Ioan Mic, the half-blood grandson of the vampyree king, is eagerly awaiting his eighteenth birthday, when he’ll finally be able to be with Daniel Small, the American vampyree he’s loved for the past four years. Although vampyrees are notoriously promiscuous, Ioan’s refused sex with all who offered -- he’s willing to wait. But when Daniel arrives at the party, he’s accompanied by a wife, leaving Ioan devastated. Shandor, a wolf shifter -- he refuses to call himself a werewolf -- loves the young duke, but years before, he was given the task of keeping Ioan safe, so he tucks his feelings away. Ioan’s twin decides the two need a push and encourages them to enroll in an online dating service. Unbeknownst to either man, he sees to it their responses make them perfect for each other. Because anyone can see they are. The problem is will Ioan and Shandor ever see that?

Wishing and Hoping

“Do you mind opening the ball with me?” Shandor asked.


“Of course not. You’re my best friend, aren’t you?”


Ioan tucked his hand around Shandor’s elbow, and they walked to the center of the dance floor.


Shandor gazed over Ioan’s head. He was one of the few beings who were taller than Ioan. Even Daniel’s eyes weren’t on a level with Ioan’s.


“Nothing important.” Shandor looked down at him and opened his arms. “Shall we?”


Ioan nodded toward the orchestra leader and stepped into his friend’s embrace, waiting for the music to begin.


It was a Strauss waltz. The opening dance of every ball was a waltz, but this was one of his favorites, and he hummed along. And as much as he wanted to steal peeks at the crowd to see if Daniel had arrived yet, he’d been brought up too well—no matter what Valeriu might say—to do that.


Instead, he smiled into Shandor’s dark eyes. “Will we go hunting soon?”


Chapter 3