Page 2 of Victory for Vampires

Opening my mouth to catch snowflakes, I focus on their taste. The weather here is manufactured like every other haven. Snowflakes hit my tongue and dissolve. I drink them down before crossing a black cobblestone street. Heading left, I pass the bookshop and an armory. I stop at the window.

I love the armory. Inside, four gargoyles and a rock troll stand to be fitted for their weapons. The protector academy is just on the other side of the haven, so these will be upcoming graduates. Once they receive official protector status, they’ll be assigned to havens all over the world to keep monsters safe from dark magic…and humanity.

Musing over that, I walk up a few more doors. When I arrive at my destination, Brion, I dip inside with a smile. My friend Ybris sits at the bar with a blood cocktail in one hand. She sips delicately at it, flirting with the bartender. Rolling my eyes, I join her when he turns from us.

Bumping her hip, I laugh and bend toward her ear. “Haven’t you fucked him enough times to stop bothering with the flirting when we come here?”

Crimson eyes flash at me as she tosses her long black braid over her shoulder. “It’s called edging, darling, and he loves it.”

The bartender, a handsome minotaur with gorgeous long horns, blushes to the edges of his pale cheeks. The ring in his nose quivers as he stares at my friend. Oh yes, I think perhaps there’s a little something more there than just sex. But relationships happen on their own time. I know that better than anyone.

Ybris slips a folded piece of paper across the bar toward the minotaur. He takes it, reads it, and runs a hand through his wavy dark hair. Tucking the note into a pocket of his vest, he wheels away from us to help another monster at the far end of the bar.

“Gods, that’s going to be delicious later!” Ybris practically vibrates with excitement.

“Jealous,” I huff as I steal a sip from her drink. “I miss my mates.”

She gives me a sad look, then steals her drink back. “So, go visit.” Her innocent look turns wicked. “Ever is one of our most successful havens. Go do some—” she makes air quotes with one hand, “—research.”

I order a drink as I consider that. Ever’s had its share of challenges lately with thrall attacks and the like. The magical wards that protect monster communities from the outside world are like a homing beacon for monsters turned thrall. But that’s no different from most havens.

Realistically, I should probably travel to a variety of monster cities to see how they do things. Just because we did it one way in Azuro does not mean the new Italian haven needs to function in the same manner.

My drink arrives, but it’s clear the bartender’s focused on my friend. He jerks his head toward the back of the bar, staring at her like he can’t get enough, like the only sustenance he’ll everneed is her. His heated gaze sends a coil of heat through me. I have that.

Far away.

Ybris slips off her stool without looking away from him. He breaks the gaze first, heading toward the far end of the bar where he speaks quietly to the second bartender. The other male nods, grinning at the big minotaur as he claps him on the shoulder. Ybris leaves me behind without a backward glance, disappearing down a dark hallway toward the restrooms.

Damn. We were supposed to catch up on today’s meeting. But I can’t begrudge my friend the sort of dalliance she’s about to have. After slapping a bill on the bar top, I down my drink in a series of quick gulps. Drink devoured, I turn to leave. A dark elf by the door catches my eye, licking his lips suggestively.

Another time, I might take him up on the unspoken offer. For my kind, sex and blood are inextricably intertwined. I’ve taken many lovers in the time I’ve lived at the headquarters haven. It’s natural, almost expected, that I should do so—such is vampire culture. Pietro and Alé are free to do the same, of course, and I hope they have.

Yet something stops me this time…that quiet place in my chest where I should feel my mates. Sighing, I leave the bar, ignoring the dark elf’s sorrowful stare when I pay him no further attention.

Perhaps tonight, my mates are enjoying someone in the quiet, remote little haven of Ever. I hope they’re having fun. I miss them terribly.

2

PIETRO

Ibend to smell the enormous bouquet of flowers in my arms, straight black hair falling over my eyes. Ohken has outdone himself with today’s arrangement. Blood-red roses and black dahlias are peppered with the darkest of green leaves, so dark they’re nearly black. Absolutely stunning.

“Happy with your order, Pietro?” His deep voice breaks through my thoughts.

Brushing my hair back, I pull in another quick whiff before smiling up at the enormous green troll.

“Perfetto,” I say with a big grin. “And the scent? Delicious, my friend. This will be beautiful on the countertop at the store.” I love how the flowers match the swirling tattoos that line my neck and trail down my chest to my stomach. Not to mention, their aroma reminds me a bit of home. Well, not my home haven, specifically. They remind me of her.

Valentina.

My compliment brings a smile to Ohken’s rugged face, lips splitting to reveal the short lower jaw tusks common among his kind.

Once I’ve paid, he strolls casually around the checkout counter, crossing the store to pull the door open for me. I’m tall,but the flowers are so big, I can barely see over their elegant blossoms.

Clutching the base carefully, I step out of Fleur and nod my thanks to Ohken. Out on the street, new scents and noises fill my sensitive ears and nose. I twitch the pointed tip of one ear to catch conversations happening around me. It’s just the usual early morning chatter from my neighbors.

Main Street is busy despite the early hour. Although, monsters keep all sorts of hours, so it’s rarely completely dead on Main. Various monsters call out my name and wave hello as I cross over, walking past Miriam’s Sweets and Scoops Ice Cream.

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