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

And maybe Shandor had a point. Ioan felt like shit. He’d make an early night of it.


He bid everyone good night and left, wandering out to the Great Hall. He climbed the stairs to the second floor and trailed along to his bedchamber. 


Why would someone do this to him? He’d never hurt anyone.


He paused at the doorway of his bedroom and ran a hand over his eyes. He’d never questioned that he was loved, but just then he felt more depressed than he ever had.


He let himself into his room and stared with loathing at the bed where he’d cuffed Daniel, not for something as interesting as a little bondage play, but in order to keep him from killing himself.


“Well, you’re out of here first thing tomorrow evening,” he informed the bed. The last thing he needed was more reminders of his folly. And suddenly he was no longer tired. The anger felt good, even though he knew come tomorrow evening depression would return to sink him like a stone.


Chapter 9