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Whatever, I couldn’t be bothered and swore to finish the scum for once and all. Everyone knew this was my hunting ground, even if they’d not seen me.

Immortality’s a precious gift, not to be wasted, and certainly not on filth. The other two that I’d killed had also been tramps or beggars. I was beginning to get a bit ticked off that they hadn’t been told some of the most basic training rules.

Such as, there are other vampires older than you. Use extreme caution when stalking those who walk late at night. With such pale skin, vampires stood out in the darkness, and for a Vam’pir, it let out a slight glow. Our whiteness caused that.

These ragamuffin vampires should also follow their chosen victim just to make sure that he wasn’t one of them.

And lastly, most of those I’d killed had been young. They’d clearly had not been taught how to use their telepathic senses to search out others of their kind. The Master should have the decency to teach the basics if extending or building a coven.

But this one had been an ignorant fool. Too thirsty to get his blood for the night, and he’d picked on the wrong person. There were a few that believed that if you could imprison or immobilise an older vampire and drink their blood, then they would become stronger. That was true. Many Vam’pirs experienced past attacks. And each attempt failed.

Merrily, I carried on my way and heard a carriage coming.

On reaching my house, I heard a muffled cry and turned sharply. A few doors down was Haughton’s young lady, Lady Susan, and yet another vampire impeded her.

Angrily, I rushed down the steps as he pulled Lady Susan into his grubby arms. Teeth pricked her neck just as I slammed into him from behind. He dropped her as Lady Susan fainted and turned to face me, baring his teeth.Idiot.

I killed him as quickly as I did the first and bent over young Lady Susan.

The vagabond hadn’t begun to drink, thank God. Lady Susan had passed out from the shock of being accosted. The carriage driver, who had been hit on the head, began muttering.

I settled Lady Susan gently on the steps to her home and knocked on the door loudly. Then I turned my attention to the carriage. The driver was coming to, groggily, and I helped him down and set him next to Lady Susan.

“Her Grace,” he muttered, waving his hand in the direction of the carriage.

I opened the door, unsure what I would discover, and was relieved when I spotted her in the corner. A blow rendered the duchess unconscious. Her face was also marked, and I could see that the duchess would have a large bruise and headache in the morning. Apart from that, she would be fine. It was Lady Susan the vampire had been after, probably with the intention of making her one.

Well, foiled again.

The butler opened the door and, calling for aid, came flying down the steps. Duke Loxton hurried behind, alerted by the butler’s shout. His Grace knelt beside his daughter and then checked on his wife. When Loxton was satisfied that they were mainly uninjured, he turned.

“And who, sir, might you be?”

“Marquis Du Mont at your service, Your Grace,” I answered with a polite bow.

Loxton’s body relaxed as he recognised my name. The duke helped pick his child up and motioned for me to follow suit. As Ientered the hall, a flurry of activity surrounded the duchess and her daughter.

“Everything is under control,” Loxton declared as ladies and maids flew about with smelling salts, water, and towels. “Follow me, Du Mont.”

Loxton turned and led the way into a study, a deep red colour and a very comfortable room. He poured out two large brandies and motioned for me to take one and sit down.

“Now, what happened, young man?” he asked.

It was amusing to be addressed so, as I was his obvious (to you and me) his elder. I shrugged and sipped at the brandy. Although we no longer needed food or nourishment, we could partake in these activities if we wished so. But only in small amounts, or we would become gravely ill. Time had gained us a tolerance.

“I had just returned from Lord Barrington’s ball when, as I was entering my house, I heard a muffled cry. It was Lady Susan, sir, and there was a filthy beggar accosting her. I did what any gentleman would.” I shrugged.

The duke solved the rest.

“Did you get him?”

“Yes, but he must have roused as I looked to your lady wife and daughter.”

Loxton saw something I overlooked; his intense stare fixed on me.

“Are you wounded, Marquis Du Mont?” I shook my head. “But there is blood on your cuff and cravat.”

Slightly peeved at the duke’s keen gaze, I glanced down and cursed silently. Damn, I hadn’t noticed.