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Derrick was behind the counter, and the drinks were flowing I watched him froood job On a whim, I cal ed Roman

"Hey dude, hoould you like to see my bar?" I asked when he sh that set e, he whispered, "I’ve seen it before, so no, but I’d like to see you If that’s an invitation, I’ up, a shiver ran upI needed to blow off steaht noas too set on edge I wanted to feed, even though I wasn’t hungry Roman was my best choice at this moment

I wandered over to the jukebox and slipped a few quarters in "Tainted Love" by Marilyn Manson,

"Sister Midnight" by Bowie, "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Modeal good dance songs And soer out ofrhythe-goth ht not be curvy, but htness ofme ache for someone’s touch, for the feel of hands on my body I’d final y accepted busters

A few of the other custo it move our bodies as it raced froh the wal s and floor, reverberating inat the door

Everyone fel back as he entered the roo a pair of leather jeans and a jacket the color of crimson He took one look at me, and the next second, he tookto the an to transfer the hunger I’d felt for Morio to Ro, ainst mine, as he wrapped his ars extended, and let out a long hiss He echoed the greeting in return and his eyes flashed as he nuzzled my neck "We need to fly," he whispered "We need to run, to own the city"

Without a word, he ledstreets We explored the city via the rooftops, running so fast, so hard that the lights were a long, neon blur, streaks of tiraphy Cars passed by in slow motion, the cacophony of a hundred conversations al blended into one Building after building fel beneath our feet as the hiss of silent snow fel around us and we claimed the city rooftops for our own

And stil the music echoed from behind me I could hear it; it had worked its way intoatop a rooftop, and his lips were on ry and fierce "I need to drink from you"

He stripped the jacket away from his neck "Please, s into the creah my body as they slid easily into his neck Blood wel ed up, sweet liqueur in er metal ic, but like a fine port, thick and heady I sed, coaxing ling to keep control, I pul ed away and stripped out of aze fol owedhis prey His cock rose thick and pulsing and I throbbed deep inside, wanting to is around his waist as he cradled th and width spread s back into hi ain, I coaxed his blood, drawinghis neck as I sipped on the violent wine His mother was the Queen of Vampires, Blood Wyne, and the royalty sipped on the violent wine His mother was the Queen of Va in his life force--a dusky, rich, ancient taste of power He was a god of ice, a god of heat, a god who had witnessed history coo He was Roman, and he wanted me

"Come, Menol y, come, beautiful one" His left hand slid offirl," I whispered

"Oh, but you are irl My consort You irlfriend and I wil dance at your wedding, but I have chosen you to be my consort

I a up at the Clockwork Club, I wil unveil our pairing"

And then he began to thrust in earnest His lips s pierced my flesh, and I lost asm from which I did not know if I could extricate myself At lastsnow to sing to us

CHAPTER 20

"Ro at the Clockwork Club?" The pressure off, I slid back intothat overlooked the street twenty stories below The lights of the city were soft against the blanket of fal ing snow Silent cars trailed slowly through the streets, hesitant ants slipping over the ice

He hopped up to crouch on the lip of the building A foot wide, the concrete ay offered no handholds or supports A balance beaame of Russian roulette, and yet he was rock steady

"They’re having a pre-Solstice party, just a cocktail affair I want to announce you then"

"What does that mean, exactly?" I wasn’t sure what to expect

"We wil attend the party as a couple, and I wil announce that you are nowin the community--"

"Youto sort out and understand the nature of Earthside vaed to stay so aloof froh, to be fair toand his retinue

"Wel , yes I control the vampire community on this continent, for the most part And once I announce you as my official consort, you ield far more power than you do now You wil alht And I think you shal need that power during the coht, to soainst the dehed "Oh, Menol y, I’ my consort means you wil have that many more resources to cal upon Should the Deh the portal himself, it means the vampire community wil ral y to help you if you demand it As my consort, you ield that power"

I stared at hiers, the va to establish a communal effort for years with Vaether Oh, and speaking ofWhat about Terrance? He tried to frame Wade for the murders our serial kil er is responsible for"

"If you beco, he wil have a much easier time You think the vampires of the Clockwork Club wield authority? They kneel to reat deal of influence If we choose Which is another reason Terrance must die He refuses to bow to our deeneral WeIam the power behind the public face of the vampire coencies? Wade led me to believe he had a hand in it"

Roman shook his head "No Blood Wyne--my mother--decided it was necessary It ce a chance for nonroyal vampires to help decide local policies Each continent wil be divided up into several Regencies and the sons and daughters of Blood Wyne wil oversee the Regents The ti As much as I fear my mother, she has final y convinced me of the necessity of an active monarchy"