Dietrich

I walked up the steps and handed the man at the door my invitation. “Welcome, Mr. Van Helsing.”

“Thank you,” I said with a slight nod, slipping on the mask over my face. I entered the large home. The place was swamped with guests. I could hear so many voices that I shut them out. As much as I wanted to find the woman that was a possible mate for one of us, I needed to meet my hosts. My mother’s words were still in my head, so I felt like my heart was in my throat.

Everyone in the room had masks on their faces, some more embellished than others, some covering just the eyes, and others covering most of their faces. The costumes were dated to the late 18th to early 19th century. One of the many servers walked up to me. “Sir, may I get you a drink?”

“A vodka, please.”

“Bring us one, will you?” Draco Rossi said, walking up alongside of me with his partner in crime, Falcon Lombardi. The woman blushed, then turned away.

“So, gentlemen, I see you made it and you’re not acting like raving lunatics. So either you’ve met her and she’s not your mate, or you haven’t gotten a chance yet.”

“We have. Unfortunately, more time passes us by,” Falcon muttered. The feeling of defeat washed over his enormous frame.

“I’m sorry, Falcon.”

“Don’t worry about us; you’re not getting any younger either,” Falcon added, picking up his loneliness and tucking it away. He came from a royal line of vampires. He and his brother were all that remained.

“How’s the company?” I asked. They owned a genetics research lab in Washington which held a private lab searching for a cure. A cure to my life in darkness and all the others as well. It was great that they did that since neither of them were forced into the darkness. They walked in the sun with no problem. I never resented it because they were good vampires and had been through much more than I could have known.

“It’s been the same. We’re still working on the same problems.” The server came back and set our drinks down, and Falcon handed her a hundred tip. Holy shit, this will get me through the month with more than ramen noodles. She thanked him and walked away with a little more pep in her step.

“She had been thinking about the appetizers. She’s on a fixed college budget.”

“I’ll make sure to tip her next.” We may drink blood and live forever, but we understood the human plight. They were forced to make the most out of their short lives, working hard or suffering, in poverty. I took a drink, grateful that I was who I was, even if I never saw the light of day.

Draco nudged me. Immediately their thoughts penetrated my brain. “Hey, here comes the hosts.”

Wow, damn. The three of them need to be on some cover or in my bed.

I wonder who she’s going to try and convince to visit the pool house. Fucking whore. At least she’s not trying to pawn Evelyn off on them. One of them might actually take her away. Then where would our dinner parties get their eye candy at?

I have to keep Evelyn away from them. A room full of younger hot men. Surely, they’ll all want her.

I felt the innate need to smash their heads in. I don’t know why. She was just another human I didn’t know. Hell, her parents weren’t actually trying to sell her off, even though they used her to make their meals better. It was more like she was a part of the décor.

“Mr. Van Helsing, it’s such a pleasure to finally meet you,” Mr. Hill greeted me with his hand out. I took it for civility purposes, but that was about it. I made sure he knew my strength when I squeezed it. He nearly doubled over, bending his elbow before I let it go. My hand and my body never implied that it was intentional.

“Man, you have a very strong grip.”

“Too long without a woman,” Draco joked.

“That’s too hard to believe,” Mrs. Hill purred, pressing her hand on my arm. I moved it away to grab my drink. That’s when I saw her. Closed my eyes and opened them up again. There was no mistaking it. She was mine. I looked over to the guys, and they witnessed my expression. They nodded.

“Mr. and Mrs. Hill, Mr. Van Helsing has not made the acquaintance of your daughter.”

“Oh, yes, let me find her,” her father said, nearly tripping over himself, but I only had eyes for her.

“No need, sir. She’s walking this way,” Draco said, his voice laced with a chuckle.

I was completely focused on her. My head couldn’t have moved fast enough. Her scent hit me instantly, and our eyes met through our masks. I wanted this shit off and the night over. I could feel my fangs lower. Falcon’s hand touched my arm. I halted, realizing that I was ready to pounce.

“Yes, Mr. Van Helsing, she’s quite lovely,” Draco said as she met us at the tall table we were all standing around. She blushed, her blood pooling in her cheeks. My soul waged an internal war with keeping it together. The mating need dominating my brain wanted to steal her away in the night.

“Evelyn,” I said, lowering my head in a bow as I took her gloved hand. I kissed her like a gentleman, but that would be the only time a kiss from me was chaste. Once I had her alone to mate, I’d lose control and chaste would be the last thing on my mind. My cock stirred to life for the first time in the one hundred and four years of my existence. I was finally alive.

I lift my head, and our eyes met. Subconsciously, she knew that she belonged to me. I could see it in her perfectly green eyes. She was beautiful. I longed to run my hands through her thick red waves. To see it splayed over my pillow as I claimed her body for my own played like a movie in my head.

“I’m Dietrich,” I said. My cock roared to life, and I could hardly breathe. She was magnificent and a treasure all for me.

“Yes, well. Let us join the rest of the guests. Dinner is about to be served,” her father interrupted. I wanted to bite his head off for taking her attention away from me. I lost a moment of her attention, and I was hurting.

“Very well, Evelyn. You’ll sit with me. I wish to have the loveliest dinner partner in the world.” I could hear her heart dancing in rapid time with every word. I wrapped her arm around mine, placing her hand over my forearm, and I placed my other hand over it. She looked up at me, her lips slightly parted as she released the softest breath. I craved those plump, red beauties on mine.

“Evelyn,” the retched mother screeched, trying to separate us.  I wasn’t going to let that happen and neither were Falcon and Draco, who took her parents to the opposite side of the table. I wanted her attention for me and me alone.

“Ignore her,” I told her.

“You don’t know her. She’s not going to stop until she’s got my attention.”

“Look, love.” I pointed to show her that Mr. and Mrs. Hill were already walking and talking to Falcon and Draco.

My friends did their thing to distract her parents, and we walked right past her father. Good—if any human tried to get in between us, they would meet their end when they least expected it. The other vampires in attendance gave me a subtle smile or raised their glass.

“Um, Dietrich,” her soft voice tiptoed over my name nervously, but I loved the sound.

“Yes, my love,” I answered, brushing my thumb over her pulse.

“I…I,” she stuttered.

“Say whatever you wish.”

She took a deep breath but kept her head down, then said, “I’m afraid to say it, but you’re a bit stiff. If you know what I mean. There are women looking at you,” she stated, her voice tightening angrily at the end. I spun her around so that her front was to mine with less than an inch between us.

“This is solely for you. You can tuck in those claws of yours. I can hear the venom in your voice. Tonight you will leave with me. And I will show you how much I mean every word I say to you.”

“I’m not just going to go to bed with you. We don’t know each other,” she argued, but her words faltered as I leaned in a little closer.

I brushed the back of my hand against her soft, heated cheek. “We have eternity for it.”