Caster nodded.Bring Julian. I had to reassign Kyle.Julian was Damien’s personal guard. A brute of a Born-Vampire who’d saved their lives more than once during the war.
Do I need to ask?
He’s going with Ben and Cole.”
Aah. All right, we’ll be there.
§
As soon as he walked into the club, Caster regretted the choice. The lack of proper nourishment that only fresh blood could provide and the banging sound from the speakers threatened to tear his head open. He paused at the entrance and nodded at the bouncer, who stepped aside without a word. While the owner and employees at the club remained unaware of vampires, they were compensated well enough to roll out the red-carpet treatment whenever he and Damien visited.
The scent of sweat permeated the crowded room. At least three hundred humans occupied the small space, and although he didn’t relish having to shoulder past them crossing the dancefloor to the VIP room he’d requested, he had to if he would get what he came for. But first, he needed the right kind of prey.
Caster paused by the bar and took a deep breath, focusing his senses on the humans around him, looking for a particular sound. The noise of hundreds of heartbeats battled for his attention, and he dismissed most of them, searching for the one that would be a match for his desires.
He zeroed in on the staccato of a mixture of fear and curiosity at the end of the bar and closed his eyes to further narrow his hearing. The sound of everything else around him, even the loud club banger, faded away as he focused on the single heartbeat. It was an amazing feat, one that required centuries of practice.
He opened his eyes to see a human male leaning against the bar, talking to someone who was obscured by the writhing crowds. His demeanor was pseudo-confident. He looked casual enough, but there was a bit of insecurity. Caster watched his mouth move and drew his attention from the steady beat of his heart to catch the last few words. “… it’s really hot in here…”
His voice was a dead giveaway. He was insecure, out of place, and was that an American accent? Perfect. Far enough away from home that no one would come looking for a while, should anything go wrong. Not that it would. Caster hadn’t killed a human during feeding for centuries. Another thing only practice could prevent.
The distance and the flashing colors kept the young male’s hair an indecipherable color. As if he could sense Caster’s eyes on him, he turned to face him, and their eyes met in the light-inspired darkness. Caster heard a change in his heartbeat before the human smiled and shifted his gaze to his shoes.
Caster sucked in a deep breath. A submissive. He hadn’t been hoping for it, not today. Keeping an eye on his prey for the night, Caster made his way to his side. As he got closer, he allowed the young man’s racing heartbeat to permeate his senses, and he took a deep breath. The unmistakable scent of his blood filled Caster’s lungs, and he had to stifle a groan.
Once within touching distance, the human raised his gaze,but only to Caster’s chest. He smiled.
“Can I buy you a drink?”
A jump in his heart rate, and a glance at his face, followed by an enthusiastic nod.
Caster reached for his chin, using his hold to grant him subtle permission to look him in the eye. Blue eyes met his, and Caster began the subtle infiltration of his mind. Slow seduction was preferable, but he was in a hurry, and compulsion would have to do. “I’m in VIP. Would you like to come back there?”
He glanced at his companion, and Caster followed his gaze to see an attractive woman glaring at him.
He ignored her. “She can come too.” She looked like she might be Damien’s type.
“No.” The woman’s voice interrupted Caster’s latest attempt to listen in on his chosen prey’s shifting emotions. Calm replaced fear the longer Caster’s influence permeated his psyche.
The young man started to argue, but his friend waved her hand. “You go. I have to meet Peter and the girls anyway.”
The young man nodded, and his friend disappeared into the crowd. His heartbeat signaled a bit of fear, but when Caster held out his hand, he didn’t hesitate, falling further under the spell of Caster’s gradual compulsion.
He led him through the crowd to his reserved VIP room. Here, they would have much-needed privacy. Away from the colored lights, Caster took in his companion’s features. Blond hair framed a perfect face, accentuated by deep-blue eyes. But it was his full lips that were most enticing. Caster had plans forthose lips.
But first… “What’s your name?”
His gaze was unfocused, his mind under Caster’s full control. His answer automatic. “Nick.”
“Nicholas.” Caster sat on one of the couches lining the room. “Take off that jacket. You must be hot.”
It was a test Nick passed as he shrugged out of his leather jacket to reveal a T-shirt that molded to his modest muscles. His submissiveness meant Caster didn’t need to exert full control over his mind. He was a conscious, willing participant. Too curious to run.
Caster patted the spot next to him and once again had to restrain a groan of approval when Nick obeyed without question.
This close to him, Caster could hear the blood coursing through his veins, but they were a long way from that. The door opened, and his usual waitress entered. She took their drink orders, promising to return in a few minutes.
“You’re American.”