Chapter 2

That didn’t mean Ioan wouldn’t have been seriously upset if it turned out Daniel preferred Aurel. But he didn’t! Ioan and Daniel were friends, and soon they’d be more than friends.

Ioan tugged at his jacket to smooth the line. It had been quite a while since he’d last seen Daniel. Ioan had invited him to visit the castle, but he’d declined because the head of the American vampyres kept him busy. She couldn’t refuse this invitation, not without insulting the Rege, something even she wouldn’t dare, so that meant Daniel would be arriving soon.

Just the thought of seeing Daniel again after all this time made Ioan’s dick hard. He gave himself a shake and strode down the corridor.

A liveried footman stood outside the huge double doors to the ballroom.

“Aurel will arrive later.”

The footman gave Ioan a solemn nod, threw open the doors, and announced, “His Highness, Duke Ioan.”

There was applause, and Ioan straightened his shoulders. “Thanks, Freddie,” he whispered.

The footman stared straight ahead and answered from the corner of his mouth, “You’re welcome, Highness.”

Ioan walked into the ballroom, smiling and waving but mostly looking for Daniel.

Ioan still hadn’t spotted Daniel by the time he reached his grandfather. He dropped to a knee and bowed his head.

“Your Grace.”

Grandfather raised him to his feet and kissed him first on one cheek, then the other, and finally on his forehead. “Happy birthday, my boy.”

“Thank you.”

“I assume your brother is dithering over what he plans to wear?”

“Yes.”

“That boy.”

Ioan leaned into his grandfather’s touch. “Is Daniel here?” He didn’t ask about his mother. Although she was Grandfather’s favorite child, Ioan knew that because of what had happened before he and his brother were born—she’d almost drained her saborto the point of dying, had had to let him drink from her, and wound up pregnant according to Valeriu—she’d been forbidden to return to the castle. Ever.

“Not yet,” Grandfather said. “But the night is young. Find a handsome young man to dance with.”

“All right, Grandfather.”

Vampyres had such long lives they’d learned millennia ago it was immaterial who they took to their bed. It was otherwise in the world of normals, and Ioan was glad he didn’t have to tolerate those miserable people.

He bowed, took his grandfather’s hand in his, and kissed the signet ring with its sigil representing the Mondragon house.

“Your Grace, you’re looking well.”

A warm breath tickled Ioan’s neck and made him shiver. Vampyres were cool—not only to the touch, but also their breath. So the being who had come to stand behind him was not a vampyre. Ioan knew who it was, though, and he spun around.

“Shandor!”

The shifter stood before him looking relaxed. And very dashing. He wore a midnight blue tuxedo with a black satin stripe up the leg and a blindingly white dress shirt. A foam of lace spilled down the front of the shirt instead of pleats as most of the vampyres wore.

“Lilitu, you look amazing!” Odd that he should notice the way Shandor was dressed, when he never had before. Grandfather always said things would change when he grew up, so perhaps that was it.

Shandor actually blushed, and Ioan was so pleased to see him, he couldn’t resist throwing his arms around the shifter. No, it wasn’t Daniel, but if it couldn’t be the man he loved, it was almost as good to see his very best friend in the whole of the world.

Grandfather cleared his throat, and Ioan released the Romani.

“I don’t mind, Your Grace,” Shandor said.

Ioan looked toward his grandfather. “And everyone here knows I never follow the conventions.”

“No, you don’t.” Grandfather smiled at the man who stood beside Ioan. “It’s good to see you.”

“You’re very kind, your Grace. May I whisk Ioan away from you?”

Grandfather’s smile broadened. “If you wish to associate with this rascal. I was about to send him away to start the dancing, since Aurel hasn’t chosen to grace us with his presence just yet.”

“Ioan?”

A quick glance around the room showed Daniel still hadn’t arrived. “I’d love to dance with you.” He caught Shandor’s hand and would have crossed to the dancefloor, but Shandor stopped him. “What?”

“Your Highness, if you’ll permit me?”

Ioan blushed—one of the drawbacks of being a half-blood—purebloods blushed only after they’d fed. He’d totally let court etiquette go by the wayside. “Sorry,” he murmured and released Shandor’s hand.

Shandor gave him a fond look and tugged one of the blond locks that had escaped its ribbon and now curled around his ear. He tucked it back, and Ioan bit his lip to prevent the whisper of a moan from escaping. If it felt this good when his friend touched him, what was it going to be like when the man he loved finally made love to him?

Fortunately, Shandor had no idea where Ioan’s wayward thoughts had gone. He smiled and offered his arm.