The key difference here was that nearly everyone was a vampire. Humans still worked there, offering up refreshments of one form or another. There were a handful of pets, but they sat quietly on little cushioned stools beside their masters. Their faces were all composed but bored as they waited on their master’s desire. It all had a slightly civilized air to it versus the chaos that reigned on the first floor.
Of course, that civilized pretense was all an act. Everything could fall apart in a heartbeat if someone said the wrong thing to the wrong person. Or maybe simply snacked where they shouldn’t have.
Wandering through the wood-paneled rooms with painted portraits of unknown people, Marcus finally spotted Aiden in a shadowy corner, seated in a high-back leather chair. His dark eyes were sweeping the room slowly, taking in all the occupants. When those eyes landed on Marcus, he gave a small nod and returned to his perusal.
Marcus was surprised by Aiden when meeting him among the vampires for the first time. With their own kind, Aiden was quiet and reserved. He rarely spoke and never showed emotion. It was so different from the laughing, loving man he’d met when he’d first started dating Julianna so many years ago.
Aiden had swept his mother off her feet, which was no easy feat considering she’d already been burned by their biological father. But then, Marcus could see why Julianna had fallen in love with him. His soul was filled with love and kindness that he not only showered on Julianna but on her sons as well.
When they finally met, Aiden treated them as if they were his flesh and blood. He cared for them and did everything he could to teach them and show them the love they stopped receiving from their biological father.
In his own way, Marcus saw Aiden as his father before he became his sire. He respected his quiet strength and dignity. He had a strict code of honor, which became even more important when he learned Aiden was a vampire.
Neither he nor his brothers blamed Aiden for what happened to their mother. They were grateful that he tried to save her life. She had been at death’s door, and the doctors had failed at every turn. There had been no other choice. But the vampirism had driven her from subtle madness to brutal hostility when triggered.
Violence that was made ten times worse anytime she saw Aiden.
Marcus fought back the swell of sadness that hit him every time he saw Aiden. The man had risked everything to save the woman he loved and when he succeeded, the cost was that they could never be together. It wasn’t fair.
But regardless of the pain it caused him, he remained as close as he possibly could be to help her sons and keep his family safe.
Stopping a server in a sharp black uniform as he passed, Marcus ordered a dark whiskey, which was simply half whiskey and half blood. He then paused next to the open seat beside Aiden.
“May I?” he asked out of habit.
A small smile formed on Aiden’s lips and he nodded. It was an old ritual for them. Aiden made it clear that they were all welcome to visit with him at any time, but Marcus clung to old manners and rules of society. It gave him a sense of comfort in a constantly changing world.
“It’s good to see you again,” Aiden murmured as Marcus sat.
“And you. Rafe mentioned that you were in Rio briefly.”
Aiden’s smile shifted to a smirk. “Rafe usually isn’t the one with the intel. I’m assuming Winter has been keeping an eye on me.”
“Always.” Winter was a sneaky bastard. He made it his business to keep an eye on everyone who interested him, and that included his own family.
“I went to Rio because I thought the Carnival season would be a nice distraction and I ended up staying for a few months.”
“It sounds like you found your distraction,” Marcus murmured, but Aiden didn’t answer, not that Marcus was really expecting him to. Aiden didn’t reveal much about himself when he was out among the other vampires. He didn’t trust them, and neither did Marcus.
“How is Julianna?” Aiden asked and Marcus could only answer with a frown. Aiden needed to know, but he hated causing his sire any kind of pain.
Aiden shifted in his seat, moving toward the edge while positioning himself so that he was turned toward Marcus. “What has happened?” Aiden surprised him by placing his hand over Marcus’s wrist. “Who was hurt?”
“Bel,” Marcus admitted softly.
Aiden’s hand tightened on his wrist, and he shifted again as if preparing to launch to his feet. “When? Has he recovered? Does he need me?”
“Last night and he has fully recovered.” Marcus placed his hand over Aiden’s and met his gaze. “He’s fine. So is Mother.”