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I followed him through the house and into the kitchen, watching him retrieve two glasses from the cabinet. The room appeared rarely used, in keeping with our kind. While we could eat normal food, it wasn’t a necessity.

At my age, blood wasn’t either, but I indulged as often as possible.

“Still no servants?” My finger left an exploratory trail through the countertop’s dust. It was exceedingly rare that a vampire of his stature and abilities didn’t have any staff.

An etched crystal bottle full of red liquid was pulled from the wide refrigerator, and he poured two generous servings. “I prefer no one going through my things.”

“I miss virgin blood,” I remarked, after taking a whiff of the beverage. There was no way to secure any in this place without causing undue attention. Nor was I fan of cold blood.

“Will you return after you find Cassia?”

I hadn’t given it much thought, seeing as I’d found the woman only a few hours ago, but that was the logical plan. “Of course.”

“And if she protests?” Kiam swallowed the rest of his drink, licking his lips afterward.

My shoulder shrugged. “Why would she? It wouldn’t change anything, regardless.”

Why wouldn’t she want to be with me? She’d have anything she wanted, riches beyond her wildest dreams. And I knew I was beautiful. My body is immaculate. There was no one better for her.

If she couldn’t see that, it would mean my discernment was sorely lacking.

He set his empty glass down on the counter, sending up a small cloud of dust. “It matters because she’s human. If she doesn’t like you, it might be messy.”

“Why wouldn’t she like me?” My hands curled into fists by my sides. The thought hadn’t occurred to me that she’d find me unsuitable.

“I’m not saying she won’t, Lukas. Just preparing you for the possibility of strife.” He sighed. “She’s pretty, she must have options.” He scratched his head and lifted his cup.

I drank the remainder of my beverage and set the glass down hard enough it cracked. The blood wasn’t good enough. I needed to hunt, needed something fresh. I wanted to rip someone’s tendons straight out of their neck while they screamed for a mercy they’d never receive.

Wisely, my friend didn’t mention the non-entity of her boyfriend. That man was already dead—he just didn’t know it yet.

“I’m her option. It is already done.” He furrowed his brows. “Stop arguing with me and get yourself together.”

His face stretched into a grin that I was certain had caused heart attacks in his victims. He grabbed our empty glasses and tossed them in a garbage can. “We’re going out to eat,” he announced.

CHAPTER 4

Lukas

Oswald drove me and Kiam back to the city, stopping outside a brick building on the west side. I waved my hand over my face, refreshing my make-up and smoothing any errant strands of my long hair.

Kiam’s makeup was smudged around his eyes, the artifice making him appear almost ghoul-like. The red lipstick he favored was so dark it appeared black, sucking all the light away from his skin and enhancing his morbid appearance.

Before the car door was opened, he removed his suit jacket, revealing a crimson shirt tucked beneath a heavily embroidered black waist coat. Every inch of the man suggested he was exactly what we both were; however, he embraced the stereotypical image more than most.

My coat stayed on as we exited the vehicle.

With a flick of his fingers, the carved wooden doors opened, and we stepped inside.

The host exclaimed, “Oh!” We both ignored her, brushing past as she offered to take my coat.

The club was a haven for supernatural creatures, but vampires especially. Someone had taken inspiration from another club, Angels, that catered to demons, vampires, and angels alike, and narrowed it down to a single species. That didn’t stop strays from occasionally wandering in.

Nor did it stop the higher echelons of human society from attempting to appropriate it for themselves. The convenience of making connections and business deals along with the ease of having food on hand meant there was a fragile partnership, now.

Everything shone in the interior of the club, from the glistening onyx tables and bars to the gleaming chandeliers. Recessed lighting was strategically placed for maximum visibility or privacy if one preferred, creating pockets of darkness and light.

I’d only been here once, when I first made the transition to this Realm, but I hadn’t stayed long enough to enjoy the offerings. Choosing a table in the far corner, I settled on the leather booth.