Chapter 1 Peter
Peter
The afternoon sun created shadows with acute angles in Peter’s office, making him wish for clouds as he sat behind his desk. Something, anything, to make the day more bearable. Not that sunlight was going to burn Peter to a crisp, no matter how many vampire movies said that was how he should end.
He simply didn’t like the sun. Or most vampire movies actually, unless they were good vampire movies. And no good vampire movies have screaming or horny teens in them.
Peter stared at the spreadsheet that was currently open on his work laptop. It was legal stuff, and he was good at legal stuff—being a lawyer with his own firm and all that—but he was feeling antsy to the point where all the columns and numbers made no sense.
It’s the blood, Peter thought, stifling a groan.
Spreadsheets never made sense when he hadn’t had some nice fresh blood in a while, even if he normally loved himself some Excel magic.
I should go find a horny teenager to eat, except that would be wrong, even if the world might be a better place with more humble teenagers rather than horny ones.
Sighing theatrically for the benefit of the echo in his lonely office, Peter leaned back in his ergonomically optimized chair and glared at the damn spreadsheet. It still refused to make sense, and his glaring was obviously wasted on the damn screen. Peter closed his laptop and got to his feet.
He had the corner office, given that he was the boss, and most days he liked it.
He liked the ridiculously expensive interior design that in part served to justify his hourly rate, yet, right this moment, Peter couldn’t spend another second in there.
It was the abstract art and the annoying shadows, the echo and the fucking spreadsheet, and maybe also the sunny day outside.
He pushed his office door open and hurried down the hallway, a nice scowl on his face that forced everyone to move out of his way as if he were a bull and they bone china cups. Taking a deep breath, Peter barged into Michael’s office. The handsome siren looked up, frowning when he saw Peter.
“Anything you need?” Michael asked.
Oh, Peter had a list of things he conceivably needed from Michael, and it had only grown since Michael had started working for Peter.
At first, Peter had entertained thoughts of a nice, tempestuous affair with the delicious-looking siren.
Peter had never had siren, and he’d wondered what Michael’s blood would taste like in the throes of passion.
However, Michael had quickly proven too professional and much better suited to being a shoulder to lean on.
Peter had rarely found that in another person, and it was more important to him than any throes, passionate or otherwise.
Then, in a most fortunate turn of events, Michael had started dating a human—the cutest little librarian in all of New Elvenswood—and that had been even better, allowing Peter to watch those two being adorable together.
They were downright sappy, and much more entertaining than any movie or soap opera, and Peter had been witness to sweet Corvin being brave in a way few librarians ever were outside a library, up to and including facing down the gravest danger for his Michael.
It was epic, and Peter loved everything about it.
More than once, he had considered whether the two of them would mind if he moved in with them.
He was quite sure he’d never be bored with such a passionate couple for roommates, or frustrated with most of the other distractions that promised relief from the boredom that haunted his immortal existence. Living with them would be such fun.
Except, of course, sirens were territorial and could turn lethal with ease if their lair was disturbed or their chosen upset. And Peter, despite the boredom, liked being alive.
What was worse, Michael and the cute librarian were planning their wedding, and Peter was not involved enough. And there was no way for him to easily get himself more involved without crossing several boundaries both professional and personal.
All of that is such a bother. If only the theater were what it used to be, or the opera. Ah! I used to love the opera.
Michael frowned. “Peter? Everything okay?”
The goddamn bother. “Just checking in,” Peter said, forcing himself not to ask whether they had selected a venue yet. “I wanted to make sure you’re fine with your current caseload. I’d understand if you needed more time with Corvin right now. It’s a delicate time, I’m sure.”
Michael smiled, clearly thinking of his beloved. “It’s fine, actually. Corvin’s excited. We’re going to go taste test cakes next week.”
Peter nodded. “You’ve found a good baker, yes?”
Michael nodded. “Yes. My mom had a few suggestions, but we’re going with Lily Cakes.” Michael’s face lit up as if a candle made from love had been lit inside his skull. “I suggested them. Corvin says I get to make executive decisions about food.”
“Aw. He adores you. I knew he would, Michael. Say, have you considered registering for wedding presents? Perhaps I should have a talk with Corvin and yourself about that?”
“Nope, we’re not doing that. We’re thinking about asking every guest to donate to a local library, but Mom won’t have it. She’d adopt Corvin if he let her, and she’s determined to spoil him. She keeps saying it’s a siren thing, but honestly, I think the gift giving is more for mermaids.”
Peter’s eyes glazed over. He’d known a merman once, and the merman had been made of one part shiny scales, three parts filthy jokes, and two parts opinions about Peter’s sailing skills.
Come to think of it, he did throw a bottle at me that one time. Maybe he meant that as a gift?
“Understandable,” Peter said. “Perhaps we should go to the library? To surprise your Corvin, of course, and so he can show me what types of books should be donated. I’ve not seen much of him since our little outing to Morrowvale.”
Really, Michael had to give Peter that. It wasn’t an unreasonable request, and Peter loved seeing Michael and Corvin kiss and touch; all that wonderful intimacy.
Michael tilted his head. “If it’s because of everything that happened there, you don’t need to worry about Corvin, honestly. And I need to get this done.” He tapped the file he was reading with his index finger, and it took all of Peter’s control not to roll his eyes.
Peter considered telling Michael the file didn’t matter and that they needed to go see Corvin now.
Peter needed to see the two of them be sweet to one another.
He needed to see them love each other. It was soothing.
It was better than watching puppies play.
But that was highly inappropriate, and Peter worked exceedingly hard to not be inappropriate, ever. Or mostly. But mostly ever.
He struggled for nonchalance and pulled off a nod. “If you say so, Michael. Let me know if anything changes in regard to your caseload.”
After a quick nod from Michael, Peter stormed back to his office. The spreadsheet was still there when Peter opened his laptop back up, but Peter closed its window posthaste and opened Photoshop instead.
What he couldn’t see in real life, he could at least create there. Pasting Michael and Corvin’s heads on two baby-oil-slicked muscular bodies with not a stitch of clothing on them wasn’t as good as seeing the real thing, but it would have to do for now.