Dorian had given her everything she’d asked for, and when he looked up at her now, Charley felt amazing and beautiful and powerful, like a fucking phoenix rising from the ashes of her old life.
“You,” he breathed, shaking his head. Anger burned in his blood-red eyes, but there was respect there too, along with a desire neither of them could deny.
“Did it work?” he asked, dragging his thumb across his lips, wiping away the last bit of blood. “Did you prove to yourself that your monster could stop the feed before bloody well killing you?”
Charley smiled, reaching out to smooth the grumpy wrinkles between his eyebrows.
“I’m not the one who needed convincing, Mr. Redthorne.” She pressed another soft kiss to his lips, then pulled back, gently cupping his face. “So you tellme.Did it work?”
His admonishing glare finally faded, replaced with a reluctant acceptance.
And then, at long last, the devilish grin she loved finally appeared.
“You’re going to be the death of me, woman,” he grumbled.
“Unlikely, considering you’re an immortal vampire and I can’t even properly wield a stake. But Idolike bossing you around.”
He laughed and captured her in his strong embrace, no longer content not to touch her. “That,” he said, nipping playfully at her neck, “was a one-time deal.”
Charley giggled in his arms, light and carefree, a few of her old ghosts floating away.
“We’ll see, vampire king. We’ll see.”
* * *
When they arrived at Ravenswood, the circular drive was full of fancy cars, with even more vehicles parked on the grounds. In a clearing next to the manor, a black helicopter loomed like a war machine.
Aiden was waiting for Dorian out front, the urgency clear in his eyes.
“What the hell is going on?” Dorian was out of the limo before they’d even come to a full stop, Charlotte close on his heels.
“If you’d check your phone once in a while,” Aiden said, “you might have your answers.”
“I was busy!”
Aiden took in their appearance—Dorian, his shirt untucked, his hair tousled. Charley, definitely rocking the freshly-fucked-in-a-car look. She wore it well, but still.
Dead giveaway.
“Malcolm has called a… meeting,” Aiden said carefully. “A business…council… meeting.”
Dorian seethed, every muscle in his body instantly rigid. In a low, menacing voice, he said, “You’re telling me my manor is filled with a dozen ancient bloodsuckers?”
“More like three dozen, and they’re not all ancient. He’s invited some new blood as well, no pun intended.”
A quiet rage rippled through Dorian’s body. “I need you to escort Charlotte upstairs at once. Where are Gabriel and Colin?”
“Gabriel is on his way back from the city. Colin is still… working on his research. He asked not to be disturbed.”
Dorian nodded, then turned to Charlotte, his eyes softening.
“I don’t want you to worry, love,” he said, cupping her face. “But it seems my brother has invited some unsavory guests into our home. I need you to go with Aiden and stay in the bedroom. I’ll join you as soon as I can rid us of these… intruders.”
Charley nodded. Aiden and Dorian’s brothers were intimidating enough; she had zero interest in meeting three dozen so-called ancient bloodsuckers.
“Yourbedroom?” she asked, just to be sure.
Dorian smiled. “I wouldn’t have you stay anywhere else, Ms. D’Amico.”
