“Ouch. I may be black of heart, but I still have feelings.”
“None of the nefarious and wicked feelings you have matter. It’s a fact all in Shadowhaven are aware of. Depravity is your vice, Neera.” My eyes refused to look at her, but I gestured to her body with a dismissive flick of my wrist. Driving in another painful blow. “I simply indulged you for a night.”
“What we did last night was more thanindulging.”
“If you thought it was love then you truly haven fallen far into desperation. I was drunk, high, and you showed me a good time. Had you kept your mouth on more important tasks then perhaps you could have enjoyed a morning that would put that night to shame.” I pushed her a little roughly, causing her to stumble out of the bed.
Her hand caught the nightstand, steadying herself. My eyes didn’t stray down her body, didn’t admire or inspect. I had seen enough women’s bodies that none were enticing enough to stare at longer than necessary.
“You’re an asshole. I was warned about you and I didn’t listen.”
“A little tip, all the rumors about me are true. And another for the road, listen to warnings and save us both this disappointment.”
I got out of the bed, ignoring her broken sounds of disbelief as her jaw dropped. My hands went to work on putting my clothes back on from the scattered places she had thrown them. Then an all too familiar shrill scream sounded from her throat. The pictures cracked, glass cups shattered and I was forced to block the sound with my hands.
I ran from the room, slamming the door behind me to end the sound before it could take my hearing. Damn Unseelie were as dramatic as they were sexually adept. It was the price you paid for enjoying their company, but then again, I could’ve been nicer.
Vampire lord.
The creature inside, the one that was the source of my vampiric blood, thrashed around excitedly when she had said those words. I knew I would one day step into the role, to become the leader to this coven, but until then I was still just a Dumas. Everyone either wanted me for status or power—which often went hand in hand. They wanted the increase in status that being near me would gain them. Or they wanted the power of being at my side. It’s often how my mistakes ended.
Their confession often came exactly as Neera’s did. They thought because I made their legs weak that it meant I was in love with them. Love was an emotion I would never indulge in. It was weak and had more casualty than living the life I was now.
At least the women I shared my bed with remained alive to love another. I knew none of them were my mate, but I still avoided loving them. My mate wasn’t in this world, wasn’t in Shadowhaven. She was in the human world, their realm where vampires and werewolves were fiction.
When my mother died from losing my father to his mate, I sought out a seer that could tell me where and who my mate was. I didn’t do it to find her and bring her home, but to avoid her at all costs. If I couldn’t avoid her then at least I would knowwho to kill. It took time, but when I did, disappointment was what greeted me.
The home of the seer was behind a store catering to the mundane fantasy of divinity while occasionally serving true sight. The very sight I would be granted tonight. With the backdrop of a storm, I entered the store with a jingling of bells alerted them to my arrival. My ears picked up a settling of wood under someone’s feet as they carried someone in my direction. Then I saw the old crone. Gray hair tied back to fully display her sharp, bird-like facial features. A nose that could rival a beak and beady eyes that bore into mine.
“You came. I knew you would, but to see you here before me outside of the realm of possibility is a treat. Reeking of desperation while overflowing with power that scares your paternal maker.”
I scoffed, not allowing her probing to upset me. “It seems you are true as they said. Then you know what I seek and I gave you time to give me an answer,” I stepped inside further until only the wooden desk she stood behind separated us. Those dark, beady eyes didn’t blink before she delivered a blow to my psyche.
“A human girl.”
I bared my dangs threateningly, but she was not provoked. Her credibility was now in question, despite my earlier statement. “Are you sure you are a real seer? There is no way that I would have a lowly mundane as a mate.” I spit the wordmundanewith enough venom that silence followed. I allowed it to settle as I gritted my teeth. “Check again.”
“I am certain, little lord. She is a human girl born in the human realm. Veiled in green and consumed by shadows, she waits for you.”
“Well, she will wait until the end of her days and dies of age. I will not accept her.”
“You will, little lord,” she smiled softly, almost sympathetically before continuing to deliver blow after blow on my already battered state. “You will fall prey to her as your father did to his mate. Denying a bond is no small feat and none have accomplished it. You will not be any different. Love unlocks doors we never knew were locked. Keep her close, little lord. Acceptance or not, you will be consumed by fate as we all are.”
The seer’s words replayed as I entered the mansion gates, echoing her final words. Fate was a bitch, but I was fast and I was determined to outrun fate for as long as I could.
Unfortunately, karma was a bigger bitch and greeted me at the entry of the mansion. When I opened one of the front doors, a vase collided with the other side. Glass cut my cheek and water doused my already messy hair. My father was awake, and angry, which meant Isadora complained about our fight.
“Father, look, Isadora may have weaved a tale, but I—.”
Another object came hurtling at me with insane speed, forcing me into a squat to avoid being hit. “Do not speak of your sister to me, boy. Maybe I have been too lenient with my whore of a son. Out all night while your sister runs away in the night?”
Runs away? This time I wasn’t quick enough and his hand was what came flying at my face next. Scorching heat spread across my cheek from his hand, blood entering my mouth in waves. I swallowed it, teeth gritting as I held back my reaction. The blow had put me on all fours, but I refused to get up immediately.
Then a piece of paper floated down to my curled hands on the ground, Isadora’s writing taunting my blurred vision. I steadied my breathing, the tears drying before they could fall. When I was composed enough, I grabbed the paper and read her writing.
Dear father,
It is with a heavy heart and less sorrow than I thought, that I will be gone when you wake. I need to make my own path and Shadowhaven is not where I’m meant to be. Do not blame Lucien as he will have no knowledge of my departure. I want to see the humans. I want to be more than what my blood tells me I am.
