Page 5 of Chains of Blood and Darkness

Simon always put on a lavish event at these exclusiveauctions, and only the kings of the supernatural world and their equivalents were invited. I think it made him feel like he was royalty himself. The other kings and I respected this rule and never brought non-royal guests, since Simon had a powerful witch loyal to him in Marsha Cadieux. She had threatened to make the Aeternum Stone go completely dark if the Santi family crossed Simon. And it wasn’t just my stone she threatened; Trystan’s and Keir’s were in danger too. I had briefly considered kidnapping and killing her until I discovered that she would absorb the power of the stones and turn on us with a vengeance. Simon was playing a dangerous game. If Marsha ever left him, he would be at her mercy.

The last limousine to arrive was Maximo Barone’s, don of the Barone empire. His family had come over from Italy in the early 1920s. The humans were not a threat to my family. They traded mostly in drug and human trafficking—neither of which threatened my business. Simon treated him like a king, but he would never be one in my eyes.

Keir and I turned our backs on the white limo and headed up the steps to the house. One of Simon’s goons opened the door for us.

The warm, golden glow of a crystal chandelier bathed us in its light as we entered the grand dining room. A majestic red-carpeted staircase rose to a second level, where luxurious rooms awaited us in which we could indulge in lustful fantasies. I had partaken in such activities before, but none of the beauties dressed in long gowns caught my fancy tonight, perhaps because I had already been with each of them more than once.

My heightened vampire senses were on overload from all the tantalizing scents in the air—savory dishes, fresh blood, delicate perfumes. As always, Simon had a glass urn filled with Chosen Blood, donated by an elite group of humans who received longer lifetimes in exchange for their gift. It was delicious, but not quite as satisfying as fresh blood.

“Simon has truly outdone himself tonight,” Keir murmured beside me.

I nodded, silently taking in the opulent spread of culinary delights before us. Each dish was a testament to New Orleans’ rich gastronomic heritage. Towering displays of chilled oysters promised a briny kiss of the sea, while silver platters held succulent crawfish étouffée and tureens contained spicy duck and sausage gumbo. Elegant bowls cradled creamy shrimp and grits, topped with sharp green onion. Meanwhile, golden beignets dusted with powdered sugar beckoned for dessert, along with decadent bananas foster flambéed tableside.

Simon rushed over to us with his arms spread, then bowed slightly. He had on a tuxedo, making him look somewhat like a tall, bearded penguin. “King Keir and King Angelo, welcome to my humble abode.”

Though I held the rank of king within the vampire Mafia, it was a mantle I bore with reluctance, unlike the kings of the Fondatori, who reveled in their royal status. My realm was not royal courts but the shadowed corners of New Orleans, overseeing the vampire syndicate far from their prying eyes. Up to now, their gaze had not turned toward the Crescent City, allowing me a certain autonomy within my domain.

Simon gestured toward the long table lined with silver trays and chafing dishes, beckoning us to indulge in the sumptuous spread of hors d’oeuvres. “Take your time,” he said with a sly smile. “We won’t start the auction for at least an hour. Trust me, I have some truly one-of-a-kind pieces that will capture your interest.”

He glanced behind us. “Don Barone, welcome, welcome.” He broke away from us and fawned all over Maximo.

A girl brought me over a goblet of Chosen Blood. She lowered her dark head. “Your Majesty.”

I rolled my eyes at the salutation, but I didn’t correct her. The title did allow me to get what I wanted—especially from Simon.

“Thank you,” I said as I accepted the glass.

She offered Keir a goblet filled with a sparkling blue liquid—High Tempest. It was from the Fae’s Starlight Kingdom and extremely powerful. One sip would make most humans drunk.

But not vampires.

It only gave us a slight buzz.

I inhaled the mouth-watering scent of a sizzling Wagyu steak. My eyes landed on the Wolf King, Trystan, seated at a table by himself, his fork expertly cutting into the perfectly cooked meat. One of Simon’s lovelies stood at his side, a serene look on her heart-shaped face. Trystan’s piercing blue eyes narrowed as they landed on me, and for a moment, I thought I heard a low growl rumble from his chest. I knew better than to challenge him here. Not with Marsha’s threat of destroying the Aeternum Stone hanging over my head.

I picked up a plate and loaded it up with chilled oysters and a bowl of rice, over which I ladled duck and spicy sausage gumbo. I took a seat next to a window that looked out onto the bayou and turned firmly away from the Wolf King.

A woman with jet-black hair glided toward me, her hips swaying seductively. Her smile was sultry. “My, my, my. Angelo Santi. I’ve missed you.” She nearly purred my name.

I ran my gaze over her and did my best to suppress an annoyed sigh. “Emily. You’re looking good.”

As much as I loved the taste of Emily Bastion’s blood, I didn’t want to get caught up with her right now. I had too much on my mind between the auction and the stone.

She lifted my chin with two fingers. “Why don’t you forgo your meal and take me upstairs before the fun begins?” Her charms left me flat.

In my peripheral vision, I saw Simon’s eyes following her every move. He probably thought if he tempted us not just with lavish food and drinks but with women as well, we would open our wallets for him.

She must have sensed his gaze on her because she leaned in even closer, fluttering her lashes and running her fingers through her hair. As she did so, the soft fabric of her low-cut gown slid off her shoulder, revealing a hint of creamy skin and lace lingerie. My gaze followed the line of her neck until I caught myself and looked away, focusing on my meal instead.

“Not tonight, Emily,” I said firmly, trying to ignore the seductive sway of her body as she stood next to me. Shethrew a worried look at Simon before nervously fidgeting with her napkin.

I glared at Simon, who quickly looked away, then turned back to the temptress. “You should have something to eat and drink,” I said with a forced smile, gesturing at the lavish spread on the table. “You look a little pale.”

Emily left, pouting, then came back with a plate of chilled oysters and a Greek salad.

“So, tell me, Emily, what kind of surprises does Simon have for us tonight?”

She glanced nervously over her shoulder at Simon, then back to me. “I’m not supposed to say…”

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