them.
I obviously wasn’t opening this new business completely alone. I had several Haven Pass residents helping me bring my vision to reality. But all of the choices and big-picture decisions were up to me. The club was my business and my responsibility before anyone else’s.
Mine.
“It is, human.” I nodded my head toward the small, pink-haired female behind the counter of her coffee shop. I came to The Witch’s Brew every morning, even when I didn’t particularly want to be around people. I enjoyed the ritual of walking around town from my apartment, despite the fact I generally tried to avoid contact with other residents. Dr. Luna told me a routine was part of my therapy for reclaiming myself and my identity after not having control over my autonomy for so long.
If something so momentous as reclaiming myself included me getting coffee, I wouldn’t argue with him.
And the small human made some delicious concoctions.
“I dig the bad bitch energy, Vinni, don’t get me wrong.” I rolled my eyes at the use of Arch’s nickname for me that somehow stuck with anyone who heard it. No one knew the history of it, and I’d grown tired of correcting everyone except the vampire himself. “But if you call me human instead of Lennox one more time, I’m going to put something nasty in your coffee that will make you shit your brains out or something.” Her blue eyes sparkled with a sincerity I respected. I knew she meant every word.
Plus, it was rude to call someone by something they didn’t like.
I would know.
I nodded. “I’m sorry, it’s still hard for me too…” I paused. Dr. Luna and I had worked on this bit the most since I migrated to Haven Pass six months earlier. My general disdain for interaction made my existence difficult in the best of times, to say the least. I still wasn’t used to folks genuinely wanting to know me. Edwin hadn’t cared much toward the end who I socialized with, but his son and heir, Thatcher Beckett, had always kept a tight leash on my general whereabouts, only using me for business negotiations when he thought a gorgon would inspire (his word, not mine) the potential client to cooperate. “It’s hard for me to make connections with people.”
The human, Lennox, offered me a small smile as she pushed the to-go thermos toward me. “Start with using people’s names. I’m sure that’ll help.”
I laughed at the simple advice.
“You’re not wrong, hum—” I caught myself and took a deep breath. “Lennox. You are not wrong. And to answer your original question, yes, today is the big day.”
I returned her smile, hopefully letting my excitement show. That was another thing six months in Haven Pass had taught me: it was okay to show your emotions. In fact, it was encouraged here. You didn’t have to bottle everything up or hide how you were feeling for fear of a punishment or some other type of weaponization of your feelings.
Normal folks wanted to see how you were feeling and wouldn’t use it against you at a later date.
Or that’s what Dr. Luna had been drilling into me in our one-on-one sessions for the past six months. So I smiled at the barista, hoping it didn’t look too forced.
“You don’t do that a lot, do you?” Lennox asked while quirking her brow at me.
“Do what?” I asked, keeping my teeth bared in what I hoped was still an expression of joy.
“Smile,” she said, also not closing her lips and talking through her clenched teeth like a crazy person.
Wait, am I doing the same thing?
“You look like you want to take a bite out of me or have something hiding behind your teeth you don’t want anyone to see.”
Suddenly self-conscious, I closed my lips before scaring anyone else with the sight of my pointier than average teeth. As if sensing my discomfort, Luxor lifted up and hissed in Lennox’s direction.
It’s not her fault, I silently told him.
“Aw, hi cutie,” she said, reaching out a hand to pet him, ignoring his hiss. This was another thing my snakes and I had struggled adjusting to since relocating. Folks weren’t afraid of me here like they were in other places. They sometimes spoke to my snakes like they were pets instead of attached to me and an extension of me.
It pissed me off originally until I felt the thrill they each had whenever someone acknowledged their presence that wasn’t me. They loved getting attention and interaction, and the spirits knew they deserved it after the hell they were in the last century with me.
Say hi, I told Luxor. I affectionately called him Snake Daddy. He was the most protective of the bunch, constantly watching over me, warning me when I was asleep that an attack was incoming, and generally doing his best to look out for my safety.
Why is she sticking her hand out like that?he asked in my mind. My babies couldn’t speak to anyone else, which I thought was the number one reason why I’d always been accused of being too quiet, when in actuality I spent a good chunk of my time communicating. I was almost always conversing in some way with my snakes.
So I did talk.
A lot.
My conversations just happened to be in my head.
It was fine.
She wants to pet you, I told him, hoping he wouldn’t embarrass me. Snake Daddy hissed, clearly unimpressed. To her credit, Lennox didn’t pull her hand back.
“Well isn’t he an angry little cutie? Lucky me, I like it when they play hard to get,” Lennox said, giving a pointed wink at Luxor.
I laughed out loud and immediately covered my mouth in shock. I was still adjusting to the freedom of making loud noises or reacting to conversations naturally. The Becketts didn’t like it when I was heard instead of seen.
Something I was punished for quite regularly.
“Do they have names?” Lennox asked, thankfully ignoring my reaction.
Again, a question no one bothered with normally. It was either stare at the snakes when I wasn’t looking, which never worked since they were gossipy and told me who was staring even when I didn’t see, or pretend they didn’t exist.
I couldn’t blame anyone for not knowing how to act around me. Gorgons weren’t too common in the modern world. Most of my kind had died out long before I was born, and there weren’t many of us to begin with. I had been such a rarity to not only be a gorgon, but one born instead of turned like most were. Gorgons hadn’t been born for centuries, and I was a rarity even in Greece where most of my kind were, I’d learned later. It was why my birth family had found me a new home with the Becketts when I was old enough to wed.
I was rare.
I was unique.
I was valuable.
In my home of Greece, I was raised to believe family was everything, but I’d been born with snakes for hair, which had invalidated any familial bond that might have grown.
So while I was rare and unique, in their eyes I was mostly a burden.
A disgrace.
A demon.
I shook the thoughts in my father’s voice away and focused on the present.
“The grumpy one who has no manners this morning is Luxor,” I said.
Grumpy?he hissed again, shaking his head at me.
“Aw, the little guy doesn’t look too grumpy. Maybe you just aren’t a morning snake, huh, little snakey? Is that it, little guy? You don’t like these cold November mornings, do you?” Lennox’s voice heightened in pitch with each word. By the end of her sentence, she was cooing at the ancient snake on my head like he was a baby in a bassinet.
I took a sip of coffee, a special fall spice-blended roast with two sugars. I sighed, breathing in the aroma, savoring the moment.
“What are their other names?” she asked, some of the other snakes lifting up at her question.
Ooh, tell her mine.
No, tell her mine first.
No, no, me me me!
“Calm down,” I said, forgetting to do so silently as they all fought for introductions. “Sorry, that was for them. They are doing entirely too much this morning.”
I hadn’t introduced anyone to my snakes before. This was new.
“Okay, line up,” I said aloud so Lennox would know I was talking to them. Sure enough, they listened, eager to meet a human.
“Ooh, they’re good listeners, aren’t they?” Lennox praised. She had hearts popping out of her eye sockets for my snakes. It brought a weird, warming sensation to my chest.
“They are eager to meet a human,” I said, cringing at my use of her race again, but it was factual. “I only mean they aren’t used to folks wanting to know them. Not that you are only a human.”
“I get it, Vin,” she said, shortening the name even more. Somehow, I liked her version even more.
“Okay, we have Luxor, who you met.”
“Yes, Daddy Snake.”
I snorted. and the little asshole snipped at me.
“I deserved that,” I muttered, petting the back of his head until he vibrated softly, telling me he was fine.
“Then we have Titi, short for Nefertiti, and the only female of the bunch.” I motioned to the snake directly opposite Luxor and the other bigger one. They both sat atop my head, often coiled in on themselves because they were so long. It kind of looked like two buns but was also comfortable for them and me since their weight was a lot to hold up compared to the others. “The six on the bottom are Asir, Omari, Khons, Baal, Xabat, and Faddei.” I pointed to each of the boys who nodded eagerly at Lennox.
Tell her I like her hair, Omari said.
She is so pretty, Asir added.
Baal stuck out his tongue to scent her. And she smells so delicious.
Yes, like coffee and sunshine, Xabat agreed.
I want to taste her, Faddei said.
She’s perfection, Khons swooned.
“Wow, they are big fans of you, apparently,” I said, not expecting them to love anyone so much. “And they say you smell good.” I shrugged, hoping it wasn’t weird to share that part.
“I’ve always had a thing with animals.” Lennox shrugged like it was no big deal, all while letting Asir and Omari stretch out to wrap themselves around her wrist. They didn’t like to show how long they were too often, but they had no problem letting go of some of their own anxiety after years of torment at the prospect of some love.
Ah, yes, I sense it. They started speaking too quickly for me to keep up.
Me too.
She’s powerful, this one.
No, I said to them. She’s a human.
She pretends to be.
She might not know.
Yes, she still slumbers.
One day, she will wake, Titi said, the feminine lilt of her voice refreshing. She kept quiet most of the time, letting the boys have fun while she slumbered.
Cryptic little bastards.
“Despite me not wanting to give up loving on these little babies and wooing Snake Daddy to me, don’t you have somewhere you need to be Vin?”
“Gamó,” I cursed. Asir and Omari reluctantly, but swiftly, slunk back toward me, tangling themselves up in one another for some sleep while I dealt with business. “Thanks Lennox!” I said, patting myself on the back for remembering to use her name.
I walked quickly across the Haven Pass town square, enjoying the thumping of my boots crunching against the dead leaves that littered the streets. I made my way down the road leading away from Crescent Moon Park, toward where my new life was beginning. The land was officially zoned off last week, and we were only waiting on Grom to have a moment in his schedule to get the official groundbreaking done, which happened to be this morning.
There wasn’t a huge ceremony involved. I hadn’t wanted to make a big show of it until we had the building standing, but I knew it was important for the council to see a new business open.
The ó Cuinn coven I’d joined on Samhain had been nothing less than supportive and truly invaluable in the beginning stages of opening this club. I hadn’t wanted to join a coven so quickly after escaping another forced family, but between the others who I was starting to trust and my snakes convincing me of Cliona’s genuine good nature, I’d known my skills as a gorgon wouldn’t be weaponized like they were before with the Beckett family.
I truly enjoyed all of the new people in my life, especially those in Cliona’s coven.
All except for Arch, anyway.
He wasn’t invited to this part of my life.
Despite him being assigned as the one who had to help because of his council position.
I still hadn’t invited him to this groundbreaking, though. I needed to protect my peace, and his vampire nature was not something I needed triggering me today.
So, when I approached and saw every other council chair except Arch, I blew out a relieved sigh. One less thing to worry about. Cliona, Grom, Dominic, Guillermo, Bert, and Dr. Borisyuk were all gathered in the clearing. There was already a small trailer set up for a resting place for the workers and to have the plans in one central location. I’d been in it most of this week to prepare for this moment.
“Good morning, everyone!” I called as I approached. I had a container of cinnamon apple donut holes I’d made fresh this morning in anticipation. These folks were giving me a chance to prove myself despite the fact that the only references I’d provided were from when I was technically under a blood curse and not able to have any true freedom. They were trusting me to make this club a place where residents could go and unwind. And I wanted to make them proud.
No, I needed to make them proud.
I also needed to make myself proud.
“I brought everyone some donut holes,” I said, hoping some sweets might brighten the morning despite the dense fall fog that surrounded us. I set the container on a folding table someone had set up that already had a thermos of coffee on it and a bigger box of donuts.
Ugh, why hadn’t I thought of that? I was at The Witch’s Brew for crying out loud, and I didn’t think to grab coffee for everyone.
You’re overthinking this, Lavinia,Luxor said.
You really are,Faddei confirmed.
“Thanks, Vinni!”
I couldn’t hide the cringe at the sound of his voice. Apparently he’d gotten the memo after all. I looked up to see the trailer door open and Arch, Patrick, Drew, and Gioia piling out as if they were taking a tour of the small space.
“Why in the actual fuck are you here?” I asked, venom lacing every word.
The auburn-haired, sleek-jawed, and disgustingly attractive vampire jerked back as if he weren’t used to me berating him by now. He even had the audacity to place his hand on his chest as if I had physically wounded him.
“Now, Vinni, as Haven Pass’s Fire Council chair and the official council sponsor on this venture, I’m going to have to ask for some professionalism going forward.”
He smirked.
I rolled my eyes.
He’s so cocky, Asir said.
Cocky and hot, Baal agreed.
I bet he has a big dick to match his energy too, Faddei added.
Whose side are you on?I snapped at them in our bond.
They aren’t wrong, precious,Titi chimed in. She was being quite vocal today. I wouldn’t even mind taking a bite out of him.
He was delicious, Faddei said, having been one of the snakes who bit Arch in the arm all those months ago.
Yes, I still think of his sweet, tempting blood often, Omari agreed, the other who had bitten him.
“Traitors,” I muttered aloud before bringing my attention back to the scene before me.
“What was that, beautiful?” Arch asked.
“Can you fucking not, bloodsucker? I put up with you and your bullshit flirting enough during every alpha group, in every council meeting, and in every single coven gathering… but today is about me and my club. Not about you and your ego.” I snapped at him with nothing held back. He was used to it, but I had a long prep talk with Dr. Luna (who preferred I call him Guillermo when not in session), who I pointedly ignored from the other side of the circle about trying to be professional. I shook my head at the outburst I allowed and took a deep breath, attempting to compose myself.
At least he had the decency to look embarrassed at his behavior.
“Okay, okay,” Patrick interjected, placing himself between us, ever the mediator. “Why don’t we all cool it for a bit, yeah?”
This was so embarrassing. I was supposed to be leading this incredibly important day and I’d begun by already lashing out at one of the council chairs I’d have to work closely with going forward.
I hadn’t talked much with Patrick outside of our alpha group meetings, but after he met Cliona, we’d spent more time together, and I like to think I had a helping hand in his ability to woo the High Priestess and win her heart in October.
“Okay,” Grom called from where he was in the middle of the clearing.
It wasn’t a big plot of land, but it was surrounded by trees and only had a small dirt road leading to and from the space. The November temperatures were freezing, and the leaves almost fully dropped from the trees that had them. The evergreens never lost their luster, but the chilled air held a certain clean energy that only fall and winter brought.
“Let’s get this show on the road and break this ground in!”
We spent the next few hours talking about the building plans as a group. Gioia was by my side almost the entire time, eagerly participating and trying to make a good impression. Drew and Dom kept a close eye on her, but her questions were intentional and didn’t slow down the process. I had been a bit nervous at her insistence on joining me as my mentee, so to speak, but she had proven more than valuable already. I knew she would get a lot out of this experience, and judging by how much her brothers were involved in her business, I knew she needed an outlet away from that male energy.
The Hemlock pack seemed nice enough, but Gioia was a true dreamer trapped in the small town that treated her like the youngest Hemlock and nothing more.
Plus, there was the dragon and his infatuation with her. Regardless, I was glad to offer her a spot at my side to learn how to run a business.
After an exhaustive question-and-answer session and surveying the plot of land, we all made our way back toward the trailer to end our meeting.
“And all of this can really be done in time for a grand opening event for Valentine’s Day?” Gioia asked. It was overwhelming looking at all the building plans and not seeing any actual building yet.
“That’s right, little lady,” Grom confirmed.
“Don’t let Lennox hear you call her that,” Cliona said.
“I can handle that one.” Grom shrugged. For a giant orc, he was a bit of a softie, I couldn’t imagine anyone actually getting mad at him and his gentle way of moving through the world despite his size. “But yes, with the help of our High Priestess, coven magick, and the workforce that has volunteered, we shouldn’t have any problems in speeding things along that might normally take a bit longer.”
“I think you’re forgetting a key part of all this,” Arch interjected, and I couldn’t have stopped the heavy sigh if I tried. He’d only asked necessary questions throughout the entire morning, and it was foolish to have hoped he was done being an ass.
“What are we forgetting?” Grom asked, thinking Arch had something valuable to add, but I saw the glint in his scheming eyes and knew I was in for a crude comment that would send my snakes hissing in his direction, no matter how hot they thought he was.
“Me, of course. To make this building actually work, you’re going to need me and the other vampires to take nights while the rest of you work during the day.”
I blinked at the obvious statement.
“Yes.” I nodded slowly, as if confused. “That was part of the initial plans. Any worker who doesn’t sleep or is nocturnal in nature would keep building so the work can happen round the clock to meet the deadline,” I said slowly and with an even tone, not willing to let him ruin this for me.
“But you, my viper, never asked me.”
I glared at him. I noticed the others not-so-subtly take a step back away from the circle. Dominic even put his body slightly in front of Gioia as if I would ever hurt her. I didn’t spare him a glance, though, all my energy was focused on the vampire.
“Why would I ask you to do the job you’ve been appointed to as a leader in this community? The one you volunteered and assigned yourself despite us not even liking one another?”
Arch examined his nails before lifting his gaze to meet mine. It was always refreshing when someone looked me in the eyes, and for all the constant bullshit he spewed, he’d been one of the few to not hesitate in doing so. Even from that first encounter, he almost made it a point to look at my irises every time he spoke to me, as if it were a challenge on how dangerous I actually was.
“Why don’t we take a moment—” Dr. Luna tried, but was quickly interrupted.
“First, if I’ve given you even the slightest impression that I don’t like you, I clearly need to step my game up. Second, it is not part of my responsibilities as Fire Council chair to do anything for you or this club. My job is to oversee entertainment and the arts in Haven Pass. This club of yours, while cute…”
I seethed at the tone he took about my fucking dream and took a step toward him, all my snakes hissing in response to the minimization. His nonchalant and dismissive attitude only made it worse.
“Is not really my concern.”
“Goddess, forgive his male idiocy,” Cliona interjected, exhaustion lacing her words. “Arch, will you please give your blessing for your vampire frat bros to help, even though they already agreed and are looking forward to the work because it also means they’ll have a club to attend themselves?” Cliona asked in a clear attempt to ease the tension.
“No,” he answered succinctly. “I want Vinni to ask me.”
I simply stared at the pretentious ass.
“Are you being serious right now?” I asked, glaring at him thinking I’d missed a joke somewhere.
“Deadly.”
Luxor and Titi had both risen and pointed their gaze toward the vampire at this point, which they rarely did unless my emotions were really heightened.
“Why is this so hard for you?” Arch continued, stepping toward me, ignoring the others who simultaneously seemed to hold their breath and move back, all while managing to stay and keep a closer eye on us. “I’m simply asking that you respect me enough to ask for my help.” He stalked further into my space until he was within striking distance of my snakes, a challenge in its own right. He lowered his voice and said the next bit for my ears only. “If you beg me on your knees, I might even get them to expedite their work, my viper.”
Titi struck first, biting the exposed part of his throat while the others hissed.
Red encased my vision, telling me not only had my irises gone full molten meltdown, but that I was past the point of being done with his bullshit. I jabbed my head forward and unleashed a powerful hiss. He didn’t move an inch, as if I weren’t even a true threat to him.
Ooh, yes, this male is delicioussss. Titi had never bit someone before, and my shock interrupted the bloodlust I was feeling at his suggestion for me to get on my knees and beg him for help.
I was done begging any male for help.
I composed myself rather quickly for how much of a rage I’d been in and took a step back. The rest of the world came back into view, and the tension was palpable as I looked around at the others.
I was being incredibly unprofessional. Even if he knew the exact right way to goad and bait me, it wasn’t an excuse. I am a businesswoman now. Professional. I no longer had the most powerful vampire coven controlling my moves.
This was me.
This rage was me.
The realization devastated me as I took a really hard look at myself and what I’d become.
I really had become something feral if I couldn’t keep my cool around a cocky vampire. I’d have been beaten senseless for this anger if I’d still been with the Becketts. What happened to the control I’d honed over the last several decades?
I took a deep breath and looked Arch in the eyes. He must have seen the change in my demeanor because something passed over his face that looked almost like regret.
“Will you please help my club by encouraging your vampires to work at night so we can keep pace for the Valentine’s opening?” I asked, hoping he would agree so I could escape.
He nodded his agreement.
“Efchatistó.” I nodded back in thanks, smiling weakly as if I hadn’t embarrassed myself so incredibly on what was supposed to be a fun and new-beginning type of day. I felt my snakes curl around me closer in comfort before I turned to face the woods.
Then I ran.