WHEN ALEXANDRU SAW the younger vampire coming out from the infirmary, his first instincts were to throw the other man against the wall and demand that he stay away from his pet.
One second passed, both of them staring at each other, sizing each other up.
The baby vampire was tall, perhaps only an inch shorter than he was. And pretty. Too damn pretty to be allowed too close to his pet. If he hadn’t known the other guy was a vampire, Alexandru would have been willing to bet the boy had gone as far as dyeing his hair to make it even more eye-catching.
Although more of the same thoughts ran through his head, none of it showed on Alexandru’s face as he started forward.
Erou grimaced when he saw the older vampire had taken the first step to approach him. He had always prided himself in his ability to do everything correctly and according to the rules, but here he was, violating one of the basic rules of courtesy among Chalysians. Alexandru was not only older than him by centuries, but he outranked Erou as well. He should have been the first one to greet the other man, but Erou just couldn’t make himself do it. He felt like if he did, it would be akin to admitting the other man was better than him.
“Lord Erou, I believe?” The hunter’s voice was smooth and strong, a polite smile still playing on his lips as he spoke.
Erou forced himself to bend his head in acknowledgment. “Lord Alexandru.”
Alexandru almost smirked at the ill-concealed disapproval on the younger vampire’s face. Nice young gentlemen like Erou Damaschin always did hate hunters like him. Erou’s generation believed in peace talks and battles fought in the shadows, preferring to avoid everything that could shake the tenuous balance between the world of humans and nonhumans. For them, hunters like Alexandru were a threat, a throwback from the Dark Ages that would only serve to make their race appear more uncivilized.
“I came to thank Lady Zari for her vital assistance this morning.”
“Yes. You were very fortunate that my pet was at the right time and place.”
Erou flushed, too smart to miss the hunter’s pointed barbs, despite having spoken in a bland tone. In just one sentence, Alexandru had been able to remind him of his ownership over Zari as well as the inappropriateness of what had happened – an offense that Alexandru was making clear he would not allow to happen again.
It pissed Erou off, the way the other vampire seemed to have completely dismissed his ability to steal Alexandru’s pet from him. He heard himself saying, “I also let her know that I desire to claim her as my pet.”
“Is that so?” Alexandru’s eyes cooled even though a smile continued playing on his lips.
“Yes. I thought she should know she has a choice.” Erou threw the hunter a look of challenge. “It is only right you do not hold her back if she wants to break your claim on her.”
“I agree with you completely, boy. But the question is…”
Erou watched warily as the other vampire crossed his arms against his chest.
“Do you really think she would want to leave me?”
Alexandru smirked when he saw the other man’s lips tighten, an indication that the boy had indeed asked and was rejected. Something in his chest eased at the sight, and it was only then he realized that he had been tense all the time he had been waiting for the boy to answer. His pet really was beginning to mean too much to him, Alexandru thought uneasily. He had to do something about it soon.
Erou’s temper ignited when he saw the hunter smirk. “You should let her go. A girl like Zari is not to be played with.” Throughout his childhood, Erou had grown up hearing of Alexandru’s legendary exploits but for some reason, Erou had never been overly impressed with it. He had always disliked the nonchalant way Alexandru treated his every mission, as if hunting down criminals was more a pastime than an honorable duty.
And if there was a woman involved in the mission? It was a foregone conclusion that Alexandru would have her in his bed. None of them, however, had been elevated to anything more than a one-night stand…until that girl.
Erou’s eyes widened in realization. “You care for her, don’t you?”
Alexandru’s gaze became hooded. “Now you’re talking nonsense.”
“Say all you want, hunter. I’ve seen through you. You don’t want to let her know you care for her, do you? Why is that? Are you thinking a vampire like you is too good for her? You don’t want other vampires finding out that you actually fell for a human girl?”
Alexandru’s lip only curled. “You know nothing.”
Erou laughed jeeringly. “Yeah, sure, I know nothing. And you know what? I’m actually going to wish you luck. You just keep doing your thing and I’ll keep doing my thing, and mark my words, the day will come…”