Ryland and Ryder are in danger…
Celebrating their 298th birthday, the Durand brothers are still at an impasse over their third, Dale Mooney, and the cause of their maker Gren DuMont’s death. As they battle personality clashes, Ryland and Ryder set out to slay Gren’s killer as well as conquer their own fears; Ryder’s fear of losing Ryland to Dale and Ryland’s fear of the unknown lurking around their safe haven in New Orleans.
With little help from the demon Valios, the twins travel to Paris to meet the murderer face to face but will their own insecurities impede their goal of slaying the killer? At this point they only have each other to rely on and the fate of all vampires lies in their hands.
“Happy birthday, dear Ryland and Ryder! Happy
birthday to you! Yay!” Dale, Kajika, and Waylon sang the dreaded song for the
twins to celebrate their two hundredth and ninety-eighth year on earth.
Although this was a joyous occasion, Ryder could think of a million other
places he wanted to be.
My
brother doesn’t love me anymore.
Ryder sighed inwardly and thought about
the moment he and his brother had alone a little while ago. Everything was
perfect. They were at the club, inside the office, alone, just the two of them,
as it had always been. Ryder asked for Ryland to let him drink from him while
they made love. Not fucked but made love. No one would satisfy him as much as
Ryland could despite anything anyone had tried to throw at him. Everyone,
including the luscious Kyla, tried to tempt him into bed, but like Ryland, he had
a conscience. A fucking conscience to tell him no, don’t fucking be with anyone
other than your brother and Dale. Why? Why the hell should Ryder care so much
when his brother didn’t give him the same regard? Ryder bristled at the thought of turning down
all those offers to have mindless sex with others while Ryland got his fill of
the human.
Damnit.
Ryder clicked his teeth and glared at
Ryland who shared a kiss with Dale. Of course he wouldn’t kiss him in front of
Kajika. Their nephew had no knowledge of their relationship.
“Happy birthday, brother. Mon frère!” Ryland gently kissed the
side of Ryder’s head. “I am thrilled we made it to this point.”
“So am I.” Ryder shrugged his shoulders
and got up from the table, wanting to get away from the party. He wasn’t in the
mood to celebrate anything right now.
“Unc, what’s wrong, huh? Would you like
a little cake? I know you don’t really eat this, but… I was hoping you and Unc
Ry would for your party.”
Ryder shook his head. “No thanks,
Kajika. I’m good.” Ryder walked to the window, aching to go outside and hunt
for food, but he knew Ryland would be upset if he did. It was the perfect time
to do so too; a perfectly clear night and cool air, meaning there were plenty
of good tasting humans walking around to prey on in the Quarter.
After all, it was almost the end of
summer festival season. Many tourists were still in town, getting drunk at wild
parties, not caring about their welfare. Ryder loved to prey on them because in
his mind, if they were too stupid to pay attention, they didn’t deserve to
live.
“Mhmm, Ryder, come have a little,
please? It is actually very good. Kaj made sure the color was similar to blood,
and it isn’t overly sweet. You must try a little, my dear brother. It’s our
party, Ryder. Come enjoy yourself.”
Ryder only shook his head and kept
looking at the moon, wishing he was outside. Despite the happy time this was
for him and Ryland, he refused to be part of this celebration after Ryland
rejected him earlier. His eyes narrowed, looking out the glass at the bright
full moon in the sky. “Ah, Gren, wherever you are, I wish I was there with you
right now.”
* * * *
Ryland shook his head and stopped eating
the small piece of cake his nephew had given him. Suddenly, he’d lost his
appetite for human food and set the dish down on the table. “I’ve had enough,
Kajika. Thank you very much.”
Kajika nodded and hugged Ryland. “You
sure, Unc? Are you all right? And what’s wrong with Ryder? Did something happen
between the two of you earlier?”
Ryland inhaled and twitched his nose.
“No, nephew, nothing to worry your pretty little head about.” Ryland softly
stroked Kajika’s hair and pressed his lips to his temple. “Why don’t you go and
talk with Waylon a little bit, hmm, and send Dale back over here. There’s something
I want to ask him.”
Kajika flashed him a smile and did as
Ryland asked.
Ryland watched Kajika with interest,
hoping he didn’t read too much into his brother’s poor attitude and lack of hospitality.
It was hard enough to keep things from Kajika and Dale without Ryder acting
like a spoiled brat.
Ryder,
you need to stop acting like a petulant child! You’re making me angry, and you
felt a taste of my wrath earlier tonight. Don’t push me anymore, mon frère.
Don’t fucking test me on our birthday!
Ryland closed his eyes tight, sending
the message to his brother across the room. When he opened his eyes, he noticed
Ryder look back at him with a slightly startled expression but then he looked back
out the window. Obviously Ryland’s threats didn’t concern him all that much.
“Yeah, babe, what’s up? Ready to have
our own little party, hmm? I mean, I’m enjoying hanging out with Kajika and my
older brother, but I want you so badly tonight.” Dale wrapped both arms around
Ryland’s waist and pulled him close.
Dale’s touches caused a tent in Ryland’s
tight leathers. He sighed inwardly. “Just tonight?” Ryland elbowed him in the
chest and flashed him a wicked smile. “Lover, we need to ask Kajika and Waylon
to leave. I have a very upset twin over there that needs our attention. He’s
acting like a spoiled brat, but I need to at least attempt to make him feel
better.”
Dale glanced in that direction before
turning Ryland around to face him. “Oh, yeah? You mean…”
“Yes, that, love. I refuse to allow him
to be the gloom and doom of our birthday celebration. And actually, I might
need to have a little alone time before you come with us. Is that all right?”
Dale’s smile turned down, and he dropped
his gaze. “Aw, shucks, sugar, I suppose. I mean, I know you guys are brothers
and all, but even if I don’t participate at first I’d like to watch, you know?
It’s hot seeing the two of you together.”
Ryland stroked the side of his face and
planted a firm kiss on his lips. “I would agree that it is, but I believe he
needs a little brotherly nurturing first. He thinks I don’t love him anymore. I
need to settle his fears before he goes out amongst the masses and kills
everyone in his path. He can get that way, you know. I’m saving the world
heartache by reeling in his energy and allowing him to unleash it all on me.”
Dale looked sheepish, disappointed. “Oh
damn, man. All right. I’ll wait in the other room or something. You wanna say
bye to Kajika and Waylon right now then?”
Ryland sighed and kissed his lover once
again. He really hated disappointing Dale, but his brother’s mood bothered him
a lot more. He’d read things from his mind and heart that needed urgent
attention, and that meant leaving his lover alone for a while. Ryland leaned
his head against Dale’s and caressed his chin. “Yes, Dale, let’s do that. The
quicker we can say goodnight, the faster I can get to my twin and make him
happy.”
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