The Vampire Duke's Bargain

1. Peace and Harmony

PEACE AND HARMONY

Alex

Iwould never forget that rainy grey day I’d walked into Whitechapel for the first time, but bloody hell if I wasn’t going to try.

I’d set foot in the poorest and most crowded part of London when my family went bankrupt.

My father had lost his job, and we had sold our home in Clerkenwell, earning barely enough to rent a flat shared with fleas, rats, and enough humidity to drown us.

Then things had gone from bad to worse when the flu outbreak had ravaged the city, and dead people had piled up in the streets. Including my parents and sister.

Whitechapel hadn’t changed much in the past ten years.

The old cobblestones jutted out in different directions, making for bumpy carriage rides and staggering walks.

The coal dust and the fumes from the sewage were the same, and the smell of blood permeated everything because butcheries opened at every corner.

What had changed was the effect the blood had on me.

Since I’d turned into a vampire, my relationship with blood had become intimate.

With a whiff, I could tell animal blood apart from human blood.

Heavy smokers had a pungent-smelling type of blood, as appealing as drinking chlorine.

Healthy people’s blood smelt like fresh peaches, and the taste was even better.

My attitude towards life had changed as well. I wasn’t a street criminal who relied on his thieving skills to survive anymore. I was Ravenhill, the Duke of the Dark Court. That was an achievement I didn’t wish my parents to witness. They wouldn’t have been impressed by my diet.

Looking like a fairy-tale princess, Irene walked next to me.

The sunlight danced on her golden hair, making it shimmer.

As a wili, a spirit of vengeance who protected and avenged women, she emitted a delicate radiance I found comforting and alluring.

More than that, she was everything I wasn’t—calm, compassionate, and kind.

She slowed her pace as we brushed past a group of dirty, scrawny children playing on the pavement. This part of Whitechapel was under the control of Sebastian Knight, the Duke of the Moon Court; he was a werewolf I’d helped fight an outbreak of rabies.

The children set their werewolf amber gazes on us, likely understanding a vampire and a wili had entered their court. I would have avoided coming here if not for Nathaniel Graves, a short-tempered werewolf who had been a member of my court before trying to take my place.

Irene gazed around, big sapphire eyes widening. “Knight isn’t taking care of his pack.”

“Which surprises me. Werewolves always watch over each other, and we did our best to help. His economic situation must be worse than we thought.” I tentatively held her hand and ignored the swift tremor going down my spine.

The contact never failed to spread warmth and awe through me, but there was a good dose of fear as well.

She didn’t grip my fingers but let her hand slide into mine gently. After weeks of practice, I hadn’t completely overcome the revulsion of touching and being touched. But at least I managed to hold her hand without feeling sick.

“You’re making excellent progress.” She always had an encouraging word for me.

But I didn’t think my progress was excellent or quick. There was nothing I wanted more than to hug her without passing out from pain. I had to thank my transformation into a vampire for this crippling condition.

I released her hand and stepped aside when a couple of women walked close to me. Shivers of concern that the women might touch me crawled down my spine. So much for making progress.

I loosened the collar of my shirt. “Where’s Lucy’s house?”

She gave me an understanding look. “Not far. Right around the corner.”

Hopefully, this visit wouldn’t be a waste of time. I avoided sunlight if I could; this afternoon’s promenade was as comfortable as sand in the undergarments.

Lucy was Graves’s sister and the only one who might help us find him.

If it were up to me, I would leave him alone to rot in whatever hole he’d chosen to crawl into, but Irene had insisted that repairing broken relationships would improve my role as the duke. And admittedly, I hadn’t treated Graves well.

Lucy’s house rose in the middle of an alleyway so narrow my shoulders skimmed both walls.

The front door needed a new coat of paint, and the single window had never seen the sunlight, judging by the moss growing on the frame.

Water was dripping from a half-broken gutter, and the plink noise was getting on my nerves.

“Graves fought hard to convince Knight to return this damp to Lucy,” I said. “I thought it would have been better than that.”

“It was.” Irene pointed up. “This building was originally the ducal palace, a refined, luxurious place. After the war, it was split in sections that were assigned to Knight’s people. What was left was this flat, once the servants’ quarter.”

“I’m surprised Graves didn’t say anything.”

“I suspect his sister asked him not to.” Irene was about to knock but paused. “Please try to contain your temper.”

“I don’t—”

“Please.” She balled a fist on her hip. “Peace and harmony are our mission for a better and stronger relationship between the Dark Court and the Moon Court.”

“It sounds like a slogan told by a politician during an election campaign.”

She fixed the knot of my tie. “It’s a good thing that your role as the duke is mostly about politics, then.”

I grinned. “You’re right. And the Duchess of the Fair Court would be so thrilled by our mission.”

“Hopefully. So she would stop threatening us.” She knocked, and flakes of paint floated down.

The door swung open, and Lucy came into view, pale and gaunt, which was something common among humans in Whitechapel. Scarce food and even scarcer sleep didn’t make for a healthy recipe. But this part of Whitechapel was the Moon Court, and starving people were rare.

She didn’t smile upon seeing us. Another common thing in Whitechapel.

“Good evening.” She held the door open.

“Miss Graves, thank you for seeing us.” Irene stepped inside the house, but I couldn’t.

An invisible barrier blocked me. It was part of a vampire’s curse.

I remained on the threshold, almost tempted to use the curse as an excuse not to carry on with this meeting. “I need a formal invitation, Miss Graves.”

She frowned. “I’ve heard vampires can’t cross a threshold without being invited in, but I thought it was a myth.”

I didn’t say anything. I wasn’t proud of yet another weakness.

She studied me for a long moment. “I’m not sure it’s wise to let you in.”

The similarities between her and her brother were subtle. Graves had a rough jaw and a permanent scowl that would annoy a saint, while Lucy had a delicate face and gentle features. But the siblings shared the same hazel eyes and chestnut hair. And mistrust towards me.

I flashed what I hoped was a charming smile. “I won’t attack you or use your invitation to my advantage.”

But she had a point. If she refused me entrance, her house would be a haven for her. I wouldn’t be able to enter, no matter how hard I tried.

“You can trust Ravenhill,” Irene said.

“And I’m the vampire duke. If I wanted to harm you, trust me, I would find a way.”

Lucy recoiled.

Irene shot me a disapproving glare. Oh, right. Peace and harmony.

I cleared my throat. “But I have no intention of hurting you. I always keep my word.”

Although she wasn’t part of the Moon Court since she belonged to the Argos clan and Knight was part of the Molossians. If I killed her right now, I wasn’t sure Knight wouldn’t chase me.

“Please.” Irene sounded calm and sweet.

Lucy exhaled. “Your Grace, you’re welcome.” She made a wide gesture with her arm.

The barrier lifted, and I entered the flat.

“Please take a seat. I’ll make some tea.” Lucy met my gaze for a fleeting second and paled further.

She headed for the kitchen, staggering a little.

I sniffed the air to catch her scent. It wasn’t bitter or pungent; there was no sign of a disease, but she didn’t appear to be healthy at all.

Inside, the house was more comfortable than the flat where I’d lived after my parents and sister had died.

A sofa and a couple of mismatched armchairs took up the sitting room, and the curtains were whole and shiny, not riddled with mould and holes.

But the window opened to another narrow alley, overlooking a tall brick wall, and the bunch of dried flowers on the mantel did nothing to cheer up the atmosphere.

“She doesn’t look well,” Irene whispered. “And her emotions are all over the place. She’s worried, scared, and tired.”

As a soul searcher, Irene had the ability to detect people’s feelings. Living people, that is. Since I was undead, what I felt remained a mystery to her. Only the special bond between us, due to the fact she’d been my first provider, allowed her to catch a hint of my mood.

Lucy carried a tray with a teapot and a set of cups. I waited for the ladies to sit before sitting on the armchair, trying to catch any scents that might reveal if Graves had been here.

She coughed into her fist, her shoulders shaking. “What’s the reason for your visit?”

Irene spoke first. “We don’t know if you’re aware of what happened at Raven Hall. Your brother Nathaniel left the Dark Court after an argument with the duke without telling anyone where he was going.”

Argument was too gentle a word for an attempted murder. Attempted murder on my part. I’d almost killed Graves.

“We would like to know if he’s been here.” Irene tilted her head, likely studying Lucy’s aura.

Lucy poured the tea. “I haven’t seen Nathaniel in a while.”

“Hasn’t he come here?” I tried not to sound too frustrated, but I didn’t detect Graves’s scent.

Lucy shook her head. “Since Knight is the new Duke of the Moon Court, Nathaniel’s visits have been few and far between. He prefers to stay away. Not that Knight has asked him to. Why are you searching for him? Should I be worried?”

“Not at all.” Irene put down her cup. “If you see him, would you please tell him we would like to talk to him?”

Lucy tugged at the shawl over her shoulders. “Of course I would. But if he’s in trouble, I would like to know.”

I’d done my part. I’d come here and asked about him. But where the hell was that werewolf?

“He isn’t in any trouble.” If anything, I was. “But he left abruptly, and I want to make sure he’s fine.”

If I didn’t make peace with Graves, Irene would give me a piece of her mind.

“The last time he’d come…” Lucy stared at her tea. “It was weeks ago. He gave me some money, which made me think he’d found a good job.”

“Like what?” The only job I’d ever seen Graves performing was chopping wood and barking at me. But he might have hidden talents.

“He didn’t say. As he didn’t say anything about having left the Dark Court.” She rubbed her forehead, paling.

“We’re tiring you,” Irene said. “We’d better go.”

I agreed.

I wasn’t surprised that Graves hadn’t mentioned our fight to his sister. As proud as he was, he wouldn’t let her know he’d been defeated by a vampire.

Lucy stood up slowly, heaving a sigh, and crossed the room. Once at the door, she hesitated, a hand on the knob.

“Is Knight causing you problems?” Irene narrowed her gaze, a sign she was using her power to study Lucy’s aura.

If Lucy was lying, Irene would know it.

“I rarely see Knight.” Lucy lifted a shoulder.

“I’m part of the Argos clan, and even though my parents were strong werewolves, well, my powers have never shown.

I’ve never turned into a wolf.” Her voice lowered.

“Knight doesn’t care for humans, much less for a powerless, poor member of the Argos clan.

And I…” She shivered. Her eyes rolled back, and she dropped to the floor.

I could have caught her before she hit the floorboards, but even holding Irene’s hand was difficult. Touching a stranger was impossible.

“Lucy!” Irene crouched next to her and gently patted her cheek. “What’s happening?”

I unleashed my power. My sight, hearing, and smell sharpened. My fangs descended, scraping my lower lip. “Her heart is slow but steady, and the smell of her blood is healthy. I don’t think she suffers from a disease.”

“Then it’s starvation.” Irene grabbed Lucy from under her arms and pulled, only to fall over and end up on the floor. “I can’t carry her to the sofa.”

Just the thought of lifting Lucy and carrying her sent shudders crawling along my skin. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologise.”

I picked a cushion from the sofa and handed it to Irene.

She placed it under Lucy’s head. “Can’t we do anything to help her? This poor woman is too weak.”

“I’ll make sure she receives supplies, and I’ll find a physician for her.”

Lucy blinked, a hand on her temple. “Oh, dear. I’m sorry.”

Irene helped her sit upright. “Are you ill?”

“It’s nothing.” She grimaced. “I’ve been tired for the past few weeks. I’m behind with my work.” She slowly picked herself up with Irene’s help.

“What do you do for a living?” Irene led her to the sofa.

“I’m a seamstress. I mostly do mending, but I earn the little I need.”

Irene stared at me. I knew that stare. It begged me to do something for Lucy.

I clasped my hands behind my back. “You’re welcome to come with us to Raven Hall. You’ll be taken good care of.”

Colour returned to Lucy’s cheeks. “That’s generous of you, Your Grace.”

“Ravenhill, please.”

She didn’t soften. “But whatever the nature of the argument you had with my brother is, it prevents me from accepting your offer. I believe Nathaniel wouldn’t be happy if I left my home, especially since getting it back from Knight must have cost him a lot.”

It hadn’t cost Graves anything. Darius, my best friend and wizard of the Dark Court, had done all the work.

“Would Graves be happy to know you’re starving and fainting?” I asked.

“Alex.” Irene glowered.

What had I said wrong?

Lucy showed the same shocked expression as Irene did.

I continued. “The offer still stands. If you change your mind, let us know.”

“Thank you.” She didn’t sound grateful but worried. “But I’m fine.”

I insisted. “I can ask one of the maids in Raven Hall to come here if you want.”

“That won’t be necessary. Thank you. I’m fine.” Lucy’s tone was flat.

I was trying to help her, but I thought she held a grudge against me about her brother. Peace and harmony my arse.

I flexed my fingers. “Miss Graves, we came here for you and we’re ready to help.”

“But I don’t need help.”

A moment of tense silence stretched.

“It’s time to go.” Irene slowly slid her arm through mine, and the contact sobered me with its sweetness. “Thank you for the tea. And there’s no need to escort us out.”

A glint crossed her gaze. She might be powerless, but there was a wolf inside her nevertheless.