Page 50 of Blood of the Damned: Thorn
“It’s always toughest on the youngest in a long line of ancients,” Thorn sympathized, despite not being the youngest. That was Elouise.
Max gave a dramatic sigh that matched the next hand wave. “So true. We just have to grin and bear it, I suppose.”
“It would seem so,” Dacian muttered, rolling his eyes at Thorn over Max’s dramatics. The hands never seemed to stay still. “I’m sure though, I’ll have the perfect vintage for the ancients.” He reached over his desk for the phone. “I’ll ask Rowan to bring up several bottles to do some tasting before you leave.”
Allowing for the shift in conversation, Thorn talked numbers for the party and the length of time they planned to celebratefor. Some events like this could go on for weeks. He typed up the information as Dacian added other pertinent questions around vintage requirements.
They had a special blend of blood-wine that they rarely sold to anyone other than ancients. Reaching two thousand years gave a vampire the status of an ancient vampire. The blend wasn’t as sweet and had a distinct metal taste that was more reminiscent of actual blood. It hadn’t been popular with the younger vampires, who hadn’t developed the same palate as older vampires who drank blood before there was an alternative. In production, they’d only kept a few bottles to start with, then the requests had grown, so they kept a stock for such occasions as this.
The rap on the door stopped the conversation.
“Come in,” Dacian called out, getting up.
Balancing a tray, Rowan pushed open the door.
Dacian strode to him. “Thanks Rowan.” He took the tray of glasses and wine bottles.
“I added a bottle of the Primitivo 1765 vintage, too,” Rowan murmured before Dacian had turned away.
“Good choice,” Thorn replied as Dacian glanced at Rowan to nod.
“I don’t think I’ve had that vintage before?” Max was careful, like most of the vampires who came to visit, of how they worded things to stay below the radar in front of the staff.
The staff within the trusted circle, who knew what went on in the vineyard and winery, had all signed non-disclosure agreements. They also got a percentage of the profits for their loyalty. They had only once had an issue with an employee, who got greedy and thought extortion would work. By the time Dacian had finished with the stupid fool, his thrall being more potent than Calvert’s and Thorn’s, the bear shifter was braying like a donkey, clueless about even working for them. Him andhis family left town not long after this in search of a medical person to help ‘fix him’ when no one in town could figure out what the problem was.
“Then you’re in for a treat,” Rowan answered politely. Then, after a quick look at Thorn seeking permission to leave, Rowan made a fast exit. He didn’t like to stick around when vampires visited.
Max came forward eagerly, looking at what Dacian had placed on the edge of his desk, making room by pushing a pile of paperwork towards the keyboard.
“He’s right, you are.” He eyed the selection with interest, it had been a while since he’d had some of these vintages. Would his palate have changed since his mating with Ledger? “Shall we start with the Primitivo?”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ledger
“I can still work!” Ledger wasn’t even sure why he was having this argument about stopping work. His ankles were swollen, hismood was not fit for visitors and most of the time he was doing a tasting, he had to leave to pee, leaving Calvert to step in.
Calvert eyed him as he circled the desk Ledger sat at to take the weight off his legs, perching his ass on the corner. “It’s time Ledger.”
“Who’ll take over? Who? It’s not like you can do it full time. You have your own work to do.” He gave Calvert a sharp-eyed look when he could see where this was headed. “And don’t pull the wool over my eyes about saying you can squeeze it in.”
“I’ll look to find someone to step into your role on a temporary basis,” he answered smoothly, like it was that easy.
Ledger quirked up one brow. “Didn’t you say it took months to pick me?”
“Thorn was being picky.”
“I was not,” the vampire in question called from his office.
Ledger had figured out his mate was behind this conversation and was hiding in his office, listening. “Get out here, and stop pretending like you didn’t put Calvert up to this.”
His mate actually dragged his feet and Ledger’s lips twitched at Calvert’s obvious look of relief at having gotten out of continuing the conversation.
“Sweetling—”
“Don’t start with me.” Ledger pinned Thorn with a look that said he meant business. “Calvert can’t take on my role as well as do his own work, at least not long term. I’ve switched things up and increased the number of wine tastings we do, along with those visits to the vineyard, which has increased the number of bookings for the hotel, has it not?”
“Yes, but—”
