Chapter 17 – Rorik
My scent is all over my little lamb.
Good.
Now everyone will know she belongs to me.
Claiming her at the club on the dance floor should have been enough. Word gets around fast in the supernatural world. Every supe across the five boroughs already likely knows about our little… show.
Still… I’m a jealous vamp, so having my scent on Aurora will ward her from any horny monster tonight.
And we’re all horny.
The party is being held on the rooftop of Xander’s penthouse. It’s crowded with plenty of high-powered supes in attendance.
Malachi, the fae prince with his court, including Korna, who was the fae representative on the supernatural unveiling plan committee. Korna isn’t royalty, but he might as well be. He holds a lot of power amongst his kind. It’s why he was chosen alongside me to lead informational classes.
I’m pretty sure he’s fucking Malachi.
Saoirse, the coven leader for the New York City witches, is here.
She spots me and scowls before glancing away.
Evangeline has been trying to clean up my reputation with the witches.
Trying is the key word. I get it. I killed a lot of them during my first couple hundred years of this curse.
It might be harder to convince Saoirse that I’m no longer a threat.
Especially when she all but offered me as a sacrifice to Ciara when we faced off with her and the hunters.
She blames me for letting her escape. At least, that’s what I overheard when I kept to the shadows and listened for gossip or other helpful information that could help me track the powerful witch down.
A vampire elder named Cyrus stands with the fae. He’s president of the council for the World Organization of Vampire Elites—a governing body for vampires. Cyrus was turned nearly 900 years ago. He has a svelte build, blue eyes, bleach-blond hair, and appears to be in his twenties.
I’m pretty sure he’s also fucking Malachi.
Gregor, the alpha of the Manhattan werewolf pack, stands at the back with his beta, Johnathan, by his side.
Gregor is a gruff were who’s always wearing plaid and has muscles that could rival Thorne’s.
He’s nearly as tall as well and has salt and pepper gray hair with a matching thick beard that hides all expressions except for his constant scowl.
On the opposite side of the room is Philandria, alpha of the Five Boroughs wolf pack.
She holds a drink while chatting and laughing with her omega and other wolf shifters.
Unlike werewolves, wolf shifters can take their animal form at any time.
Werewolves can only turn during a full moon.
Philandria is the complete opposite of Gregor; thick and short and always wearing black.
She’s covered in tattoos, including on her neck and a few sprinkled on her face.
Despite the intimidating exterior, she’s constantly smiling and laughing and exudes friendliness.
There are a few other supes who I know but didn’t care to remember their names, like some orcs, centaurs, demons, griffins, and even a dragon who’s in his human form right now since his monstrous side would likely span an entire New York City block.
“Oh my God,” Aurora gasps. “It’s so beautiful up here!”
She closes her eyes and inhales deeply. A slight breeze washes over us, pushing her hair away from her freckled face. She smiles and hums.
Aurora’s smile is addictive. I crave it. Her smile makes my undead heart flutter to life.
I glance around the rooftop, trying to see the world through her eyes.
Faerie lights and flowers are hung around the ledges and along the walls, giving whimsical vibes for the night.
There’s a makeshift dance floor enclosed by tables where supes and humans sit with drinks in hand, talking with excitement about the night to come.
When Aurora opens her eyes, she looks up at me. Doubt crosses her face, and she bites her lip before lowering her head. Is she ashamed to experience even a small amount of joy?
If I manage to break this curse against me… and survive… I will take my little lamb to the moon and back. We’ll travel to actual beautiful places and not just wonderfully decorated rooftops. Paris. Italy. The Cologne Cathedral in Germany.
Anywhere she wants to go.
“Do you dance?” she asks, noticing a few supes and humans scattered around the dance floor, moving to whatever song is playing. Something upbeat and modern that I can’t name.
“I do,” I say, and she snorts. “Why is that funny?”
“I was just imagining you out there twerking, but I’m guessing that’s not the type of dancing you do.”
I smile at her silliness.
She is my joy.
“I’ve danced ballroom, tango, the waltz, jazz, swing, salsa, and even tap, but I’ve yet to master the art of twerking.”
She slaps the back of her hand on my chest, snorting again. It’s such a normal, human reaction, and it almost has me forgetting that I’m a cursed being with a dark past.
“Oh! Is that where the announcement is going to play?” Aurora asks, pointing at a massive screen that’s been erected.
It’s currently showing a countdown clock.
Vara will be the one to break the news, alongside Layla and Thorne. There will be the reveal when Vara and Thorne drop their human forms and Layla bares her fangs.
And then we wait for the world’s reaction.
Before I can answer Aurora’s question, she squeals, spotting a short blonde woman.
“Farrah!”
She tugs me towards her new friend, who stands next to Locheran. Farrah gasps and opens her arms to bring my mate into a hug.
“This dress is stunning!”
“I know right? I bought it with Rory’s credit card!” Aurora says, beaming.
It’s true that she’s been using the card. I’m glad. It’s what I gave it to her for.
“Hell yeah,” Farrah says. “Have you ever read a billionaire romance where the FMC feels weird about spending his money? I’m like, why? He’s rich. Spend away, girly!”
The two break out into a fit of giggles. Apparently they both like spicy romance books. They huddle together, chatting about their recent reads and swapping notes on something called a Tbr.
Locheran moves next to me and nudges me with his elbow.
“She’s calling you Rory? Sounds serious,” he says.
I shrug.
Locheran slaps his palm on my shoulder, which I shrug off.
I won’t forget that this gargoyle broke my neck twice recently. Not that I didn’t deserve it. I used vulgar words when speaking of Farrah the first time. But the second time was completely uncalled for. All I did was try to take Farrah’s hand in greeting.
He was being protective of his mate.
To be honest, I’d do the same.
“I still haven’t told her about all the horrible things I’ve done,” I say to Locheran quietly. My eyes find Aurora, but she’s paying us no attention.
Locheran’s face transforms to one full of… compassion. Understanding. It’s an odd emotion on the monster who couldn’t stand me just weeks ago.
“She won’t fault you.”
“How could she not?”
“Because you’re a victim of her mother’s evil, just like she is.”
The music fades, ending my conversation with Locheran. Xander and Evangeline take the small platform that elevates them slightly above the crowd.
“Welcome, everyone,” Xander begins. He waits while the hum of chatter dies down.
“Tonight is an important night. One we’ve been waiting for, for months.
In an hour, humans will officially know of our existence.
Our worlds will merge. We’re expecting some resistance.
We’re prepared for that. But we also expect fast acceptance. ”
I glance around the space, watching as supes and humans nod, smiling and all but glowing with anticipation.
“Tonight, we celebrate, and tomorrow, we get to work," Xander continues. “Many of you have already put in the time to make sure our kind is accepted. This is only the beginning.”
The crowd claps and when it quiets, Evangeline raises her glass of wine. “Please, enjoy the drinks and food. There’s something here for everyone.”
I spot a bar that has booze, faerie wine, blood, and other beverages I can’t decipher from where I stand. Next to the bar is a table full of food for humans and supes who eat.
Evangeline makes a gesture to the DJ stationed in a corner, and he starts up the music again. Humans and supes resume dancing. A handful of supes gather at the back and observe. They’re the ones who remain hesitant about the unveiling and are waiting to see how it all plays out.
I want nothing more than to take Aurora out to that dance floor for a repeat performance of the night at the club. But my peers have other plans.
We’re bombarded with meet and greets from monsters who are curious about the first vampire. I made my first public appearance only months ago. Before that, I spent years in dark corners, utilizing my shadows to stay hidden. It allowed me to watch and listen. I heard everything. I saw everything.
I’m still the most exciting thing since Millie met her mate and stepped down from the role of vampire queen.
Or when Xander had six months left before permanently turning to stone and met Evangeline, who saved him.
Or when Layla was crowned and met not one, but two mates.
Or when self-proclaimed player, Locheran Perrier, mated with Farrah, the estranged daughter of a monster hunter.
So me making more public appearances AND acquiring a mate at the same time has supes frothing to get all the hot tea.
Or whatever the kids are calling it these days.
Aurora is in her element. She greets every person and supe with a smile, immediately starting conversations as if she’s known each soul for years. She’s a social butterfly. A bright light in my dark world.
A beautiful burning fire that wilts away all my sins.
I don’t deserve her.