Chapter Five - Sen
I’m seated in a comfortable high-backed chair in my hotel’s restaurant. Milky, morning sunlight seeps through the cold wall-length window, soaking the other handful of guests scattered throughout the large dining area.
The keys on my laptop click away as I search a never-ending stream of news articles to find murder, more murder, and would you look at that—another murder. All written about in gory, attention-grabbing detail. But none match the emptied bodies a blood mage leaves behind.
As a man who is paid extremely well to find interesting things for rich idiots wanting to show off to other rich idiots, gathering clues and sorting between useful and trash is my incredibly satisfying forte. This time, each wasted minute brings a new wave of impatient frustration.
My search has only begun for Summer. She might be a shadow mage, but now she’s working with Emma, who ripped Kai’s soul out and is the owner of the First Blood Mage Tome—a spellbook that can turn any mage into a blood mage. I’d be a fool to think she hasn’t used it on herself.
Unlike other blood mage spellbooks, only the owner can touch it.
Anyone else who even lays a finger on its human-leather cover will burn.
But when we hunted Emma down, Kai dying in Vidar’s arms, Emma was nearly dead herself.
Which is when Summer betrayed us—Emma would give her the First Blood Mage Tome she so badly craved, and Summer would heal Emma.
“Here you go, sir.”
I glance up to find a smiling woman in the restaurant’s blue waistcoat uniform, red flushing her pale cheeks.
“Thank you, honey,” I reply, smooth as the dark roast espresso she sets next to my slim laptop.
She all but swoons, and I smirk when my eyes dip to her fluttering hands.
“Is there…I mean, would you like anything else, sir?”
I might be a nine-hundred-year-old gay vampire, but I’m never one to pass up the chance to flirt.
I lean back in the padded chair, crossing my long legs and bringing the small cup close to my lips. “What are you offering?” I ask, low and sensual.
I inhale the bitter, nutty scent of coffee, my usual morning delight, even though I hardly sleep. I glance down at my drink and go still as I stare into its dark depths, swirling with just the hint of hazel foam.
He had eyes like this, deep and complex, dark as freshly poured coffee. Wide, curious. Hopeful.
My taste for coffee sours. I want his scent of warm sand and sweet tea. The sound of his small, raspy voice: ‘Sen, right?’
I can understand Summer wanting to avenge her family, whom the demon king killed. And as a vampire, I can appreciate her thirst for his blood. But now she’s in my way, and while I might not have planned for a soulmate, he’s mine now. Her death is guaranteed for that reason alone.
“Sorry, honey,” I say, my mood changing on a dime. “That’ll be all. Thank you.”
“O-of course!” Without a single look, she scurries away, probably glad to be rid of her confusing customer.
Sighing, I grab hold of the armrest. My nails dig into the thick fabric until my fingers poke through to the soft stuffing inside.
Unlike most vampires who give up human drink and food, I enjoy each wonderful sip and bite.
What’s the point of immortality if not to place my fangs against life’s throat and sink in?
‘Sen, right?’
My grip tightens.
Nothing compares to him, I know it to my marrow. Since running away from him with my tail between my legs, food has become ash on my tongue, and even the amber whiskey I tried to drown myself in last night was tasteless.
I came to the city expecting an easy job—find the First Blood Mage Tome and hand it to my anonymous benefactor for an inordinate fee.
Then maybe visit my dysfunctional family before accepting another one of my many job offers, where I get to travel the world, seduce pretty boys, and get paid handsomely for my time.
Perfect luxury.
A soulmate upends my life. A person who, if my Maker is correct, is Fate repaying her debt.
Fate is many things, but she cannot experience life, only watch it play out.
So when I surrendered my humanity, I gave Fate a longer show to watch before the eventual heat death of the universe robs her of all entertainment. And this is her ‘thank you’.
I should be furious to be driven in a direction I have no control over.
Furious that there is a pull towards him that demands to be acknowledged, and now all my priorities have changed for a pretty thing I don’t even know.
Sure, he’s gorgeous—the most stunning creature I’ve ever laid eyes on.
But what if he’s boring? What if he hates to travel? He could be a terrible lover.
Or worse—a virgin.
And yet…
‘Sen, right?’
Never. He’s as easy to accept as the air filling my lungs.
Slowly, I retract my fingers from the chair’s stuffing. I need to concentrate. I can’t keep thinking about my soulmate.
I just wish I knew his name at the very least.
Inhaling a controlled breath, I turn back to my laptop and look for anything that will help me hunt down Summer.
It takes another hour and a cup of sweet tea, but eventually, a little article with hardly any interaction catches my eye; an old woman who died alone in her flat.
Her address isn’t stated, but her body was intact, and yet there wasn’t even a drop of blood left in her veins.
It’s a long shot, but a start nonetheless.
I’m known for finding anything, no matter how small, and the sooner I deal with this, the sooner I can learn his name.
So as I continue my search and thrust my soulmate from my mind, a plan begins to form…
***
Some time later, when the grey clouds have parted for a clear blue sky, and the air is crisp, I lean against a brick wall in a shadowy alleyway. A scattering of people wearing tool belts and hi-vis vests flow in and out of the many supply stores dotted across this industrial shopping district.
In my pocket, my phone vibrates, and without once taking my eyes off the shop front where my target just slipped through, I slide my phone out and press it to my ear.
“Sen speaking.”
“I’m so sorry,” Kai rushes out.
“Kai, calm down,” I reply casually.
“I want you to have a soulmate,” Kai replies, seconds from bursting into tears. “But it’s dangerous right now.”
I stand at attention when the door rings, and my target comes out into the open. He makes a right and begins walking down the grey pavement.
“The blood mages, Sen. It’s scary, and he’s my brother,” Kai explains, sniffling.
I hum and uh-huh in agreement at the right moments while Kai continues, as I leave the alleyway, hand tucked in my expensive black trousers, and stroll a good distance from my target, as if I have all the time in the world.
“Absolutely,” I reply to whatever he just said. “We need to keep your brother safe, whose name is…?”
“When all this is done, you can get to know my brother. But not now.” Kai explains as I speed up when my target turns a corner. “He wouldn’t be safe. He’s my little brother, Sen. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“Kai, breathe. It’s okay. I’m not ready for a soulmate anyway, and Vidar will tell you I’m not a man easily tamed. Listen, I have to go. See you later.” I hang up in a rush before Kai can blubber more, and spin around the corner, hoping I haven’t lost my target.
But I needn’t worry, as I come face to face with the man I just promised Kai I’d stay away from.
“Why are you following me?” Kai’s little brother asks, voice pitched low. Not shy or scared like he should be when catching a strange man stalking him. His wide eyes take me in, his small mouth pressed together like two plump rose petals—waiting, curious.
“I…er…”
Shit.
I pride myself on being eloquent. Yet this 5ft-nothing boy has me stuttering, and when I continue to stumble lamely over my words, he doesn’t even offer me the grace of an excuse like others might. ‘Oh, were you also shopping for a new skateboard, too? What a coincidence! Sen, Right?’
He remains silent. Maybe wondering if I’ll play the coward and run away again.
I hate myself for considering it.
Rolling my shoulders back into a relaxed position, I slap on my most charming smile and lean into him. “What a pleasant surprise to run into you.”
This pretty boy only tilts his head to the side like an inquisitive little owl, allowing me to see the bead of sweat rolling down my forehead in his reflective gaze. We both know what I just said was a lie. Hell, the man I passed two streets over, drinking a bottle of vodka, could tell.
I clear my throat to hide my slipping grin.
“We didn’t get to talk before,” I say.
“Because you ran away.” He doesn’t accuse, which is somehow worse.
Have I ever, in my whole nine-hundred years, performed this poorly at picking up a good-looking man? And I mean that in the least humble way possible, I’m extremely handsome and charming after all.
I grit my teeth to fortify my smile from collapsing. “It was a busy day, you know how it can be.” I shrug, trying for blasé.
I wait a beat for him to reply, and each second that goes by, more sweat gathers at my hairline.
After another long beat, I say, “But now that we’ve bumped into each other again—”
“You were following me.” His quiet bluntness slams into me hard enough that my grin drops to the ground and shatters.
“Well…” I reach for anything, anything, to fill the awkwardness I’ve created. I go for what’s familiar and lay the charm on thicker. “I wanted to see your lovely face again, honey.”
His unwavering stare pierces me. Unimpressed? I hope not.
“Did you call me honey because you don’t know my name?”
He doesn’t bat an eyelid, and I swear I hear the breeze’s mocking laughter as it whistles between us.
Giving up, I huff out a chuckle. “You’re really not giving me a chance here, are you?”
Finally, the corner of his lip quirks up, and my heart sings for this victory. His smile, a little thing, sweet for all his bluntness, yet transforms his face from stunning to something I’d crawl on hands and knees to claim.
“Kai told me to stay away from you.”
He said the same to me, and my resolve lasted all of nine hours. “Did he tell you why?”
“You’re busy.” Kai’s little brother has a quiet way of speaking that causes me to draw closer.
“I am,” I tell him, wishing I could touch the soft curve of his cheek.
He goes silent again, waiting for something.
I should make an excuse and leave; this was a mistake.
But my feet are planted. I always knew soulmates craved each other's company, but I couldn’t even guess how true that was.
If I had it my way, I’d grab him, throw him over my shoulder and vanish somewhere remote.
Then take my time learning every inch of his body and mind.
What would he sound like when my quiet boy gets loud? My cock twitches at the very thought.
“Wanna see something cool?” he asks out of nowhere.
I’m surprised by this change of subject, and yet a “Yes” tumbles past my lips without my control.
He makes a small noise that could be a scoff or a laugh or something that’s entirely him, and in this moment, I vow to learn every sound he ever makes.
“C’mon, Sen.” He turns on his heel and walks down the road he was going. Backpack bouncing with each step.
I follow as if he has a lead around my neck, my long legs able to catch up and walk by his side. “You’ve one-upped me; I don’t know your name.” I try to sound casual, but I’m so desperate I’m about to start begging.
Finding Kai’s little brother had been easy enough when I looked at Kai’s social media posts, full of images of tattoos, and his arm thrown around friends and family. Teagan’s accounts were surprisingly sparse, and he only followed Kai and another private account.
Yet Kai had enough posts of his little brother that I could easily locate his frequently visited places.
“Teagan.”
“Teagan…” The name shouldn’t shake the ground, and yet I have to work to keep myself upright. “And where, Teagan, are we going?”
He spins around to walk backwards, looking directly at me. Bigger and badder people have shied away from me, but I’m starting to learn that my Teagan is anything but shy, and what a thrill that is. “You’ll find out.”
Teagan’s about to step onto a cracked hole in the pavement. I reach out to stop him, but he’s quick on his feet and spins around, hopping over the crack easily.
“You should be more careful,” I warn, and probably for the first time in my whole life.
But from the glint in Teagan’s eyes, I can tell the last thing he wants to be is careful.
And, oh, what a thrill that is.