Chapter Fifteen

New York

Dominic worked the large crowd squeezed into The Blue Moon Lounge, there to celebrate his milestone birthday. I surveyed the handsome Vamp. One thousand years old. In mortal years, Dominic appeared thirty-five, at most.

Gregore’s gaze followed mine. He leaned across the table and said, “Look at Dominic, that devil Vamp, heading to the dance floor. Not a care in the world. I think I might be jealous of him.”

I frowned. “Jealous? How so?”

Gregore snorted. “Because he has the best of all worlds. Just watch him.”

I focused on Dominic, nose to nose with a particularly lovely wench, his hands digging into her buttocks as they danced.

“Sexually, he enjoys women, prefers them, actually, but they weaken him. It’s the blood of viral men that strengthen him.”

Charlotte plucked a thin cigarette from her jeweled handbag. “You two were correct. This truly is a grand affair.”

“Indeed, my dear,” Edgar said, striking a match and holding it out for her. “It appears America has much to offer us.”

I smiled, thankful to finally have my cherished pack members back in the fold where they belonged.

Tallon glided by. “I’ll be back in a flash with another round.”

I watched as Others of every shape and size danced in the middle of the room. Clearly showing off, Jasper swayed excitedly in front of a group of seductive witches, waving his arms and swiveling his head. Jessamine caught my eye and gestured toward the dancing crowd. I smiled and shook my head. She shrugged and grabbed Franz as he strode past her.

Tallon headed toward our table with chilled cocktails.

“This round is on me,” said Dominic as he approached our table.

Gregore patted the soft cushion. “Sit for a spell, birthday boy. You must be exhausted.”

Dominic sat, his penetrating blue eyes narrowing as he scanned our faces. “This room is exciting, but I guarantee the patrons on the second floor are having a wickedly good time.”

Gregore dragged on a cigarette and blew out a perfectly formed smoky ring. Gazing at me with a glint in his coffee-brown eyes, he said, “Dominic’s an especially naughty Vamp tonight.”

Dominic grinned and stared at me. “You sure you’re not up for a roguish night of debauchery, Derek?”

I swallowed the cocktail warming my lifeless soul and slowly shook my head.

Edgar leaned closer. “The mortals were a divine treat, Dominic. Very festive, indeed. I must say, Charlotte and I haven’t partaken of such hedonistic activities in many decades.”

Charlotte’s tongue darted out and moistened her bottom lip. “He’s right. What can I say?”

For weeks, the upcoming party had been the talk of the city among our kind. After lengthy negotiations, Dominic had managed to procure New York’s most desirable male and female prostitutes. Insisting the luscious mortals modify their usual repertoire, it had cost the lounge owner a pretty penny. He explained that they were to drink their fill of the house specialty cocktail, followed by allowing the Blue Moon patrons whatever they sexually desired.

A woman wearing a sheer white dress, sporting nothing underneath except fiery-red pubic hair, sauntered from table to table offering sugary delicacies.

“Gentleman?” She held out the skillfully decorated pastries on a sterling platter.

My mouth watered. I chose an almond croissant drizzled with dark chocolate.

“Compliments from the owner,” she said.

“Help yourself, fiends,” said Dominic. “These sinful treasures are a birthday gift from a friend of mine.”

The dark chocolate melted against my tongue. I glanced around the large room. Ever since Erin had left for Washington State, it seemed as though my beating heart had stopped dead and withered to black ash. No matter how brief the moment, I welcomed the delicious croissant managing to warm my cold soul.

Gregore shot up. “Let’s dance.”

The small lines around Dominic’s eyes crinkled with amusement at Gregore’s inexorable passion for dance. “Let’s go.”

Others poured in through the metal door, filling every square inch of the lounge. After drinking my fill of cocktail, the stimulating scents of the boisterous immortal crowd filled my head until I thought it would explode. The nagging bulge inside my trousers led me to ponder whether perhaps I, too, should consider partaking of the wicked festivities filling the rooms on the second floor.

A familiar aroma blasted into my nostrils. Instantly, bile rose in my throat, and my heart hammered against my vest. I rubbed my neck trying to smooth the tiny hairs rising along my nape. I inhaled deeply and surveyed the room.

There.

I rose from the chair and cleared my throat. “Excuse me,” I said to Edgar and Charlotte, trying my best to hide the rising alarm flooding my veins.

Charlotte tapped my hand. “Oh, tell me you’re not leaving this fine party.”

Edgar piped up. “Let the man be, my dear. Of course he’s not leaving, right, Derek? Derek?”

Her back faced me, and the air instantly chilled as I slowly approached the group of females conversing in the rear corner of the room.

“Oh, my,” said a fair-haired woman with narrow predatory eyes.

Regine stiffened her spine and spun around. “And who do we have here?” she asked, a look of false innocence drawn upon her pale face. “Why, Derek Rudliff, how long has it been?”

I willed hostile words to form in my throat. Instead, my mouth hung wide open.

“Quite the grand soirée, don’t you agree, chérie?”

I grabbed her elbow. “Excuse us,” I muttered to the group.

“Why, Derek, you only needed to ask —”

“Shut up and come with me.”

Her feet barely hit the floor as I hurried her toward the darkened stairway corridor.

“My heavens, chérie. You always were a royal pain in the ass, and I do mean that quite literally.”

I stopped in my tracks and spun around. Regine slammed into my chest and gasped. I dug my fingers into her shoulders. “Why the hell is it everywhere I go, you manage to follow?”

Regine’s brown eyes flashed with flecks of illuminating golden candlelight. She snorted dramatically. “You flatter yourself.”

“Do I?” My fingers curled, nails digging hard into her collarbone. “Tell me now,” I said between clenched teeth.

Her seething gaze narrowed. “Let go of me before I scream for Dominic.” She pulled from my firm grasp.

“You know Dominic?”

She adjusted her gown and looked at me as though I were insane. “But of course.”

I sighed and raked my hands through my hair. “Enlighten me, Regine. Just how long have you been in New York?”

She fluttered her lashes. “Long enough to firmly establish my new business. You’ve probably heard of Bonbonniere Sweet Shoppe, yes?”

Indeed, I had read about the place. Owned by a group of “innovative females from Europe,” the new establishment flaunting delicious French pastries had been covered many times within the gourmet section of the local newspapers.

“I hope you shared in the sweet delicacies I provided for the party tonight.”

Suddenly, the croissant sitting inside my stomach turned into a boulder, and the loud lounge music screamed inside my head, hindering my thoughts. A woman peered around the corner, watching us. I couldn’t think straight. I had seen her before, but where? I caught her eye, and in a flash, she was gone.

I rubbed my temples and glared at Regine. “Woman, I want you gone.”

Her red eyebrows arched high. “You want what?” I’m sure I didn’t hear you correctly. It sounded as though you said —”

“Dammit! You heard me. I want you gone, Regine. I know you’re only here to torment me.”

She inched forward. “You’re a fool, Derek,” she said. “You were always a fool. I’ll have you know it was Rudolpho who insisted we move to New York. You remember him, yes? Your son? Do you still imagine he doesn’t exist?”

Looking at Regine made my skin crawl. The room. The music. Everything. I had to get the hell out of there, and fast. I turned to walk away, but she grabbed my arm, stopping me.

“You will do nothing to jeopardize my plans, my business, or our son. Do you understand?”

My fingers curled into fists. I wanted to hit her. I wanted to strike her hard and wipe that arrogant grin from her face. Rather than cause a commotion, I settled for a threatening, throaty growl.

She cocked her head and smiled in a way that caused my chest to tighten. “I know you have the power of your pack behind you now. I, too, have mine. Let me just give you fair warning, Derek. If you dare stand in the way of Rudolpho becoming King, I’ll inform the authorities of a trail leading straight to a missing college professor.”

Dear God. I swallowed hard.

Queen Regine Delacour tilted her chin high. “Of course, that trail would lead to a certain young female who happened to discover her handsome professor was actually a philandering adulterer.” She leaned in, her lips inches from mine. “Do we understand one another?”