Chapter 18
Tyr rose first, extending his hand to help Beth from the bench. Her legs wobbled slightly as she adjusted to solid ground again, and his steady grip kept her balanced while her muscles remembered how to work without blades beneath them. A soft laugh escaped her as she took a tentative step.
"Skating legs," she quipped, grateful for his support.
His smile warmed his eyes as he offered his arm, and she tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. They took their time walking through Rockefeller Center, before winding their way to where the black Maybach waited at the curb, its engine purring softly in the chilly night air.
"Are you tired?" Tyr's question held a hint of something more.
Beth considered. Her body hummed pleasantly from the ice skating, but exhaustion hadn't set in. The night was so magical, she wasn't ready for it to end just yet. "Not really. Why?"
"I thought we might wind down at 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar." The familiar mischief danced in his expression. "It has the most incredible views of the Empire State Building, especially at night."
Beth nodded eagerly. "That sounds wonderful. I'm not ready for this night to end yet."
The Maybach glided up Fifth Avenue, its smooth ride letting Beth focus on the glittering storefronts passing by. Tyr pointed out landmarks as they drove, his cool presence beside her adding to the evening's magic.
"Bergdorf Goodman on your right - their holiday windows are legendary. And there's the Peninsula Hotel, where the employees all wear white uniforms and pillbox hats."
"Seriously?" Beth pressed closer to the window, peering at the doorman standing on the front steps. "Oh, wow."
Beth's jaw dropped as an enormous church loomed ahead, its twin spires reaching toward the night sky like ancient guardians.
Delicate stonework caught the city lights, creating an ethereal glow around the massive structure.
Elaborate stained glass windows sparkled like jewels set into the pale stone walls.
"A cathedral? Right in the middle of New York City?" Beth stared out the window as an enormous church loomed ahead, its twin spires rising like ancient guardians against the night sky.
Tyr chuckled, leaning toward her window. "That's St. Patrick's Cathedral. It was finished in 1878."
Beth stared in wonder at the intricate carvings adorning the facade.
Even at night, she could make out the saints and angels watching over Fifth Avenue from their stone perches.
The building seemed almost out of place among the sleek modern towers surrounding it, yet somehow perfectly at home in the heart of Manhattan.
"It's beautiful," she breathed, twisting in her seat to keep the cathedral in view as long as possible. "Like something transported straight from Europe."
"We were here when they built it," he said, his voice rich with memory. "Our clan arrived in New York City in the mid-1800s. Watching the cathedral rise stone by stone was quite something."
The car pulled up to an elegant building, and soon they were whisking up to the rooftop in a sleek elevator. Beth gasped as they emerged onto the open-air space. The Empire State Building loomed before them, its iconic shape illuminated against the night sky.
Beth spun in a slow circle, drinking in the spectacular view. The rooftop stretched before them, completely open to the night sky. Twinkling lights strung overhead competed with the stars, while lamps cast a warm glow over intimate seating areas.
"I didn't realize it would be open air!" She clutched Tyr's arm in excitement. "The views are incredible."
Her eyes landed on several clear dome structures scattered across the rooftop. "Are those... igloos?"
Amusement flickered across his features. "They keep guests warm while enjoying the view."
A hostess approached, her professional smile brightening as she took in Beth's obvious delight. "Welcome to 230 Fifth. Would you like one of our signature robes to keep warm while you enjoy the rooftop?"
Beth's eyes widened as she noticed several other guests wrapped in plush red robes. A giggle bubbled up from her chest, growing into full-blown laughter.
"Robes?" She wiped tears of mirth from her eyes. "Like a fancy bathrobe? At a rooftop bar?"
The hostess grinned, clearly used to this reaction. "They're quite popular, especially on chilly nights. Very cozy."
Beth's shoulders shook with renewed laughter as she pictured herself and Tyr - the ancient vampire warrior - lounging at this upscale bar in fluffy red robes. Her new leather jacket kept her perfectly comfortable, but the mental image was too hilarious to resist.
"Oh my god." She pressed her face against Tyr's shoulder, trying to muffle her giggles. "Please tell me you'll wear one too?"
Beth couldn't contain her grin as she watched Tyr eye the plush red robe with a mix of resignation and amusement.
"You aren't going to take pictures, are you?" His eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Oh, absolutely I will be taking pictures." Beth bounced on her toes, already reaching for her phone. "This is too perfect to pass up."
Tyr sighed dramatically, but his lips twitched with suppressed humor. "Fine. But you have to promise you'll never let Tobi see these. He'd never let me live it down."
"I promise." Beth crossed her fingers behind her back, knowing her expression probably gave away her mischievous intentions.
The hostess helped them both into the cozy robes, then gestured toward one of the clear dome structures. "Would you like to try one of our igloos? They'll keep you warm."
Tyr glanced at Beth, clearly leaving the decision up to her.
"Would it be okay if we didn't?" Beth wrapped her robe tighter, breathing in the crisp air, redolent of snowfall. "I'm loving the sky and the breeze too much to be inside, even in something as cool as those igloos."
"Of course." The hostess led them to a prime spot near the edge of the rooftop, where comfortable seating offered an unobstructed view of the glittering cityscape. "This table has one of our best views of the Empire State Building."
Beth sank into the plush chair, unable to stop smiling as she took in Tyr's appearance. The ancient vampire warrior looked surprisingly dignified in the red robe, though his expression dared her to comment.
Beth snuggled deeper into her plush red robe, grateful for both it and her new leather jacket as another cool breeze swept across the rooftop.
Most of the other patrons had opted for the warmth of the igloos, leaving the outdoor seating area practically empty.
The heat lamps created pools of warmth around their table, but the knife-edge of winter air made her feel vibrantly alive.
She leaned forward, propping her elbows on the table and settling her chin in her hands. The Empire State Building's lights created a stunning backdrop, but her mind was fixed on Tyr's earlier revelation.
"So. Dragons." Beth's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Talk."
Tyr's rich laughter echoed across the nearly empty rooftop. "What exactly do you want to know?"
Beth leaned closer, her eyes bright with curiosity. "Tell me about the one you know. What was it like?"
Before Tyr could answer, a waitress approached their table, her notepad ready. "Good evening! Can I get you started with some drinks?"
"Actually..." Tyr gestured toward the cocktail menu. "You should try one of their hot cocktails. They're quite famous for them."
Beth flipped open the menu, scanning the options. The warmth from the heat lamps and her cozy robe helped against the nip in the air, but her nose and cheeks tingled with the cold, making the idea of a hot drink especially appealing. "Oh, there's a spiced hot chocolate! What's it spiked with?"
The waitress brightened. "We can do it with either bourbon or rum. The rum adds a sweeter note, while the bourbon gives it more depth."
"Definitely go with the bourbon," Tyr recommended. "It complements the chocolate better. And I'll have the hot toddy."
Beth closed her menu and smiled at their waitress. "Okay, spiced hot chocolate with bourbon, please."
The waitress jotted down their orders with a smile. "Excellent choices. I'll have those right out for you."
As soon as the waitress disappeared behind the bar, Beth leaned forward eagerly. "Go!"
Tyr's laugh rumbled deep in his chest. "It was back in the 16th century.
Our clan lived in the caverns of a mountain range on the edge of a vast desert.
" His gaze grew distant with memory. "The city there had originally been built as a caravanserai - a way station - for merchant caravans traveling between the Safavid Empire in Persia and the Mughal Empire in India. "
Beth's gaze was distant as she imagined the ancient trade routes and mysterious mountain caves. The New York cityscape faded away as she pictured towering peaks rising from endless sand.
"Those mountains were the ancestral home for the earliest vampires," Tyr continued, his voice dropping lower. "Lord Damien was one of those first ones."
"The city became a sanctuary of sorts," Tyr continued, his voice carrying the weight of centuries.
"A place where humans and Others could coexist, though not without.
.. complications. We established a delicate balance.
The vampire clan agreed never to feed on unwilling victims from within the city's walls.
In return, the humans wouldn't attempt to drive us out or wage war against us. "
Beth opened her mouth to ask about the complications when their waitress approached. The rich scent of chocolate and spices wafted from the steaming mug she carried.
"Here we are." The waitress set a large ceramic mug in front of Beth, the dark liquid topped with a swirl of whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder. "Spiced hot chocolate with bourbon." She placed Tyr's hot toddy before him, steam rising from the amber liquid. "Can I get you anything else?"