Purebreds and Power

The air in the room seemed to stop moving as the lilting sounds of piano music and the savory smells of crudités faded away. Lilly’s cheeks flamed red, and she removed herself from Dax’s grasp to brush an errant strand of hair from her face.

Han inched ever so slightly closer and extended his hand.

“Jun Inhan Kang.“

The touch of her skin against his sent fireworks across Han’s frigid skin. The warmth radiated up and down his rigid spine, causing him to feel something strange. Foreign. He dared to think for a fleeting moment that perhaps he felt alive.

“A pleasure to meet you, Lord Kang. My father and grandfather have told me much about you. They send their apologies for their absence this evening.”

“Han, please. I regret that my family has not told me of you, Miss Whiteshadow.”

“Lord Kang, a pleasure to meet you as well.” The dark-skinned hand and deep voice pulled Han’s attention.

Han knitted his brows for just a second before he turned to face the man beside his soulmate head-on. “Ah, Alpha Aurus. I did not realize you were mated. I suppose congratulations are in order.”

“Not quite yet, I’m afraid.” Dax smiled. “We are only in discussions at this point. It can’t be soon enough, however.” Dax picked Lilly’s hand up and threaded their fingers back together.

Lilly dropped her gaze to the floor. Her chest heaved under the v-neck of her dress, and she fiddled with her necklace. The weight of Han’s glare burned into the top of her head.

“Dinner is served!”

“They won’t only have blood, will they, Kang?” Dax patted Han on the shoulder and laughed.

“Hardly.” Han pulled his pocket square and gently wiped the fine material where the Alpha’s fingers had just been.

The large crystal chandelier cast an angelic glow across the elegant setting. Gold-rimmed bone china sat waiting for delectable dishes, while the crisp, white linen did not indicate what might be served. Uneasy, idle chatter and forced smiles filled the room in awkward anticipation.

One by one, servants and slaves paraded in. Some carried covered dishes while others only brought themselves. They lined up on the edge of the dining room in a single line, their heads tilted down. Gideon smiled.

Then he snapped his fingers.

Wearing black pants and a white blouse, each servant stepped forward and placed a meal in front of the supernaturals other than vampire, then stepped a few feet back from their guests. Barefooted, the other willing domestics wore short, black tube dresses. Their hair, bejeweled and plaited, cascaded down their backs with elegant ease. The vampires present gestured to where and how they would like their meals, and the suppliants moved.

As a curvy woman approached Han, she dared a smile. Sitting at the head of the table often meant great reward. Certain favors often accompanied untold pleasure. The human licked her bottom lip and sashayed toward the vampire lord.

Han slid his chair back and looked down at his thighs. After hiking her skirt well past her knees, the curvy woman began to straddle while Han facing him. Han snarled then yanked her hands and spun her so quickly her head bobbled. With his hands still on her hips, he forced her onto the edge on his thighs, near his knees. He then pulled his chair in so that her front sat flush with the edge of the table, her chest threatening to spill over onto his plate.

The daring woman began to turn her head around and leaned back, shoulder first, while attempting to find contact with Han’s muscled chest. Her hand reached out behind her, looking for some purchase in the fine silk suit.

“Face the table.”

“But Master—”

“Face.The.Table! Hands on it.”

One after the other, the slave placed her manicured hands palm down on the table in front of her. The diamond bracelets on her wrists clanged against the elegant dinnerware as they settled.

“Do not move. Do not make a sound. Nod your head if you understand.”

The slight up and down of the human’s chin indicated her understanding as the woman froze in place. Han placed his hands on the table next to hers, several inches away.

Scoop by scoop, Lilly lifted soup into her mouth while seated down the table. Never once did she turn in Han’s direction. And never once did he remove his focus from her.

Drop by drop, the small splashes indicated the ever so slight shake of Lilly’s hand-- the skin of her fingers turning white as she clenched her spoon.

Han allowed his nose to trail just above his dinner’s exposed shoulder until he sensed the subtle beat near the edge of her neck. The rich scent of aroused human blood remained unappealing but necessary at the moment.

Han’s eyes did not move as he bit down into the smooth, tender skin, and the woman in his lap shuddered.

A small cry left her lips, and Lilly turned her head.

The woman’s eyes dropped closed as Han’s adam’s apple bobbed with his gulps-- his face now pressed deep into her flesh. The woman’s expression tightened, her mouth forming a tight line as her eyes squinted. Her brow furrowed as the color began to drain from her face.

Lilly shook her head, almost imperceptibly, and Han closed his eyes, took a deep breath in through his nose and then pulled his face away.

The woman immediately pressed her palms over the deep puncture wounds in her neck as she dropped her head. But she moved no further.

“I said, ‘Do not make a sound.’ Leave.”

The shaking woman dropped down under the table and crawled across the floor, leaving a small trail of blood in her wake.

Using the small gold dish of water and his napkin, Han cleaned his face and hands. The moment they became used, a servant promptly replaced them.

“Disgusting,” Dax sneered, cutting into his nearly raw steak.

“Pardon me?” Chamberlain asked. “Do you have an issue with something, Alpha Dax?”

“Oh, no, Lord Chamberain. How could I ever be offended at nearly naked humans providing a buffet from their bodies? Please. Enjoy your meal.” He ripped off another large chunk of meat and filled his mouth.

“And turning into a mud-covered, flea-infested animal as you roll around in filth and then prance around naked equates to manners. Silly me.” Chamberlain licked the uncovered, peaked mound of flesh in front of him before sinking his teeth in and groaning.

“Now, gentleman,” Gideon interjected. “We are here for pleasant conversation. Tensions between our kinds are high enough. Let’s just enjoy dinner.”

“How am I supposed to eat when all I hear is flesh pounding into flesh?”

“You like your flesh one way; I like mine another!”

“You are vile, immoral demons!”

“And you are filthy beasts!”

“Enough!” Gideon pushed his chair back from the end of the table, and the slave by his side scurried away. “Yes. We are different creatures, but we have one common enemy. Humans. They are increasingly encroaching on the supernatural kind. They hunt our kind for research and treasure. They hunt your kind for sport.” Gideon gestured around the room. “Now is not the time for fighting. Please. Let’s quickly finish so we can enjoy more common interests.”

Grumbles and mumbles rolled through the room, and Lilly turned to face Han. The corners of her mouth turned up ever so slightly, and a softness fell over her face.

Han felt his shoulders drop just a fraction and closed his eyes for the briefest moment. He focused on the sweet lavender scent wafting through the room amongst the smell of charred flesh and blood. Han’s previously fisted hands spread on the tabletop, and he let out a breath. Then he returned her stare.

And his lips, too, turned up in the slightest smile.

---

“So tell me, Alpha Aurus, how does choosing a mate work in the werewolf world?” Chamberlain twirled a poker chip around his fingers before he placed it down in ante.

“Much like in your world, I suppose. Waiting for your fated is agonizing. So when the time is right, and the opportunity presents itself, we choose for love, power, prestige…”

“And your current chosen?”

“All of the above. Alpha by birth, by one’s side by gender. A truly stunning example of our species.” Dax shifted the cards in his hand before scratching the back of his head.

“Why not wait longer? What’s the rush?” Charles leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.

“An heir.” Gideon laid his cards down on the table and raked the chips in towards him. “It’s always the push for an heir.”

Han stood by the window, swirling a deep crimson liquid around a crystal glass. No one in the room could consider their conversations private as everyone held equal ability to hear well beyond the scope of their perimeter.

“More blood, I suppose.” A sultry voice pulled Han from his thoughts. Its raspy nature seemingly out of place in a room full of finery.

“Wine, Adorna. Red wine.”

Adorna’s raucous laughter cut through the serious banter like a chainsaw through velvet. All eyes turned in her direction.

“What? He’s funny. I like you Jun Inhan Kang.” Adorna patted his back before taking a place on the couch by the fire.

“While everyone is still here,” Gideon stood from the card table. “I would like to invite you all to the upcoming Coven ball. My son has graciously consented to hold it at his grand home this year, and we will be opening our doors to all supernatural creatures. Please expect your invitations to be arriving shortly by courier.”

“Is this just your way of locating our homes so that you can attack us unaware?”

“How dare you!” Chamberlain flipped the table and grabbed Arthur by the tie. The men stood eye to eye, although Arthur's large frame shadowed the vampires.

Han dragged his hand over his face and turned toward the crowd.

“The ball will be in a week’s time, commencing an hour after sundown. My home will be open as a sign of good grace. Considering the visitors I find by my gates, I assume you know where I am. Come if you choose. Or don’t. I care not.” Han held his glass out toward those facing him, then finished off the last of his wine.”