Page 6 of Chess

“Here we are,” the driver said, pulling the prince from his thoughts.

Chess leaned forward and met the man’s eyes in the rearview mirror. “Thank you for the ride,” he cooed, infusing his voice with his vampiric influence, letting the power smooth his tone. “I’ve had a rough night, so you won’t charge me for the trip.”

“No, I won’t,” the mortal agreed jovially, as if it were his idea. “You have a good night.”

“You too,” Chess said with a smirk and slipped out of the cab. He stood in front of a large gray building with darkened windows. The loud, thumping music from inside promised a bloody good time, so he approached the line of humans standing outside. The hunger growing in him was a stark reminder that there was no time to waste waiting alongside them. He cracked his neck and with a quick burst of speed, entered the club, unbeknownst to the muscular bouncer.

Dozens of humans packed the dance floor. Smoke swirled around their ankles while neon lights flashed overhead in time with the bass. A woman with two twisted knots atop her head stood on a raised platform, headphones pressed to one ear, tweaking the music on her turntables. Chess inhaled, closing his eyes for a moment to revel in the sweet scent of her blood, though faint since it was still in the vein. It only made his mouth water more.Fuck, he was hungry.

He opened his eyes and met the piercing blue gaze of a man across the room. The way the blond mortal sucked on the straw in his drink sent a rush of heat straight to Chess’s cock… It had been way too long since he’d sank his fangs into someone’s soft flesh. Chess grinned and prowled straight for his conquest, avoiding the sea of dancing bodies.

“Hey there.” He reached the area near the bar, resting an elbow on a tall table, and stood in front of the delectable mortal. Smudged glitter shone across both of his cheekbones under the flickering lights. “You alone tonight?”

“Not anymore.” The man stood a little straighter and scanned Chess up and down. “What’s your name?”

“Charles,” Chess lied.

“Alec,” he said and stepped closer, sliding a calloused hand up Chess’s arm. “Want to dance?”

Chess plucked the drink from Alec’s hand and set it on one of the high-top tables along the wall, then flicked a glance at his lips. “I have a much better plan.”

The twinkle in the mortal’s eyes told the prince that he understood exactly what he meant. Chess leaned in and inhaled Alec’s scent across his neck, the delicious blood lingering beneath his flesh. Playfully nudging the man backward, Chess soon had him up against a wall where he slowly ran his tongue up Alec’s skin, tasting the salty sweetness. The mortal was practically begging to become Chess’s personal drink. The prince kissed his way up the mortal’s throat to his shapely lips. His fangs threatened to make an appearance as he tasted him further, twisting their tongues together. He held himself back, warming Alec up so the influence would be easier to apply. Not that it was a hardship. The human was an expert with his tongue, slipping it between Chess’s lips, sliding and sucking. When he felt the bulge in Alec’s trousers press against his leg, his fangs dropped of their own accord.

Heat coursed through Chess, as he was starved for more than blood…

Chess grabbed the back of Alec’s neck to steady himself and to keep him from pulling away as the prince trailed his lips across the mortal’s cheek to reach his ear. “Let me feed,” he said, using the last bit of influence that his strength allowed. If anyone at the bar or on the dance floor noticed, they would never know what he wasreallydoing.

Then he sank his fangs into the human’s soft flesh—hot, metallic liquid burst over his tongue. Chess moaned, his eyes fluttering as the warm crimson glided down his throat. Mouthful after mouthful of utter bliss. The prince’s cock grew painfully hard when Alec groaned, not in pain, but in pleasure. Drinking a final gulp, Chess flicked his tongue over his bite marks and retracted his fangs, power coursing through him.

“Thanks,” he whispered while grinning.

“Shit,” Alec breathed. “I don’t know what that was, but it was fucking hot.”

“Oh?” Chess quirked a brow. What sort of club was this exactly? He turned to take a second look at the clientele, but Alec tugged him, spinning him so his back was against the wall. The desperate look ofneedon his face sent a thrill through Chess. “Oh?”

Alec lunged forward and captured Chess’s lips again, this time with more force. Chess would let the mortal have his fun, believing he was stronger, more dominant. If things continued, he could show him just who the alpha was later—in private. Alec’s hands roamed the prince’s chest, and soon, his mouth ventured to explore more of him as well. Nibbling Chess’s ear, unbuttoning his shirt as he licked down his neck…

Chess’s glazed expression drifted to the dance floor. The masses moved against each other, grinding, swaying. It hypnotized the prince as Alec sucked at his neck.Damn,he needed this. They were going to have to find an empty bathroom or dark alley soon so they could please each other properly.

A figure entered the dance floor. Two figures. One with obsidian hair and a short, black lacy dress, showcasing long legs, and the other, a dark-skinned male with his braids tied back. The couple danced along with the crowd yet there wassomethingthat caught his attention about them. The graceful movements, perhaps. But the hair on his arms now stood on end.

Vampires.

Fuckity-fuck. He had been so preoccupied by blood, so damn hungry, that he hadn’t bothered to do a sweep of the club. They didn’t seem to notice him, or, if they had, they didn’t care. Still, it was better if he got out of there, just in case.

“Sorry,” he said, extracting himself from Alec. “It’s been fun.”

Alec said something in protest, but Chess was already making his way toward the door. If the couple hadn’t recognized him yet, he didn’t want to tempt fate. Sparing them a last look before reaching the door, he froze. He squinted, his gaze stilling on the female’s features. That heart-shaped face, those deep brown eyes, that pouty mouth he had asked to kiss, had wanted to kiss before taking her heart…

No.

It couldn’t be … could it? Almost four years had passed since he’d seen the White Queen, but he’d seen her twin nearly every day for centuries. It wasEver. He didn’t recognize the male with her, but who the fuck cared about him? He’d been searching her out foryearsand now he justhappenedto run into her? It wasn’t like him to look a gift horse in the mouth.

“The enemy of my enemy…” he said to himself. With a grin, he buttoned his shirt as he backtracked to the bar, sitting on the stool to watch and wait. To plot how best to use this opportunity to his advantage.

Chapter Four

Ever

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