Though Mirceo could locate Caspion anywhere in the worlds, he already had a good idea where the demon, a creature of habit, would be tonight.
Mina said, "I still can't believe you confided your mate's identity to Uncle Trey."
For centuries, backbiting conflict had plagued the Dacian royals. Mirceo and Mina's parents had been casualties. Now peace reigned--yet another change brought about by Lothaire. "It's nice not to continually expect a sword in the back," Mirceo said, an understatement. His personality had been shaped by paranoia.
Once that had faded, hedonism had been a welcome alternative.
He and Mina each fell into their own thoughts, strolling along in easy companionship. He raised his face to the diamond-filtered sunlight. Vampire paradise. All it lacked was Caspion.
Out of the corner of his eye, Mirceo saw Mina worry her bottom lip with a fang. His gaze locked on her face. "What's on your mind, sister?"
Her cheeks flushed. "You can always tell when aught is amiss with me."
Because he'd raised her from the time he was fifteen. "Go on."
"Do you know that I've never spoken to a strange male before?" As if this were a bad thing for a princess? "Everyone who comes into contact with me is vetted, then introduced. As Caspion was."
Mirceo slept with strangers every night. Or, rather, he had in the past. "So?"
"Uncle Lothaire spoke again about sending me outside of the kingdom."
The king considered her too innocent. Granted, Mirceo had sheltered her, possibly too much. But to dispatch Mina--who'd never seen a car or a skyscraper--outside the realm was ludicrous.
"I'm half terrified, half thrilled about the prospect," Mina said, her blue eyes alight.
Mirceo shook his head. "It's too dangerous. Do you forget that a deadly plague still spreads in the otherlands? There's a reason no vampiresses exist out there." The plague struck females especially hard.
"But if I remain in my mist, I can't be touched by it," Mina pointed out. "I would go out and secretly investigate, as you and the others always do. Forever to observe, never to engage."
Mirceo had broken that rule more times than he'd followed it. "Absolutely not."
"But Uncle Lothaire says it's time for us to open our borders and interact with other Loreans."
Among other radical changes, the mad king had relaxed all travel restrictions. He even planned to lift the veil of Dacian secrecy, bringing the kingdom out of hiding.
"This is my final word on the subject, sister. I will speak with Lothaire." Mirceo didn't relish the idea. Though the Dacianos had brought the rightful heir into the realm to rule, the three-millennia-old Enemy of Old had proven to be a handful. "Somehow I will make him see reason. Or I'll prevail upon our queen if necessary." Lothaire's vampire mate, Elizabeth, was a former human, a tough-as-nails mountain girl he'd turned immortal.
It hadn't been so long ago when she'd nearly decapitated Lothaire during one of their fights--which, knowing Lothaire, had been a justified response. Once he'd healed, the king had cut out his own heart and mailed it to her as a kiss-off. She'd severed her middle finger and mailed it back in salutations.
With his red eyes merry, the Enemy of Old had once summed up their courtship: "There was drama."
If those two could get past their matehood issues, surely Mirceo and Caspion could. He told Mina, "Elizabeth will back me on this."
Lothaire worshipped his "hellbilly" queen, and her influence over him was substantial. Mirceo had seen them together just this morning in one of the castle's shadowy nooks. Lothaire had stroked Elizabeth's mink-brown hair behind her ear as he'd gazed into her eyes. "You are everything," he'd said simply.
She'd sighed, "I'm sweet on you too, Leo."
Mina stopped in the street. "Brother, please just consider the possibility." Her eyes glinted. "I feel like . . . like I'm slowly dying down here."
"As opposed to quickly dying out there?" At the thought of losing her, his lungs seemed to contract. I couldn't survive it. He just prevented himself from digging his black claws into his chest.
He had adored his mother and father. Though they'd been formidable immortals in their prime, they'd perished easily enough.
Mirceo would lock Mina in the dungeon before he lost another loved one. He pinned her gaze. "Mark my words, Kosmina Daciano, you will not be leaving this kingdom for centuries to come. . . ."
TEN
New Rome Pleasure Palace
"Which female would you like, sir?" the palace purveyor, a vampire/fey halfling, asked Cas. "All of them are available, except for the two on the settee." He gestured toward a pair of busty, redheaded nymphs. Just Mirceo's type.
Stop thinking about him.
Cas had tried to keep busy today, checking on the apprenticeships he'd set up before he'd left for Poly. Now he was able to fund as many as he liked, benefitting even more pups in Abaddon.
For some reason, he'd never told Mirceo about working with those foundlings.
Stop. Thinking. About. Him. Easier said than done; Cas had first met the vampire in this very place, a usual haunt of Cas's when he'd been in his twenties--mere months ago on this plane.
He gazed over the line of remaining females. Demonesses, succubae, nymphs . . . He finally had the finances to pay for his shadow life, yet all he could think about was Mirceo's promise to make him ejaculate till his balls pled for mercy.
And just like that, Cas's shaft stirred. All day, he'd wondered how Mirceo would find him. A blooded vampire would not take separation from his . . . fated one lightly.
Cas still couldn't believe he'd blooded his former friend. Or that the vampire had bitten him! Now the arrogant prince could dream his memories. Every demeaning one.
Last night, Cas had peered in the mirror at the healing bite on his neck, tracing it with a sick captivation. In a way, Mirceo had marked him, which had alternately infuriated and aroused Cas.
He'd stroked off repeatedly, gritting his teeth against the pleasure that prick had forced on him. Focus, Cas.
Demonesses, succubae, nymphs . . . Yet none of those smiling beauties called to him--
A familiar scent hit Cas. Mirceo was here? Chasing me again!
"Fancy meeting you here," the vampire said as he strode into the salon. He wore even tighter leather breeches and a form-fitting white shirt that highlighted his teeth and fangs.
The ones that were shoved inside me last night. Cas grew rock-hard. "Do you think to stop me from enjoying myself here?"
"Stop you?" Mirceo flashed him a confused glance. "I'm here for myself. I've got two females on reserve. I can indulge in my old pastimes now that you've blooded me and awakened my body once more. I mean, look at me, Caspion"--he gestured at himself--"someone should be enjoying all this perfection." So sly, so bloody seductive.
Cas's heart pounded in his ears.
The vampire's gaze dipped to Cas's groin, then back up. "Careful, sweetheart, your ey
es are turning black with rage."
Cas heard the females whispering:
"Mirceo's already been blooded!"
"The demon and the vampire are mates!"
"Would've loved to see their claiming."
"To be the jam in that sandwich!"
There'd been no claiming! Turning to the purveyor, Cas said, "I'll take those." With a careless wave, he indicated a succubus with purple hair and a dark-eyed nymph, then chanced a glance at Mirceo.
He could swear the vampire's expression was . . . hurt, before Mirceo masked it with a smirk. Cas coldly turned from him, allowing the females to lead him down the hallway to a chamber. Inside the luxurious room was an oversize bed and a plush divan. "On the bed, ladies. You two get started for me."
He sat on the divan, needing to get lost in sex. But as he watched the smiling pair begin to kiss, his thoughts drifted, and instead he got lost in memories of that fateful night in Dacia. . . .
One more taste, then he'd end this. One more dip into this unfamiliar well. . . .
Yet soon raw lust overwhelmed curiosity. He slanted his mouth over the vampire's, demanding more. Their tongues twined, their breaths gone ragged. My gods, this feels so fucking good.
Dimly, Cas realized the giggling females were closing the bedroom door behind them.
He roused, his mind struggling to come back online. Mirceo's moan slammed him right back into this kiss.
Just one last taste . . .
Some foreign mix of emotions welled up inside Cas. Lust. Yearning. Tenderness warred with aggression.
So much godsdamned aggression. Need to control this! To control Mirceo. He overpowered his friend, pinning the vampire's wrists above his head.
When Mirceo sucked on his tongue, Cas's mind was sucked free of thought--until all he could do was feel every searing sensation.
His horns ached in a way they never had before. Even his fangs ached. His dark claws sharpened, and he had the impulse to sink them into Mirceo's flesh, holding the vampire steady for his use.
Cas's control faltered, no match for this pleasure. He loosened his grip on Mirceo's wrists, but only to seize the vampire's lean hips. Growling into their kiss, Cas thrust, grinding his rod against Mirceo's.
The prince thrust his hips upward, meeting Cas. Seeming mindless, he dug his claws into Cas's back, spurring that demonic aggression.
Kissing . . . kissing, they bucked and writhed, shoving hips, rocking cocks. Pressure built. Cas's shaft throbbed from it. Pain. Bliss. Pain. Every one of Mirceo's helpless moans ratcheted up the brutal intensity.