Page 11

W e’re in the backseat of an SUV, heading to Lower Manhattan.

My leg shakes and I chew on my nails.

I’m nervous.

And confused.

I’m feeling a lot of emotions that I’ve managed to keep locked deep down in the pits of my nonexistent soul.

I like this man. He makes me giddy and happy.

Happy.

I haven’t been happy since before Henry when I had a pulse, a husband, and two children.

I know the blood mate bond is fueling these emotions. I need to speak with the vampires who’ve met their mates. What did they experience? Was it this intense emotionally and physically?

Or maybe it’s just Teddy. He’s handsome, funny, smart.

And he’s dying.

Fuck!

This is not what I had planned! I was going to end my existence at sunrise. Now I’m considering living and turning this man to save him… to have him by my side for eternity.

I’ve never needed to rely on another person. Even when Layla and I were together, we were both independent. We cared for each other but needed our space. And Henry forced me to rely on him, despite me being the one covering up his massacres. I saved him from angry pitchfork carrying mobs far too many times.

The asshole.

I startle when Teddy pulls my hand away from my mouth and weaves his fingers with mine.

He doesn’t say anything. Doesn’t ask me what’s wrong or try to reassure me.

God, why do I love that so much?

But I should have known the silence wouldn’t last. The happy chatterbox man’s curiosity gets the best of him.

“Does garlic harm you? ”

I was wondering when he’d ask these questions. Most humans ask the same ones when discovering we exist. Urban legends and mainstream media got some of it right.

I sigh. “There’s nothing special about garlic except that it smells wretched and gives humans bad breath.”

“And I thought vampires weren’t supposed to have a reflection, but tonight, when we fucked... you did.”

“That one is a myth. I’ve always had a reflection.”

“You can’t turn into a bat, can you?”

I don’t even entertain that question.

“Your silence must mean no.”

“Anything else you want to know?”

His eyes trail down my body, ending on my crotch.

“How do you get wet for sex if you have no heartbeat for blood flow?”

I shrug. “We’re not entirely sure. Despite not having a heartbeat, we still walk and talk and use our brains. Blood is our life sustenance. Perhaps it is the blood that fuels our arousal as well.”

He nods, being his usual accepting self.

“So you don’t sleep in a coffin?”

“Not anymore. Technology is fascinating and now we have UV guards on windows and have no need to hide in coffins. ”

The drive from Midtown doesn’t take long since it’s in the middle of the night and traffic is sparse. Before Teddy can ask any more questions, the driver is pulling up to CBGB on Bowery.

“I haven’t been here yet!” Teddy says, his face lighting up the moment he spots the legendary music club.

“It’s just a clothing store now. There are some pieces of the club still left inside, but it’s definitely not what it used to be.”

My door opens and I get out with Teddy trailing behind. He spots my bodyguards and gives them a quick nod, smiling ear to ear.

Always smiling.

Even after telling me he’s dying, he fails to let it stop him from living.

“Are they… also vampires?”

“No. They’re griffins, but they’re masked to appear human.”

Teddy pauses and stares at the two large men who wear suits, sunglasses, and no emotions on their faces.

“Like, part lion, part bird?”

Wylan, the guard who has been with me for decades, scoffs. But to me, it sounded more like the angry call of an eagle .

“Lion’s body and an eagle’s head and wings. Don’t call them birds. It’s rude.”

Teddy runs his hands through his hair.

“Shit. I’m sorry…” He leans in to me. “How do I gender them?”

“They are male.”

He turns to them. “I’m so sorry, fellas. I’m just new to… all this. I’m learning and I promise I’ll get it right next time.”

He wants to learn?

Learn to be a part of my life?

Of course, because he’s hoping I’ll save him.

How could I not?

I shake the thought from my head and pull Teddy away from my guards, who at least appear impressed that Teddy is being so accepting of our world.

“Is this place open?”

“No. We’re not going to CBGB.”

I approach a side door and knock in the pattern that requests entry. It opens and a green-skinned demon appears in the entrance.

“Your Majesty,” they say, a mischievous grin spreading across their face, flanking sharp fangs. They bow, but there’s no need for that.

This demon is trying to get a rise out of me .

“Thalia.”

“Holy shit,” Teddy whispers beside me. Unlike my guards, Thalia is not masked.

“You haven’t been here in decades. Welcome back,” they goad. “And you’ve brought a human?”

The demon sniffs the air and their black eyes glow red.

“He smells fantastic.”

Before this hellish fucker can finish their words, my fangs have dropped, and I’ve slammed my fist through their chest.

I pull out Thalia’s heart and they fall to the ground.

“Millie! What the fuck?!” Teddy shrieks.

“It’s fine. They’re not dead. Demons are quite difficult to kill. This one’s heart will regenerate within hours.”

“Yet you know better than to attack my employees, Vampire Queen. Especially in front of humans.”

“Vara,” I say, smiling at the sphinx. “Perhaps your demons should keep their mouths shut when speaking about what’s mine.”

Vara’s claws are out, fangs bared. She ruffles her feathered wings and whips her tail back and forth. Her mane of long blonde hair falls over her shoulders, enough to cover her bare, fur-covered chest.

She’s nearly naked except for a thin layer of cloth to cover her cunt .

“Impressive. A human has enchanted the vamp. I’m eager to learn how that happened. In the meantime, I’ll spread the word that he’s off limits. But you know that may not be enough.”

I cross my arms. “I know how it works but hearing it from you wouldn’t hurt. Now, tell me what you want in return.”

Vara shrugs her shoulders. “I think you know what I want.”

“And you know it’s the one thing I can’t give you.”

“We shall see.”

Vara turns away and disappears into the dark hallway.

Another demon, this one appearing human but the smell of death on them tells me they’re a reaper, replaces Thalia at the door.

“What does she want?” Teddy asks once we’re inside.

“A date with Layla.”

“Layla your friend? Who is a vampire? Do supernaturals date each other?” Teddy holds my hand tight as he follows me through the hallway, relying solely on my night vision. “What type of supernatural being is Vara?”

“Vara is a sphinx. Similar to a griffin, but with a human head. She’s one of the few of her kind left. Decades ago, I granted her sanctuary in New York City from hunters wanting her feathers, which are made of gold. She’s become quite the powerful supe since then. Owns most of the supernatural night clubs around the five boroughs. Well respected too.”

We take a set of stairs, moving slowly to make sure Teddy doesn’t trip and fall in the darkness and break his neck. I wouldn’t be able to bring him back from that.

“And yes, we fuck and date a variety of supernaturals. I have an ex who’s a gargoyle.”

“What did you mean by your guards being masked to appear human? Is that, like, magic, or something?”

“That’s exactly what it means. Over the years, many supernatural beings have evolved the ability to mask their natural form to blend in and appear human.”

“That’s badass.”

We approach a door that has a light shining directly on the text painted on the metal.

“The 27 Club?” Teddy asks.

“The owner got the name idea after seeing a trend with celebrities dying at age twenty-seven. It’s morbid, I know, but some of those musicians who died came back as the undead.”

“No way! Which ones?”

“I’ve seen Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Biggie perform here, but it’s been years.”

“Elvis? ”

“Surprisingly, no. A few books and television shows have turned him into a vampire, but every human who becomes a vampire must be registered. Elvis is not on the list. Most of the celebrities who were turned were done so with pre-approval. They bought their immortality by funding our research.”

“What research?”

“We have synthetic blood that we can drink to satiate hunger in an emergency situation. We’re also working on a cure to vampirism; however, many believe we are the products of a curse, and the cure will never be found. If there was a cure, at least we’d have a choice. We could reduce the vampire population and make way for terminally ill people without threatening the end of humankind.”

I open the door and music welcomes us. A smooth voice sings, accompanied by the notes of a keyboard and the beats of a drum set, filling the club with the sounds of my past.

“No way,” Teddy whispers, his mouth hanging open, eyes wide. “That’s Otis Redding. But he died in a plane crash.”

“And he was saved by a vampire.”

Technically, Redding’s turning wasn’t approved but the vampire who sired him was old and tired of living, so he gave his life so the R&B legend could become immortal.

WOVE granted the exception.

I could give my life for Teddy.

The thought quickly vanishes. If I had that choice earlier in the night, it would have been simple.

Now? Now I have hope and hope is intoxicating. It’s motivating me to stay in this world.

Otis wraps up ( Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay and the crowd cheers and whistles.

“Do you want a drink?” I ask, leading us to a booth off to the side of the room.

The 27 Club isn’t too large. There’s a stage at the back and booths along the side walls. A bar sits along the fourth wall and an open space in the middle allows for dancing or crowds to stand and watch whichever band or musician is on stage.

The lights are low, only the ones highlighting the stage and the bar illuminate the space.

Supernatural vision doesn’t require more.

“Any craft beer is fine. I’m not picky. I like trying new things too.”

I wave over a waitress and order Teddy a Brooklyn-made beer and a glass of wine for me.

I try to ignore all the eyes on us. Teddy is oblivious as he nods his head to Otis performing Love Man . Every supernatural in the room gawks at the vampire queen entertaining a human.

I spot several demons and shifters, a couple fae, a handful of ghosts, one siren, a centaur, and several other vampires.

A high-ranking fae is the first one to approach us.

“Your Majesty,” he says, his voice like a song. But his fae powers won’t work on me.

Teddy, however, jerks his head at the sound of Korna’s words.

“You haven’t introduced us to your friend.” He grins and his purple eyes glow.

Korna, like most fae, is gorgeous with dark black hair that he has cut short to his head to showcase his pointed ears. He’s tall, slim, but toned.

“ He is none of your business,” I say at the same time Teddy holds out his hand, attempting to introduce himself.

I slap Teddy’s offered greeting away seconds before Korna takes it.

“Never shake hands with fae, Teddy,” I say to my supernatural clueless human, then turn my attention back to Korna. “And this one is mine, faerie. You will not touch him. Don’t come near him. Don’t even look at him. ”

He bristles at me calling him faerie. He is a faerie, but the word ‘fairy’ became popular with children’s stories, and they all hate the reference, as it makes them appear cute and magical.

There’s nothing cute about the fae. They are all cruel and manipulative.

“This one must be special. To have a queen’s attention?” Korna leans in and inhales deeply in Teddy’s direction. “We all just want to know—”

I have him by the neck and on the ground before he can finish the words.

“I said … Stay. Away.”

Korna wraps his fingers around my wrists and an electric current zaps me. I grit my teeth at the pain, which should have knocked me out cold by now. My fangs—which I haven’t sheathed since entering the club—pierce into my lips and draw blood.

“Queen Millie, release him. Lord Kornavian, stop electrocuting her,” Vara says, appearing beside us.

Korna relents first and stands, brushing dirt off his tailored suit. He sneers at me.

“I don’t know how you managed to tolerate my power, Queen.” His eyes move to Teddy before returning to me. “He has every supernatural in here foaming at the mouth. If I were you, Mildred , I’d claim him for all to see. Your words may not be enough.”