Dominik
My desire…my obsession…for possessing what I want is going to backfire on me. Taking a Van Helsing into my nest is going to be my undoing.
I still have to find my brother and deal with his unhinged desires, and I don’t have time for a mate. Even if every atom in my undead being is screaming to have her by my side, in my sight at all times.
It’s a process driven by an ancient desire which is, which should be, long buried. Taking a mate for a vampire is something which hasn’t been done in decades, maybe centuries.
And taking a human? Unheard of. There has to be something wrong somewhere, and with my brother on the loose, causing havoc, I’ve not had time to seek advice.
Instead I’m bringing the descendant of our greatest enemy into my nest.
Because I can’t let her leave my city or my country.
I can’t let her go.
Lucy walks ahead of me as I usher her back through the door of the house she left not so long ago.
She stops in the open hallway and looks up to where the glass ceiling would have once shed light but now is merely lit with the great crystal chandeliers dating from the time this place was built.
“Solar panels,” I say by way of explanation. “If you were wondering.”
“Solar panels? Instead of glass?”
“We take our carbon footprint seriously. And this is a big place to power.”
“Says the vamp who just bought every ticket on every plane out of Budapest to stop me leaving.”
“The little savings add up.” I gaze at her.
Now she’s here, in my nest, at my choice, I’m not entirely sure what to do with her.
I’ve been long used to obtaining female company by way of mesmerization or, in more recent years, after monsters revealed themselves, there have been plenty of women who deem themselves monster fuckers and need no such encouragement.
The thralls call them groupies with a sneer. It seems some creatures are beneath even thralls.
But Lucy is neither a groupie nor just any female. She is mine, sent by fate.
I take a step towards her, and she takes a step back.
“I should warn you, I am armed.”
“And why would you warn me?”
Lucy studies my face. “I wouldn’t want you crying foul if I didn’t. But I will stake you as you sleep, Dominik Király.”
“You tried that.”
“I’ll try again.”
“What if I enjoy it?”
She blinks, not expecting my response. “You would enjoy being staked? Well, I suppose you do go out in the daylight.”
I was wondering when she would notice.
“Yes, I daywalk,” I say, with not a little modicum of pride.
“Is that what you call it?” Lucy’s voice contains a hint of mirth.
“What would you call it?”
“Walking.” She gazes at me with the eyes of a predator.
It’s not something I’m used to.
“Walking.” I put my head on one side and contemplate her response. “Novel, but I like it.”
She makes an odd noise under her breath which, even with my enhanced hearing, I can’t discern.
“Sir?” A thrall appears from the rear of the stairs.
Lucy moves instantly into a defensive pose, and I am quite impressed. The thrall ignores her.
“What is it?”
“You are required.” The thrall looks Lucy up and down.
“Then take my m—take Miss Cushing to my quarters. Provide her with…” I look over at Lucy, rather enjoying putting her off her fight mode, and then I check my watch. “Brunch. Coffee,” I query as her eyes flick from the thrall to me, “or tea?”
“Decaf tea,” she responds.
Which was not quite what I was expecting, but still, whatever she wants, she can have.
“And not any of that pathetic breakfast tea either. Make it something stronger,” she adds. “But decaf. I’m watching my caffeine intake.”
“I will return, my dear,” I tell her.
“I am not your dear,” Lucy retorts.
“We’ll see.”
“No, we won’t. Get this straight, Király. I will stake you the first opportunity I get, and I’ll burn this place to the ground. Don’t harbor any other thoughts in your pompous head. Keeping me here is a big, big mistake.” She growls the last sentence.
“We’ll see.”
I walk past the thrall and through to my office space. It’s quiet in the nest as it’s mid-morning. Most of the vampires are in their coffins, getting some rest and keeping away from any risk of seeing the sun. A couple of my elite guard are waiting and snap to attention when they see me.
“What is it?”
“It’s me.” The huge gargoyle steps out of the shadows.
“Sorry, boss. He insisted.” My second, Attila, a younger vampire of only a century, who has already impressed me with his stamina and ability to resist sunlight, exposes his neck to me in the usual indication of his loyalty.
“Viktor.” I nod at the ancient statue. “To what do we owe this visit?”
The gargoyle looks around at my guards.
“Leave.” I say to them.
Attila holds my gaze for a brief moment, then dips his head, indicating the other three as I gesture to my inner sanctum.
“Shall we?”
He lumbers his huge form through the doorway—it only just fits—and sits down in one of the large leather chairs in front of my desk. It creaks alarmingly.
I know he’s expecting me to take a seat at the desk. But despite my ability to exit and enter any place I choose, I won’t let him block the doorway. I lean against it and fold my arms.
The meeting of two ancients. There are not so many tricks left in the book.
“So, Viktor?”
“I’m here about the human female.”
“What human female?”
“The one being given brunch in your quarters.”
“What about her?”
“Ferenc isn’t best pleased.”
“Ferenc should mind his own business.”
“She is a friend of his mate.”
“Lucy Cushing is under my protection.”
Viktor nods and gets to his feet. “Should any harm come to her, I will tell Ferenc you do not have control of the rogue vampire.”
I’ve spent a long time concealing my emotions, and the great animated statue won’t detect a flicker of surprise from me.
“Again, my business,” I respond.
“And it becomes my business if he threatens my employer or attempts to open the vault again.” Viktor levels his unblinking gaze at me. “With prejudice.”
“It’s all under control.”
“As I would expect, from you,” Viktor rumbles, the chair creaking alarmingly as he rises and makes his way to the door and passing me as he squeezes his bulk and wings through with only a slight scraping of the wood.
“Have you ever thought about coming to work for me?” I ask, like I ask every time I encounter the ridiculously loyal gargoyle. “I’m sure I can offer better pay and conditions than Ferenc ever could.”
“You know the answer to the question, Dominik. The only reason I’m here in your office rather than pounding your face into the pavement is because you assisted Ferenc in London. Don’t ever try to fool me again,” he growls.
That’ll be a no, I expect. At least for now.
“Well, if you ever need anything, something Ferenc can’t supply, you know I am at your disposal.”
The huge gargoyle looks me up and down. His expression doesn’t change.
“The day I need a favor from a vampire will be the day I crack,” he rumbles. “Get a grip on the situation, Dominik, or I will.”
He opens the door to the outer office, and there is a slight movement outside. My guards are ready as always, although what they think they can do against many tons of stone, I am not sure.
But then, at least Ferenc and I have two things in common. A loyal workforce and a mate we’d do anything for.
Lucy just doesn’t know it yet.