Page 3 of Cinderella and Her Vampires (Dirty Paranormal Fairytale Haremlan 5)

The other side is the parallel plane of existence where people like him, and other shifters and witches lived. The human realm had grown overcrowded and keeping their existence secret was growing more difficult. Every year, more and more of their kind left. Preternatural creatures and witches alike.

The humans who lived there called it Haremland.

The thought still made Silas snort.

“He was also seen drawing too much attention at a local drinking establishment,” Xavier added. “He needs to be handled.”

Silas sighed. “I’ll let Brock handle him.”

Xavier shook his head. “He threw a fit once I left, didn’t he?”

“No,” Silas said, keeping his voice level. “He’s old enough to start taking over more and more. The time has come, I started letting him get his hands a little dirty.”

Xavier shook his head. “I am not sure about this, Silas. The human is clever. Not to mention faster than any other human I’ve seen before.”

“It’s already done. The human is in one of the cells in the basement. Brock is likely toying with him right now. Hopefully, he’s also drawing out information he wasn’t so forthcoming with before.”

Xavier pinched his nose and squeezed his eyes closed as though he was warding off stabbing pain that had entered his head. But because he was a vampire, it was a gesture from his human days. A habit left over from days that had been long gone for as long as Silas could remember.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” he said. “Have you witnessed him in the cell yourself?”

“No. Why would I need to?” Silas asked.

“I understand he is your son. I was present when you picked him. But over the years, he’s become restless and wound tight. He’s a loose cannon, Silas. You can’t trust him not to kill the man once he gets his hands on him.”

Silas shrugged. Xavier understood that he knew his son better than most. When he gives Brock an order, he knew well enough not to go against it. And Silas trusted Brock enough to believe that still was the case. But Xavier had a different belief.

Silas muttered, “One less human in the world. I doubt anyone would miss him.”

“Silas…” Xavier said, pulling the prince of vampires’ attention to him. “Collin isn’t down in a cell. He’s still out in the city. I should know because I tailed him as far as I could. I lost his trail.”

“That’s not like you,” Silas said as a pinch settled in the center of his forehead. “Are you sure you’re not losing your touch?”

“I’m positive. But my point is the same,” Xavier added.

“Fine,” Silas said through a heavy sigh. “If you want him so badly, get to him first. Otherwise, I would like to spend more of my time in peace.”

Xavier nodded. “Of course.”

Silas watched his friend turn around and disappear into the shadows that birthed him before turning himself around and looking out the window. The city, even at such a late hour, was still as alive as it was during the day. Very little had the power to pause the small world around him.

Once again, his thoughts became consumed. Something was missing. Something he desired with every fiber of his being. It started the moment Collin stormed into his office.

The question was, what would a vampire such as he—one who’s lived over half a millennium—possibly ever need?

1

CINDY

I was busy working the bar during an influx of customers when Bobby tapped me on the arm. I turned my attention to him briefly. I was in the middle of making a round of drinks for a party of eight that had come in. Each of them wanted something complicated and over the top. Not to mention expensive.

“What’s up?” I asked.

He mumbled, “You may want to see this.”

There was something in his voice that made me stop and rest my attention on him once more. He stared off in the direction of the front door where a man stood soaked from the frozen rain that had fallen outside.

“Our friend is back,” he said. Seconds later, his stone-like expression broke into a smile. “I believe you owe me twenty.”

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