Page 137 of Vampires of Eden

Raphael told me that there was an emergency situation. And yet, I’ve been sitting in this small reception-living room in Alexander’s family estate for the past thirty minutes, alone.

I’ve tried texting Alexander. He hasn’t responded.

I also messaged Raphael to let him know I had arrived. He told me that another servant would let me in and that he and Alexander would be home soon.

What the fuck is going on?

Another ten minutes passes before the sharp citrus essence of Alexander permeates my senses and tells me he’s close. Like a balmy and sweet ocean wave rushing ashore, his nature covers me. Surrounding me in a covetous and sensual embrace. My back straightens. I inhale a sharp breath as my heart stirs and everything below my navel clenches with desire.

I stand, feeling and knowing when he’s about to come through the double doors. My heart thuds loudly in my chest and ears and I can barely breathe. You’d think I haven’t seen him in years. It’s only been a few hours.

Alexander flings the double doors open. He pauses, taking me in and I do the same.

Helooks expensive.

Regal. Handsome and stylish. Inaccessible to someone like me, to say the least. I don’t know how much Lord Cherrington offered for his hand, but looking at Alexander right now—in this elegant, perfectly tailored emerald suit and with his thick and buttery hair effortlessly swept back—it couldn’t be anything less than a million dollars.

“Danny.” He exhales my name and a quiet but powerful warmth sweeps across my flesh. “What… Why are you here?”

Intentionally, I take a breath because I had forgotten how to do so for a moment. “Raphael texted me and said there was an emergency. Are you alright?”

Alexander’s eyebrow shoots up in confusion. “He what? An emergency? What kind of—Raph!” Alexander turns his head and barks his manservant-best-friend-brother’s name. As he waits, a long-haired and luxurious-looking calico cat suddenly appears and slinks around his ankles. Affectionately rubbing her body against his pant-legs.

Buffy, I presume.

Her coat is fluffy with an artistic patchwork of white, orange and dark brown splotches. She, too, looks like a million dollars. An elegant purebred with his equally chic cat.

“Yes?” Raphael’s response comes a moment later. Oddly innocent, as if he has no idea why there would be any confusion about me being in Alexander’s family estate at eleven thirty at night. Perfectly normal, all of this.

“You told Danny to come to the estate?” Alexander asks. “What’s the ‘emergency’?”

“Youknow,” Raphael retorts off-screen from the hallway. I can’t see him but Alexander can from his vantage point just inside the doorframe. “I asked if you were alright, you said ‘no,’ so I sent up a flare.”

“Are you shitting me?” Alexander asks, utterly spent. “God. You ridiculous and sneaky weasel?—”

“Don’t talk to me like that in front of company. Respect yourelder. He’s already not going to let me live with the two of you and I’m going to have to figure out?—”

“Like you deserve any respect! What the hell are you talking about right now? I can’t believe you called him?—”

“Hi, hello?” I interrupt. “Will someone please tell me what’s going on?”

“Yeah,” Raphael declares from the hallway. “Why don’t you focus on your guest? Especially since he came all the way here to make sure you’re alright.”

“Raph.”

The manservant must walk away, because Alexander practically hisses his name in anger before he turns back to me with apologetic eyes.

“Danny, I’m so sorry. This was totally uncalled for.” He moves toward me, nimbly stepping over the cat slinking around his feet like he’s done it thousands of times. She trots after him, meowing in obvious protest of his ignoring her. “Raphael is severely out of line right now. I don’t know what the hell has gotten into him.”

He pauses a few feet away. A short distance that two confident steps forward would cover. He smells orangey, bright and clean and his presence is divine. Invigorating but at the same time, soothing. Perplexing in a way that I want to unravel, study and memorize by heart.

I’m not sure that I even care why I’m here anymore. I’m just glad that he’s within reach.

“You look expensive,” I state without preamble.

“I…” He blinks and tilts his head. “What?”

“This suit.” My eyes roam over his body. All the way down to his handsome oxfords, then back up again. “It’s impeccable. You look the part of ‘Prince Alexander Ethan Kendrick’ tonight. Perfectly put together.”