Purebreds and Power
Chapter 8

The crackling fireplace provided warmth and light on that cold evening. The small party gathered in the den, enjoying light fare before dinner.

Echart and Andrew Whiteshadow stood murmuring to each other in the corner while Lilly stood and chatted with Adorna and Charles. Her smile lit up the room, and her gentle scent coated and calmed Han’s aching body. Han searched and hoped he might be able to steal a moment with his beloved alone, but Dax looked out the window, hands clasped behind his back while Liam stood beside him, hands shoved into his pockets.

Han swallowed hard and tugged on his shirt cuffs. He began to enter the room and stopped. Putting his feet back together, he surveyed the room again before walking over to Dax and Liam.

Upon his approach, Dax spun in place and smacked Han’s arm. “Han! So good to see you again.” Liam picked up his head, looked at Han, and then sneered at Dax. “Don’t be a party pooper, Liam. Han is a good man.”

“I have no doubt, but I would rather be elsewhere.” Liam turned and looked back out the window, fisting his hands by his side.

“Don’t worry about him, Han. Just a big teddy bear, this one.” Dax patted Liam’s back, and Liam’s shoulders relaxed.

Han smiled. “I’m glad you are enjoying each other’s company, at least.”

“Weird energy in here, right?” Dax looked around. “We were just here not too long ago. What gives?”

“My father.” Han sipped from his glass.

“Ah, say no more,” Dax smirked before holding his glass up. “Cheers.”

---

The weres ate in silence as the vampires enjoyed their meals. Moaning in pleasure, girls writhed on their laps. Gideon and Chamberlain feasted, members exposed and caressed.

With a snap, gags hit the floor, and the mindless suppliants climbed down and licked their guest masters clean.

Han’s fingers twirled a strand of golden hair at their tips. The girl kneeling beside him wore a royal blue and gold loin cloth--tied on the sides with a thick gold string. Gold mesh hung down the center providing coverage. Her string bikini top covered only her nipples in matching sheer blue.

Lilly choked at the sound of a head hitting the underside of the table.

“Do we make you uncomfortable, virgin wolf? Yet to have the pleasure of your first orgasm?” Chamberlain glanced at his wet fingers before sucking on them individually. “Oh, to feed on you when you do. By your smell alone, I know you would taste divine.” He closed his eyes. “Endorphins pumping through your blood, goosebumps covering your skin, screams of pain and pleasure… Ah, a sensory delight. A feast, to be sure.”

Han’s chest rose and fell in heavy pants. The tip of his tongue slid over the corner of his lip as if tasting the blood he desired. Slowly, his eyes turned red as he stared at Lilly, and his fangs descended.

He stopped twirling blond hair.

“Lilly is our guest. You may have Sasha here.” Han tugged on the woman’s hair at his feet, and she rose, smirking at Lilly.

“Ah, tonight is a veritable treat. I get to savor one of your favorite flavors.” Chamberlain smiled, kicking the other slave under the table.

Lilly placed her utensils down and closed her hands. She turned her head away from Han.

Standing with her shoulders back and head held high, the suppliant did not raise her gaze. She grinned before she reached down and swiped a hand over Han’s aroused state.

With lightning speed, Han grabbed and twisted the slave’s arm, pulling her down. Her feet rose from the floor with Han’s hand at her throat. He leaned in toward her ear.

“Did I tell you to touch me?” He growled.

“No, Sir.”

“Go sit with Lord Chamberlain and provide him dessert.” Han tossed her body to the side, and the suppliant stumbled to the floor, coughing.

Dax reached out and placed his hand over Lilly’s. She turned to him and smiled. The weight of Han’s glare had her removing her hand with haste.

“What do you want with us, Gideon?” Andrew sat back and wiped his mouth. “Did you bring us here for a perverted orgy or what?”

“We all have hunger, Whiteshadow.” Gideon dismissed his dinner. “I brought you here to discuss alliances.” He picked up his drink, and grumbling began. “I know we are natural-born enemies, but we share common concerns.”

“Your kind can’t be trusted!” Andrew slammed his fists onto the table. “You kill for pleasure!”

“And you’ve never ripped the throat out of your prey?” Chamberlain’s voice rose.

“And how do you propose to secure this alliance, Gideon? Given the animosity between our kinds?” Arthur leaned forward, squinting his eyes.

“Money.” Gideon rubbed his chin. “And vast, ancient power.” He smiled.

“How do we know you will not betray us?” Arthur held his hand out in a grand gesture toward the people at the table.

“Marriage. And an heir.” Han’s father looked from Han to Adorna.

“What do you mean by that, Gideon?” Arthur sat back and crossed his arms.

“As you know, the elders of our council do not approve of interbreeding.” Gideon laced his fingers together in front of him as he rested on his elbows. “But I believe a strong bloodline is all that is needed to produce a strong heir.”

“Blasphemy!” Chamberlain huffed.

Gideon chuckled. “Which is why each council member will be putting forward a candidate for my son.” He looked over toward Han and smiled. “He will choose his life partner from there.”

“What does that have to do with us, vampire?” Andrew snarled.

“Alpha Whiteshadow. You and Alpha Aurus certainly would have viable she-wolves in your packs. Provide us with your best option.” Andrew turned his head from one man to the other. “And we will share our wealth with you. Too bad Lilly isn’t available.”

Both Han and Lilly bristled in place. Lilly raised her face to meet Han’s gaze. The inner corners of her eyebrows were raised while the corners of her lips were pulled down. Han twisted the tablecloth near his lap and pushed his tongue into his teeth. How he wished to whisper his assurances into her ear while he held her body close to his.

“I won’t have my daughter sharing her husband with whores!” Arthur picked up Adorna’s hand. She continued to look at the table in front of her.

“Shows what little you know!” Chamberlain lit up a cigar. “Our kind does not tolerate infidelity. Punishable by death, in fact.” He blew his smoke in Arthur’s direction. “All slaves would be ranked. Unfavored would be given a choice to be rehomed or set free.” Chamberlain pulled the hair of the woman beside him. “Favored would be executed.”

---

An uneasy calm overtook the castle with the guest’s departure. Han sat in his favorite leather wingback, staring into the fire. The reds, yellows, and oranges mingled in a seductive dance in front of his eyes, and Han let his mind drift.

He could do nothing.

He had laid his desires bare before his beloved, and he would not cause her infidelity. Lilly would have to choose him instead of another.

He ripped the fabric from the arms with his building anger and tossed it without thought into the blaze before him.

A gentle knock startled Han, and he rose and spun around in place. “WHAT?”

The door moved a small amount before James peeked from behind the carved wood. “There is a wolf at the gates, my lord.”

“Send out the guard then, James!”

The faithful servant moved into the room before and cleared his throat. Han stood huffing and puffing as he glared at him. “I believe, sir,” James strutted across the room. “That you will want to see our guest before you decide.”

Han furrowed his brows and walked toward the window. The darkness did little to hide the beauty before him. Covered head to toe in a red cape, lush dark curls cascaded from under the oversized hood. The wolf paced like a caged animal back and forth in front of the gate.

Han situated himself centered in front of the window and watched. He could not look away. Finally, she looked up, and they found each other. Han scowled at what he saw next. The face was not one he knew. The figure rubbed her wrist, then looked back up and waved. Her big beautiful eyes told Han everything he needed to know.

Han smiled so wide that his teeth showed. He placed his hand over his mouth as he crossed his arms and rolled his shoulders back.

Under cover of night, she had come.

She had willingly come alone to his home.

“I still believe you know what to do, James.”