Page 8 of French Quarter Heiress

With that, he straightens, bowing once more before melting back into the crowd. I stare after him, my mind racing with questions and suspicions.

What game is the fae prince playing? What secrets does he hold, what plans does he have for my family, for me?

As the gala swirls around me, I feel a growing sense of unease. The wolves, my father's expectations, the machinations of the fae... it all feels like a tightening noose around my neck.

But I am Elise Delacroix. I will not be cowed, will not be broken. I will face whatever challenges come my way with the strength and cunning of a true vampire queen.

Even if it means sacrificing my own heart, my own desires, on the altar of duty and destiny.

5

BEAU

The dimly lit interior of the vampire brothel is a far cry from the glittering opulence of the Delacroix manor. The air is thick with the scent of perfume and the cloying sweetness of blood, mingled with the sharper tang of alcohol and sweat.

I move through the room with easy confidence, my eyes scanning the faces of the working girls. They lounge on velvet couches and perch on the laps of their clients, their pale skin and red-rimmed eyes marking them as creatures of the night.

I spot my target, a stunning redhead with curves that could stop traffic. She's one of the Delacroix's top earners, a favorite among the city's elite.

And now, she's about to become a key player in my own burgeoning empire.

I sidle up to her, my most charming smile firmly in place. "Hello, gorgeous. I don't believe we've had the pleasure."

She looks up at me, her eyes widening slightly as she takes in my appearance. "You're not one of our regulars. Who are you?"

I lean in closer, my voice low and conspiratorial. "The name's Beau. And I'm here to make you an offer you can't refuse."

She raises a perfectly arched eyebrow, a hint of amusement playing at the corners of her mouth. "Is that so? And what exactly are you offering, Mr. Beau?"

I reach into my pocket, pulling out a hefty stack of bills. Her eyes widen at the sight, her tongue darting out to wet her crimson lips.

"A chance at a better life," I murmur, pressing the money into her hand. "The Crescent City Wolves own some of the finest establishments in New Orleans. Join us, and you'll be treated like a queen. No more answering to the Delacroix and their iron-fisted rule."

"Oh I know of the wolves. Some nice clubs. But I don’t know…" she whispers, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

I toss her another stack. “And nobody will drink your blood.”

She hesitates for a moment, glancing around the room as if checking for prying eyes. Then, with a quick nod, she tucks the money into her bodice.

“When do we leave?”

I grin, feeling a rush of triumph. "Right now, darling. Go pack your things and meet me out back in ten minutes. And spread the word to any other girls who might be interested in a change of scenery." While highly paid, the vampire courtesans are bred specifically for their companionship and their delicious blood. Blood suckers can’t get enough of them, and they always regenerate, no matter how much hell is leashed upon them.

Really doing them a favor…

As she hurries off, I lean back in my seat, savoring the small victory.

It's not much, but it's a start.

A way to chip away at the Delacroix's power, one brick at a time.

My next stop is the commissioner's office.

I stride into the Orleans Parish Police Department like I own the place, turning heads and drawing muttered curses from the rank and file. They know who I am and what I represent. The Crescent City Wolves, the meanest, hungriest pack in the Big Easy.

I make my way through the dingy bullpen, past desks piled high with paperwork and half-empty bottles of rotgut whiskey. The stench of stale coffee, sweat, and desperation hangs thick in the air, the unmistakable bouquet of underfunded and overworked law enforcement.

But as I approach the commissioner's office, the scenery takes a turn for the opulent. The door is solid mahogany, gleaming with a high polish, and the brass nameplate reads "Commissioner Renault Beaumont" in flowing script.

---