Meeting London

Darren's POV

I stepped out of the plane, taking a deep breath of London air. It had been over a decade since I came to London, partly because I didn't like England but mostly because of the Decker clan.

Vampire royals showed a friendly side on the surface, but they were one of my greatest oppositions. They were a nasty thorn in my side, leaving a bittersweet taste after every encounter. Luckily for me, no vampire meetings had been held in London for years.

They desired my power but tried to control my authority, hoping to put me on a leash just because they were in control of the one thing I needed.

I had stood my ground for years, but it was slowly becoming harder. I was running out of time.

A company car picked up Adriana and I from the airport, taking us straight to the hotel. I stared at the buildings and streets through the window while Adriana focused on the tablet in her hands.

The meeting at the Decker clan wasn't until Sunday, so I had a day to kill. I silently hoped that I could somehow clear my head. A night of the wild and nasty wouldn't help this time.

I could hear Adriana calling out my name,e but I had a lot on my mind, and I wasn't ready to add business to it. The meeting with Jason Decker kept churning in my mind like gravel in a cement mixer.

I knew there must be a sinister plan he had in mind, but I couldn't think of anything. Resigning my fate till I got to this mansion wasn't something I liked, but there was no other option.

I closed my eyes for a minute, and Diamond's smile drifted into view. Her pearl skin that shined bright under the sun, with hazelnut hair that seemed to constantly reflect nature's beauty. Her deep black eyes filled with a gentle aura, soothing his soul every time.

I ran away from her, leaving her to deal with feelings that we both shared. Feelings that I blocked from reaching my heart, all for the sake of protecting Diamond.

I knew how much it would hurt her, but it was for the best.

Our worlds might have mixed long before she was born, but it couldn't go any further. She couldn't become part of my world. Even if she could miraculously bear my child, she would likely die at childbirth.

And there was no way I would turn her. No amount of persuasion, coercion or threats would make me change my mind, even if she threatened to kill herself. I would rather keep her locked up or ask the witches for help in wiping her memories since it didn't work when I did it.

She deserved a human life, and I would make sure that she got it.

I walked through the hotel doors, nodding as I applauded the interior decorator for an amazing masterpiece. The golden chandelier hung high on the reception ceiling, casting its light on the floor like the golden sun when setting.

The mix of brown, black and gold that covered the furniture gave the floor a certain royal ambience. Adriana had picked the right spot.

We walked up to the desk, and I watched Adriana make the necessary enquiries. Minutes later, we were in the elevator with two porters handling our bags.

"Are you okay? You were completely silent on the ride over."

"It's nothing to worry about. This trip just has a hidden meaning that I can't place my finger on. The clan business keeps churning in my mind."

Adriana gasped before nodding her head and choosing to remain silent.

She was aware of the friction I had with the Triform, especially the difficult situation I faced with the vampires. She had little knowledge about the curse but didn't know that it had a timeframe. There was no need to completely involve her.

We stepped out of the elevator, letting the porters walk ahead of us, guiding us to the room.

It was a king-sized suite with a single bedroom. I would only spend a few nights here, so there was no need for two bedrooms, and Adriana would jump at every opportunity to share a bed with me.

For five years, she had worked with me,e and not once had she spoken about a boyfriend. I feared I had tied her down, but unlike Diamond, I didn't really care about her love life or her humanity.

She was diligent at work, confident in her position and could hold her ground in almost every situation. She was the perfect secretary, and I would be glad if she stayed even longer. My longest-serving secretary had stayed for fourteen years, so Adriana had a record to beat.

Adriana showed the porters where to set the bags and waited for them to leave before she threw her clothes off and jumped on the bed.

"To me, this is a vacation. I'm going to use the company card to get a few things for myself and go out a lot. I deserve that much, right?"

She was hardly this playful,l and it brought a smile to my face. This was the second time we had gone on a business trip together and the fourth time we had been on a trip together.

"It's fine. You work hard enough, so just take it as a treat. Just don't splurge too much, and be careful. I don't have a hold here like I do back in Romania."

"Yeah, yeah. I hear you, Mr. Prim and Proper. You're gonna leave me here for almost a week anyway. I need some fun to keep me alive since I'll be handling most of the work."

I walked to the dresser, taking off my watch, rings and beads as I stared at myself in the mirror.

"We should visit all the farms tomorrow. My stay with Decker might last longer than a week. That's why I told you not to book our return flight. I'm basically walking into a battlefield with no allies."

I felt Adriana's hands caress my chest as she unbuttoned my shirt. I didn't move, letting her help me out of my clothes before covering me with the bathrobe.

"I know I can't be of much help,p and nothing I can say could really do a thing, but I'll be here for as long as you need."

She kissed me, melting her lips with mine before breaking the kiss a minute later. She walked off, and I could hear the water running for a bath.

"Take a warm soak, and I'll be waiting for you in bed. I'm all yours tonight. We can think of other things tomorrow.

I sighed, nodding my head as I walked into the bathroom.

I hated London, but I had to be here. Hopefully, nothing would go wrong.