Tyr's rich chuckle broke through her mental image. "No, usually Antonio handles that, or one of the lieutenants - Jai or Misha. They take the vows on behalf of the clan. It's more practical that way. Lord Damien has more important matters to attend to than personally vetting every potential donor."
Beth nodded, her earlier dramatic vision dissolving into something more businesslike. Of course the vampire lord would delegate such tasks - he probably had centuries of experience in efficient management.
"The Pledged are an important first step," Tyr continued. "It lets us evaluate their reliability and discretion before considering them for more... intimate arrangements." His gaze flickered briefly to where Mark worked, still clearly listening to their conversation. "Some remain Pledged indefinitely, perfectly content with their role. Others may eventually become Blood Sworn to a specific vampire, if both parties desire it."
Tyr leaned closer to Beth, his voice dropping to a low murmur that only her sensitive hearing could catch. "Some of the newer donors like Mark can be a little... overzealous. As you can see. They have these elaborate rituals and formalities they think we expect." He rolled his eyes. "The 'my lord' business, the bowing - none of that's required. They just watch too many vampire movies and decide that's how they should behave."
Beth bit back a laugh, not wanting Mark to overhear. "So they're basically vampire groupies?"
"Exactly." Tyr's blue eyes sparkled with amusement. "Most grow out of it eventually, but the new ones..." He shook his head fondly. "Well, you saw Mark. They mean well, but sometimes it's a bit much."
"You'll love the view from upstairs," he said, his expression brightening. "Come on."
Drinks in hand, Tyr led her toward what she'd assumed was another storage door, but as they approached, Beth realized it was actually a sleek elevator entrance. The doors opened silently at his touch on the call button, revealing a car finished in brushed steel and dark wood panels.
Her heart fluttered as Tyr's hand settled at the small of her back, guiding her inside. The elevator rose smoothly, and moments later they emerged onto the mezzanine level. Beth's breath caught at the stunning view through floor-to-ceiling windows. The Hudson Valley spread out before them, bathed in silvery moonlight that transformed the landscape into something magical.
They settled into comfortable chairs positioned to take advantage of the vista. The Hudson River ribboned through the darkness in the distance, its surface catching and reflecting the moon's glow like scattered diamonds. Beth wrapped her hands around her warm mug, inhaling the soothing steam, all warm and chocolatey, as she took in the peaceful scene.
"This is beautiful," she murmured, watching the play of moonlight across the water. She felt contentment wash over her, entranced by the view while acutely aware of Tyr's presence beside her.
Her gaze drifted upward, following the line of windows until she noticed they stopped short of the ceiling. A gap of several feet ran along the entire perimeter where the walls met the roof.
"What's with the open space up there?" she asked, gesturing toward the gap with her mug. "I mean… it's winter!"
Tyr's blue eyes sparkled with amusement. "Actually, it's designed that way on purpose. We vampires can shapeshift into raptors - hawks, eagles, owls, that sort of thing. The opening allows us to come and go unseen."
Beth's mouth fell open in surprise. "You can shapeshift?" She set her mug down, turning to face him fully. "I had no idea vampires could do that."
"It's not common knowledge," Tyr admitted, his lips quirking into a smile. "We prefer to keep some abilities private."
A giggle escaped Beth before she could stop it. "But not bats?"
Tyr laughed heartily. "No, definitely not bats. Hollywood got that one wrong." His eyes crinkled at the corners. "We're raptors - predators of the sky."
Beth frowned, her fingers tracing the rim of her mug as she processed this new information. "Only raptors? You can't Change into any other form?" The restriction seemed oddly specific for such powerful beings.
Tyr's playful expression faded, his blue eyes growing distant. "Lord Damien once told us it was tied to the dark magic used to create the very first vampires, millennia ago." He took a slow sip of his espresso, his broad shoulders tensing slightly. "No one really knows why - not even the ancients. The ability to take raptor form just... came with the transformation."
Beth watched his face, noting how his usual easy manner had shifted to something more serious at the mention of vampire origins. The casual mention of dark magic and ancient transformations sent a shiver down her spine, reminding her just how little she truly knew about these immortal beings.
Tyr's expression shifted to one of fond exasperation.
"Speaking of unusual raptors, my dear brother has come up with what he thinks is a brilliant plan." Tyr shook his head, though amusement danced in his expression. "He's decided to deliberately take the form of a white gyrfalcon - a species only found in the Arctic."
"The Arctic?" Beth queried, her brow furrowing in confusion.
His lips quirked into a smile. "Tobi figures any anti-shifter groups or government agencies will immediately assume a raptor who's not supposed to be anywhere near this part of the country, must be a shifter. They'll waste time and resources trying to track and trap him while completely missing the actual shifters they're hunting."
Beth couldn't help but laugh at the cleverness of it. "So he's basically creating a decoy?"
"A very obvious, very dramatic decoy." Tyr rolled his eyes. "Which, knowing my brother, he'll enjoy immensely."
Beth gazed out at the moonlit valley, imagining what it must feel like to soar above it all. Her leopard spirit stretched inside her, content with their feline form but still curious about flight.
"What's it like?" she asked softly. "Flying, I mean."
"Freedom," Tyr answered, his blue eyes distant with memory. "Pure freedom. No boundaries, no limits - just you and the wind and endless sky." His voice held such longing that Beth's heart ached in response.
