The Royal Flush (Knights of the Darkness Chronicles(Book Three)) (46 page)

“Thank you for coming!” Natasha said, exhilarated that the party had a nice turn out. She walked over to Elise, hugging her, then the others. “Come on, it’s time that we moved this into the ball room.” She led everyone into the grand ball room, where one of the human servants was setting up the music equipment.

Darian walked beside Natasha, he leaned close to her ear. “My coven needs to feed. We’ll return shortly, I promise.”

Natasha looked at him, a little disappointed but she fully understood.

“Okay, but don’t be too long,” she said poking him playfully in the chest.

“We won’t,” Darian replied.

“Wait!” Devin said running up to Darian who looked at him curiously. “I have a birthday present for you. Only thing is it’s in my veins.” He smiled lustfully at him.

“You just want to feel his bite!” Daniel said, accurately guessing Devin’s motives.

Natasha frowned. “I don’t know how to take this interaction at all. On one hand, I know that shape-shifter’s blood is a big delicacy in the vampire world, but I also know that Devin gets off on getting drained. You better not be hitting on my man.” She shook her finger at Devin.

“I’m not hitting on your man, I have my own sexy bloodsucker. I’ll admit that I’m a thrill seeker, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that my blood makes a great gift,” Devin retorted.

Darian chuckled. “So your Natural Born shape-shifter blood, a delicacy among our kind, will be your present to me?”

Devin nodded; a huge smile on his lips. “Yep.”

“It is a nice present, indeed.” Darian took a closer step toward the young shifter.

“I’ll make sure everyone returns within a half hour,” Xavier said. “You stay here, birthday boy.”

He chuckled as he headed for the main entrance, the vampires followed him.

The human servants began to play festive music and some of the shape-shifters began to dance. The food was brought out and set up perfectly on long serving tables. There was an abundance of meats and poultry. Plenty of vegetable bowls lined the table as some of the shape-shifters began to make their plates.

Darian took Devin into his arms gently, Devin’s smile widened as his eyes closed.

“We shall both enjoy this, my young feline,” he whispered into his ear.

His fangs extended and he drove them quickly into Devin’s soft fragrant flesh. Devin tensed, his fingers gripping Darian tightly as his breathing became more ragged. Darian feasted, his eyes closing as his lips pressed harder to Devin’s flesh. Elise watched as he fed, she too, much like Natasha, thought the feeding union was extremely erotic.

Kysen watched with desire and appraisal as Darian took his fill. He smiled at the two men as Devin’s body convulsed uncontrollably during his orgasm.

Darian pulled back, looking down into the young shifter’s half lidded eyes.

“What a lovely birthday present,” he whispered sensuously as he licked his lips. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcomed,” Devin panted softly.

“You enjoy the feeling of being drained,” Darian stated, smiling. Devin nodded.

“Do you desire the effects of an ancient vampire’s bite?” He darted a glance towards Kysen who had found a divan and was now sprawled across the cushions, a smile spreading across his face as he acknowledged what Darian was suggesting.

Devin looked in the ancient vampire’s direction. Like a man under a spell, he walked towards Kysen who was leaning against the cushions. He knelt in front of him, head tilted back to expose his neck.

Kysen chuckled softly. “If you are not careful, you may become addicted,” he enlightened.

“I don’t drink the blood. I just love the feeling of being bitten,” Devin said in his own defense.

“Ah, then I think it would be best that you shall never taste the blood of a vampire.” Kysen leaned forward and his fangs plunged deep in Devin’s artery. The shifter’s back arched; his hands gripped Kysen’s arms as his body remained tense. Within seconds, Devin’s body convulsed with pleasure as he experienced his second orgasm for the night. He grew limp in Kysen’s grasp, falling into unconsciousness.

Kysen pulled back, retracting his fangs, and lifted the young leopard, laying him gently on the divan.

“One would think it was his birthday... he looks so content,” he mused as he gazed down at the serene expression of the slumbering leopard.

“One would think it.” Darian smiled. “I didn’t think you would come.”

Kysen gave him a puzzled look. “Why?”

“I didn’t know if this would be to your setting, you didn’t really seek the company of many, if I recall correctly.”

“After not having you in my life for eight-hundred years, the least I could do; would be to make an appearance at your birthday celebration,” Kysen said, smiling. “No matter how mundane I believe the occasion to be.”

“Ah, Kysen, has anyone told you just how poetic you are.”

“I’m just being honest, my child.”

Darian grunted. “Please do not call me that.”

“My child?” Kysen smiled wickedly. “Would you prefer sweetheart, lover?”

“Kysen, behave,” Darian playfully chastised.

Kysen sighed. “Very well. The others are back, your merry coven.” He resettled comfortably into a cushioned chair.

Xavier and the others walked into the grand ball room. Darian watched as they entered. The coven walked towards him, each giving him their best wishes as was the custom.

“I know this seems trivial, but I want to wish you a happy birthday,” Gary said as he grinned innocently at Darian.

“Thank you,” Darian replied.

Tony walked behind the bar and began mixing his patented blood drinks.

Natasha wrapped her arms around Darian’s neck pulling him downward for a deep, passionate kiss.

“I love you,” she said as she pulled away.

Darian smiled. “I love you, too.”

She turned to the others in the room. “Everyone, can I have a minute please.” The room grew quiet, all eyes were on her. “I want to introduce to you who have not yet met him… Mr. Kysen Mesah... Darian’s Master,” Natasha announced with a short giggle.

The room grew even quieter; Miko and April stared wide-eyed at Kysen. Natasha was quite pleased with herself on all accounts. She watched as the others stared at him, each entranced by his presence. She was delighted that Kysen was cordial and that the party was going well, having worked so hard on it.

“Well, I do believe that is enough gawking for one night,” Kysen stated after the long moment of silence.

“You’re absolutely right,” Darian agreed. “Music, please.”

The human servant turned the music back on, playing it louder than before. The ballroom’s shinny hardwood floor filled with supernatural beings and humans, their bodies gyrating to the beat of the music. By now, Devin had awakened from his nap and was enjoying the party as well. Everyone danced with each other, consistently changing partners with each new song. Darian chatted with Kysen about past memories. At one point, Natasha walked over to him, holding two drinks in her hands.

“Here,” she said handing one to Darian and the other to Kysen. “Tony’s special mix.”

Darian chuckled, as he glanced at Kysen, “I do believe you are in for a surprise, my dear Master.”

Kysen looked into the glass, then tossed a glance at Darian. He took a sip of the drink. His eye brows knitted, a smile spreading across his face. “Interesting.”

“I thought you would enjoy it. Tony works for me at my club, he tends bar and this is his own claim to fame, so to speak,” Darian said with a chuckle as he took several swallows of his own drink. He looked at Natasha over the rim of the glass. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

She nodded. “Yeah, I think I’ve danced for an hour straight already. You know that you have to dance with me.”

“I will, but you know as well as I do that I am not accustomed to this new era of dancing. You will have to wait until a
‘slow jam’
is played,” Darian said with a boyish grin, his dimples giving him a look of innocence.

“You own a nightclub that plays this kind of music all night, but you can’t dance to it?” she teased.

“I own a nightclub because it’s very lucrative and offers many hidden delights. It’s a place where your desires can be unleashed… unfortunately for me, dancing erratically to fast-thumping, base-pumping and beat-jumping music isn’t one of my desires,” Darian replied.

“Fine.” Natasha pointed. “But when a slow song comes on, I expect you to dance with me.”

Darian chuckled silently. “As promised.”

“Good.” She smiled then walked off to dance with the others.

Kysen watched her. “I see why you love her. You respect her gallant spirit...” He took another sip of his drink. “…And there is her natural beauty as well as charm. I reckon those two attributes have a great deal to do with why you tolerate her?”

Darian looked at Kysen and nodded.

“You know me well. Although, I’m not simply ‘tolerating’ her as you put it. At first, yes, I pacified her in hopes of seducing her. I did find her rebuking of my advances annoying. But then I began to find her personality endearing.” He returned his gaze back to Natasha. “It wasn’t until I learned more about her did these feelings I have settle in. She is unpredictable. Some of the things she says or does are completely opposite of what I would have expected. I find her to be exciting and humorous.”

Kysen nodded. “You, yourself are that way. Perhaps that is why you’re so precious to me. I see that you find those same qualities within these others.” He gestured to the shifters in the room.

Darian nodded. “And so it would seem.”

Just then, the doorbell rung and Billy went to answer it. He escorted Natasha’s parents to the grand ballroom.

Natasha looked towards the entrance to see her parents standing there. “Oh, one moment.” She excused herself from Devin, jogging over to her parents. “Hi Mom… Dad.” She hugged them both.

Her parents looked around, feeling a little awkward.

“I see that the party is well underway,” her mother said as she gazed at the dancing figures. “Everyone looks as though they’re having a great time.”

“Yeah.” Natasha glanced at the others. “Come on in, I want you to meet everyone.”

Darian and Xavier saw Natasha’s parents and both rose to greet them.

“Good evening Mr. And Mrs. Hemingway, how very nice of you to come,” Darian said in his own devastatingly charming manner. He leaned forward kissing Natasha’s mother’s hand, causing her to blush.

“Don’t mention it, it’s very nice to be here,” she replied as she looked around, “you have a very lovely home... it’s very impressive.”

Darian smiled. “Thank you.”

“It’s a pleasure to see you both again,” Xavier said, kissing her mother’s hand just as Darian had and then he shook her father’s hand.

“Let’s introduce you to everyone.” Natasha introduced her parents to the others. Everyone was cordial. Once she was finished with the introductions, She looked at her parents. “Well, Mom... Dad, why don’t you make yourselves comfortable.” She gestured to two chairs against a wall.

Her mother shook her head. “No, no... I didn’t come to a party to sit in a corner.” Her mother took her husband’s hand leading him towards the dance floor. “We’re going to dance. And don’t worry; I’m sure we’ll get along with your friends.”

Darian looked down at Natasha. “I see where you get you outgoing personality.”

Natasha looked up at him from her tiny five-feet-two frame and smirked. “Shut up.”

Just then a slow song was played and she grabbed Darian’s hand. “You promised!” And without waiting for a confirmation, she dragged him towards the dance floor. Darian laughed and pulled her closer to his powerful chest, dancing gracefully.

During the second slow song, Xavier tapped Darian on the shoulder and when he turned around, Xavier smiled. “May I cut in?” his voice was smooth, sexy.

“I suppose I could share.” Darian released Natasha into Xavier’s arms. The two smiled at each other as they turned around the room in a graceful waltz. The music switched to a swing rhythm.

“Oh, I get to show everyone what I learned!” Natasha squealed in delight.

“Let’s do it.” Xavier smiled as he picked up his pace, both he and Natasha displaying wonderful footwork.

“I know you can swing,” Carmen said to Sergio as she snatched his hand, dragging him back onto the dance floor.

Sergio didn’t protest, immediately, he began to toss Carmen around gracefully, with a speed that matched the rhythm of the music.

After the dance, Natasha sat down beside her parents who were also catching their breaths.

“Wooo, I’m
exhausted
!” she exclaimed when she sat down.

Xavier joined her. “I’m glad they’ve reunited,” he said as he watched Darian and Kysen conversing.

“A Master vampire is kind of like a parent figure, right?” Natasha asked innocently.

Xavier nodded. “Yes. If you are fortunate enough to be sired by a powerful vampire with integrity, then the fledgling is protected by that vampire and taught how to survive.” He looked back at his own Master in time to see Xander walking towards Darian and Kysen.