The world is quickly moving on in a way that makes it increasingly difficult for either of our races to remain hidden and threatens the existence of all of us. Banding together is a logical and necessary next step.
I’ve had limited success making contacts and alliances with shifters from my base in Atlantic City. The wolves long ago abandoned the urban canyons for more rural areas.
There are other shifters who sometimes hide within the cities to stay lost, their scent overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of humanity, and vehicle emissions, and other incidental sensory camouflage. But other than a few rare exceptions, lone shifters never seek me out.
Not that I blame them. I certainly wouldn’t, if I were them.
The cities are usually the domain of the vampires. Except for Philadelphia.
They’d planned a war against humans, and an informant let me know. My people eradicated all fifteen members of their nest in a surgical strike of military precision. To the informant, I provided safe passage out of the United States and adequate resources for them to start over in South America.
That was twenty-eight years ago, and no other vampires have settled in Philadelphia since.
I have business interests all over the world, especially in the UK. I have secure residences all over the world, too, but Scotland will always hold a fond place in my heart. It’s also where I visit Robert’s grave, take him his favorite wildflowers, talk about my life, reminisce about our adventures. We only had twenty years together, but they were magic, and breathtaking, and the only reason I’ve held on as long as I have was my promise to him to do so.
It wouldn’t have been a Tucson sunrise I greeted. It would’ve been a Scottish one. My plan was to get the Tucson project up and running as one last personal victory, put principal players into position to keep my empire running, and then return to Scotland. After drinking one last toast to my love, I would have lain on his grave and awaited sunrise.
But now…
I am so glad I waited. No, Eilidh’s not guaranteed to be mine, but as long as she’s alive, I now have a purpose, a mission.
A renewed sense of wonder about the world.
My beautiful enigma.
At Club Toxic, she directs me around back and into her reserved spot, which is the only one open. The Audi is still the least expensive vehicle there, but it can hold its own in appearance.
I open her door for her and help her out. The blue wig again tonight, and a black Club Toxic tee with the logo in neon green, and black jeans that hug her rounded curves and make me seriously wonder how I’ll keep my hands off her.
Or keep from murdering anyone who looks at her too long and hard.
I grab my things, but she takes her tote bag from me. “I’ll stash this upstairs at my desk for now.”
I follow her to the back door, where she punches in her code. I open the door for her, though, and the one at the base of the stairs, after she punches in her code there, too.
She moves through the space comfortably, without worries about the predators she works for and with. I know she might not fully realize just how rare she truly is.
I wait for her while she stows her things and dons her name tag and apron. Then she gives me a kiss. “I need to get to work.”
I kiss her one last time, taking my time and making sure she’s nearly melted by the time I finally release her. I want my girl’s mind on me while she’s working.
She wobbles a little as I smile. “Enjoy your shift, love.”
“That was mean,” she whispers.
I smile. “I know.” Downstairs, the nightclub is packed, the dance floor crowded, the air warm and full of sweat and lust and barely constrained hunger. I find myself averting my gaze as nearly every human woman I pass turns toward me with blatant invitations in their eyes.
On another night, I might have picked the first one and gotten things over with, just to satiate my basic hunger.
Not tonight.
Eilidh peels off to head to the bar while I make my way to the coat check room. Maximus is standing guard and steps aside to let me pass with a respectful nod.
When I head down to the dungeon, I see a few vampires are already playing with their selected dinners. There’s a male vampire fucking a male human in a sex swing while a female vampire feeds from the human’s neck. Next to them, a shirtless male vampire is flogging a female human against a St. Andrew’s cross. I hear a soft female moan from one of the curtained alcoves and realize more play is going on there, too.
No, the first time I scene with my girl, it’ll be in private, so I can focus on and savor her, and not worry about anyone else lusting after her. I want her in cuffs and my collar, to make her crawl naked across the floor as I watch her willingly come to me. I want to feel the heat of her forehead through the top of my boot as she formally bows in front of me.
There’s an entire encyclopedia of kinky things I want to do to and with her, and I absolutely willnotshare her with anyone.
