A Bite of Fulfillment

by Charlie Richards

  Once again, Daystrum chuckled, then grunted. “Fuck. Told you not to make me laugh,” he grumbled. Adalric just scowled at him. Once he’d settled, Daystrum smiled wanly at him, suddenly looking tired. “Don’t wait too long, my friend.”

  He thought about saying some snarky response, but then saw his second’s eyelids droop. Instead, he patted the injured vampire’s shoulder and whispered, “You get some rest. I’ll see you later.”

  Before he’d even made it out of the suite of rooms, the main door opened and Edwin slipped inside. He flicked a glance toward Daystrum’s bedroom, then refocused on Adalric. “Sorry to interrupt, sir, but there’s a detective here looking for both you and Seth Goodwin.”

  “What?” he gasped. He’d worked with Maelgwn to have Seth declared legally dead, burned to death in a truck fire to be exact. Why would a detective come here looking for him? “How the hell—”

  Edwin lifted his hands in confusion.

  “Son of a bitch,” he growled. He paused and shoved a hand through his hair. “Shit.” He knew he couldn’t hide Seth, not from a detective. Although he hated when a decision came back to bite him in the ass, Adalric would have to see this one through. “He’s with the gardener today. Contact Xavier and ask him to bring Seth to the salon, then show the detective there. I’ll meet him there.”

  “Yes, sir,” Edwin answered quickly.

  They both left Daystrum’s suite of rooms and Adalric shut the door quietly behind him. He glanced up and down the hall, relieved to find it empty, and rested his shoulder against the wall and sighed.

  This wing remained fairly quiet…well, except for at night. He smiled at that thought. The house had four wings. The first, and smallest, was for him and his beloved. The second was for his inner circle including his second, enforcers, and top three trackers. On occasion, they had guests, and they were also put in that wing for safety reasons, Adalric’s, not theirs.

  The third wing housed the humans that lived with them, each having their own suite including a living room, bedroom, and bathroom. One could say the same for the fourth wing, where the remaining twenty plus members of his coven slept. Between the two groups, they kept the kitchen, dining room, entertainment room, and communal rooms hopping.

  His wasn’t a large coven, by any means, but he’d always thought of them as family. He frowned at the wall as if he could see through it and peer at his injured second. Why did every family have one bad apple? Or, in this case, three or four? Pushing away from the wall, Adalric straightened his shoulders and headed toward the salon.

  He opened the door and strode inside. When he shut the door, the human standing near the fireplace inspecting a picture turned to face him. The detective was an older man, late forties or early fifties, with thick gray hair and just the beginning of a paunch at his waist. When he reached out and took the man’s offered hand, his grip was strong and sure, belying the age spots on his skin.

  “Detective Hanson,” the man said.

  Adalric nodded. “Adalric Bachmeier. How can I help you, Detective?”

  “You’re the owner of the place?”

  “Yes, that’s right.” He waved toward a chair. “Would you like a seat? I’m sure Gerald will be here any moment with coffee.”

  As if on cue, the big vampire entered, carrying a tray holding a carafe and several coffee mugs.

  “That wasn’t necessary,” Detective Hanson said, but he looked grateful as he took the steaming mug, accepting a dash of cream. Once he sat back in his chair, he said, “I have a report that a mister Seth Goodwin is staying here. As he was reported missing, then deceased, we just need to make certain—”

  The door opened at that moment and Xavier paused in the doorway. For just a second, he stood there with a shocked expression on his face. Just as quickly, it was gone and he moved to the side and motioned Seth into the room. Adalric made a note to ask Xavier about his reaction later.

  He sucked in a breath at the sight of his beloved. His sun-kissed skin glowed with health, dirt clung to his shorts, and a bit of vine poked from his hair, but to Adalric, he’d never looked sexier.

  Adalric forced himself to focus on the moment. “Detective Hanson,” he said, drawing the man’s attention away from the pair that entered. “This is Seth Goodwin.” He indicated his lover. “Seth, this is Detective Hanson. It seems there are some questions about…I’m sorry. What is the concern?”

  To Adalric’s pleasure, after Seth shook the detective’s hand, he didn’t hesitate to cross to the sofa and sit beside him.

  “We’re just following up. It’s routine, really,” Detective Hanson answered evasively. He turned and looked at Seth. “Are you aware you were reported dead, sir?”

  Seth colored slightly and glanced toward Adalric. “Uh, yeah. I was told that. Uh, I had planned to rectify that, but I just got in town yesterday and, well…” He shrugged. “I guess it wasn’t really a priority.”

  “Not a priority to let people who are mourning for you know you’re okay?” the detective asked sharply.

  “Is that tone completely necessary?” Adalric snapped. How dare this human speak to my beloved that way!

  Seth placed his hand on Adalric’s thigh and squeezed. “No, no, I get what he’s saying. A lot has happened and I’m still recovering, so…” He shrugged.

  “Recovering?” The detective pounced on that bit of information. The human swept his gaze over the four of them. “Would you mind if I spoke with Seth alone, please?”

  Adalric wanted to refuse. It wasn’t too long ago that his human had said he didn’t want to be here. Would his lover take this opportunity to leave him? His heart clenched at the thought.

  Seth patting his leg drew his attention. “I’ll be fine,” Seth assured.

  Nodding once, he cupped Seth’s nape and drew him close, capturing his mouth in a short, carnal kiss. Just as quickly, knowing if he didn’t, he’d be tempted to pull his lover onto his lap and go too far, Adalric released him and rose. He headed toward the door, a tilt of his head causing Gerald to stand and join him.

  Taking in the way Xavier still stood rigid beside the door, Adalric rested a hand on his shoulder. “You okay?” he asked quietly.

  Xavier tensed beneath his hand, then met his eyes and gave him a pained smile. “Of course.” He turned and left the room.

  Adalric quickly followed, hearing Gerald softly shut the door. “Xavier, is something wrong?” he called to the older vampire.

  Slowly, Xavier turned to face him, his brows drawn in consternation, but it was the dazed expression that concerned Adalric…until Xavier spoke. “I never thought I’d meet him. I’d given up hope.”

  “What do you mean?” Gerald asked.

  “I believe the detective is my beloved,” Xavier whispered.

  Adalric smiled. “Congratulations. We’ll see what we can find out about him, shall we?”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Nodding, Adalric returned his focus to the pair of men in the room beyond the door. With his heightened hearing, it wasn’t difficult to make out their conversation.

  “You mentioned recovering, Seth. Recovering from what? Are you here of your own free will?” the detective asked.

  Adalric held his breath, wondering what his beloved would say. Would he take this opportunity to ask for help in leaving?

  “Oh, yeah, yeah, I’m good,” Seth responded. “I, uh, it probably seems sudden to someone else. I get that.” He sounded like he was smiling. “I wrecked my truck and had amnesia. Adalric was there, visiting a friend, and helped me out.” Seth snorted. “We really hit it off and, when most of my memory returned, I decided to move out here with him.”

  “Someone reported that you were forced here. Are you saying that’s not true?” the detective pressed.

  “Forced here. That’s ridiculous. Who told you that?” Seth asked, his tone darkening.

  Adalric wanted to know the same damn thing.

  “A mister Chad Burtwick came to us this morning,” Detective Hanson
replied.

  “That son of a bitch,” Seth snarled.

  “Not a friend of yours?”

  Seth heaved a sigh and Adalric could imagine his lover rolling his eyes. “No, most definitely not. He had designs on my man and didn’t like it when I came home with him.”

  “Ah, then I’ll close this file and if Mister Burtwick comes around again, arrest him for making a false report.”

  Adalric heard clothes rustle and the creak of furniture, indicating they stood. He stepped back and waited.

  When the door opened, Seth smirked. “Waiting for something?” he teased.

  “For you,” Adalric replied. He reached out and grabbed his beloved, making no bones about his plans. Seth didn’t fight him, coming willingly, and Adalric wrapped his arm around Seth’s waist and tucked him close to his side and stole a swift kiss before turning back to the detective. “Was there anything else?”

  “No, that’ll be all. Thank you for allowing me to interrupt your day,” Detective Hanson replied. Adalric noted his gaze flitted between the two of them, then away, as if uncomfortable with a show of affection between two men.

  Well, shit, that doesn’t bode well for Xavier!

  “Would you like to join us for lunch?” Adalric asked.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Seth’s surprised expression, but he kept his focus on the detective. Hanson looked toward Xavier, then the floor. Could he be a closet case? Or maybe he didn’t understand his attraction to the older gentleman?

  “Uh, no, I’m afraid I need to get back to the station. Thank you, and good luck with, uh, everything,” the detective finished lamely.

  Adalric nodded. It looked like they’d have to find out more about the man. “Gerald, if you could show Detective Hanson out. Good day.”

  Xavier tensed, his hands fisting as Gerald accompanied the detective down the hall.

  “Xavier,” Adalric said the vampire’s name softly. “Why don’t you come with us?”

  “What’s going on?” Seth murmured as they started walking.

  Adalric glanced over his shoulder, then turned to his beloved. “It seems the good detective is Xavier’s beloved.”

  “Really?” Seth grinned at the older vampire. “Hey, congrats. How ya gonna catch your man?”

  “I have no idea,” Xavier replied softly, looking a little dazed.

  Adalric rested his free hand on the gardener’s shoulder. “We’ll figure it out. I’ll put Garner on him and have him verify friends and family.”

  “Thanks,” Xavier responded. “I think I’m gonna go back to my gardens. Clear my head,” he said almost absently. He looked at Seth. “You coming?”

  Before Seth could respond, Adalric replied, “No, Seth and I have some talking to do.” He grinned at his human. “Don’t we, beloved?”

  Seth blushed.

  Chapter Nine

  Adalric led Seth to his office. Seth glanced around with interest, taking in the dark oak furniture and hardwood floors. A pair of tan leather chairs rested on a braided green and brown throw rug. Shelves lined the left wall, filled nearly to capacity with leather bound books.

  A bay window lined the wall on the far side, behind the desk and chair. The desk was a massive L-shaped monstrosity, pushed flush to the far wall and then jutting into the room. A slender laptop rested on top of it.

  Still holding Seth’s hand, Adalric pulled him around the desk. The vampire flopped back into his equally mammoth desk chair, then pulled Seth down onto his lap. He frowned. “I don’t really do laps,” he said, intending to stand.

  “Humor me,” Adalric stated. “I like holding you.”

  Grumbling under his breath, Seth eased back, wiggling a bit to find a fairly comfortable position. Adalric grinned, ignoring him as he held onto him with one hand and reached for his desk phone with the other. He pressed the intercom button and signaled for the kitchen.

  “’Yellow,” said a friendly feminine voice.

  “Vickie?” Adalric questioned.

  “Hey, sir. What can I do for you?” she greeted.

  “Track down Garner and send him to my office,” he ordered.

  “You got it, boss. Anything else? Ya want lunch for Seth delivered, too?”

  Adalric paused and looked at him. “You hungry?”

  Seth shook his head, appreciating the option to decline. “No. Peter brought me food earlier.”

  Nodding, Adalric answered, “No, Vickie. That will be all.”

  “So, who’s this Garner guy?” he asked after Adalric disconnected the intercom, unable to contain his curiosity. “How’s he gonna help?”

  Adalric leaned back in his chair and wrapped both arms around Seth’s torso. He slipped one hand under his shirt and started leisurely running his fingers over his abs. “Garner is my tech guru. He will dig up info on the detective that we will use to help Xavier connect with his beloved.”

  He grinned and nibbled Seth’s neck. “Although ever-increasing technology makes it more and more difficult to hide our existence, it does help us in other ways, like figuring out how to seduce our beloveds, once we meet them.”

  Seth snickered. Then, Adalric’s clever fingers rose higher and plucked a nipple, the sound turning into a grunting moan. Adalric hummed and scraped his teeth across the tendon of Seth’s neck.

  “Shit,” he hissed. “That shouldn’t turn me on so much.”

  “Sure it should,” Adalric whispered, the warm air of his breath over Seth’s wet skin causing goose bumps to erupt over his skin. “You’re my beloved. You should love my teeth.”

  Fortunately, he didn’t have to think up a response. A sharp knock on the door sounded through the office. Adalric sighed and called, “Enter.”

  When Seth moved to get off his lap, Adalric tightened his hold. “Stay,” he growled.

  Huffing a sigh, he settled, again. They’d need to have a talk about this lap-sitting thing, Seth decided.

  A pale, slender man with shoulder-length bleach-blond hair and hazel eyes strode into the room. The man stopped in front of the desk and stood at parade rest. Seth would never have guessed it from looking at the lean, nearly skinny vampire, but from his stance, maybe he’d been in the military?

  “Yes, Adalric?”

  “Relax, Garner,” Adalric ordered lightly.

  “Yes, sir.” The only thing that changed about the man was a slight loosening of his shoulders.

  Adalric smiled. “I have a job for you, Garner. I need information on the detective who was here, Detective Hanson. Find out what you can and report back in twenty-four hours.”

  Seth’s brows shot up. That wasn’t a lot of time.

  Instead of looking in the least bit worried about the short time-frame, Garner asked, “How deep do you want me to go?”

  “Personal information. Hobbies. Friends. Who he spends the most time with. Habits. That sort of thing.”

  “Yes, sir.” Garner responded. “Is there anything else, sir?”

  Adalric shook his head. “No. That will be all.”

  Garner nodded curtly, turned on his heel, and headed toward the door. With his hand on the doorknob, he paused and looked at them over his shoulder. “Congratulations, sir. Welcome to the coven, Seth.”

  “Thanks,” Seth replied while Adalric returned the man’s nod.

  Garner slipped out of the room.

  “Wow, he’s…reserved,” Seth commented, uncertain how else to describe the man.

  Adalric chuckled. “Very true. He doesn’t have much of a personality, but he’s the best at background checks. He’ll dig up info about the detective and we’ll use it to help Xavier bag his man,” he said, winking.

  Seth shifted on Adalric’s lap a bit so he didn’t have to crane his neck so far to see the man. “You surprise me.”

  “How so?”

  “I wouldn’t have thought you’d take such an…active role in your people’s lives,” Seth said, choosing his words carefully.

  Smiling, Adalric told him, “If I don’t know each of m
y coven members, I don’t know if they’re happy, or what I need to do to fix their problems.”

  “Okay, I can see that.” Seth cocked his head. “You’ve introduced people as enforcers and trackers. Do you have a beta? Don’t you paranormal groups always have a second in command?”

  Adalric’s smile faded, and Seth worried he’d said something inappropriate. Slowly, the vampire nodded. “Yes, I do have a second in command. I just call him my second. His name is Daystrum Striplan. The reason I had to come home so quickly, that I had to rush you, was because he was attacked.”

  “Attacked!” Seth gasped. “By whom? Why?”

  “Probably the usual reason…someone wants to take over my coven and taking out my second would weaken me. As for whom? That’s the mystery. We don’t know, yet.” He threaded his fingers through Seth’s hair and gripped him in a loose hold. “That’s why you must always remain with a vampire I trust. Gerald, or Toni, or Xavier. Even Edwin or Darian, I’ll introduce you to them soon.”

  “Is he going to be okay?” Shit? Was nowhere safe?

  “He will be. He looks forward to meeting you.” Adalric smiled. “Once he’s not on bed rest anyway. No one wants to be met the first time that way,” he added dryly.

  Seth nodded. “That I can understand.”

  “Now,” Adalric murmured, peering intensely at him. “I have to ask. You could have tried to leave with the detective. Why didn’t you?”

  Seth understood the vampire’s surprise since he’d made no bones about not wanting to be there on more than one occasion. He actually felt bad at all the strain he’d caused the vampire. Seth just knew, as a coven leader, Adalric probably wasn’t known as anything but impatient and dominant—hey, his word is law around here—but Adalric had worked really hard to curb that and show him patience.

  “I realized how much you struggled to give me time. I had a chat with Peter and Xavier over lunch,” he explained. “They told me all about what it means to a vampire to find their beloved.” Seth clenched his jaw, unable to believe he was about to offer this, but…without allowing Adalric to have his ass, they’d never be able to cement their bond.