Dark Possession - Aja James Page 0,2

as his backup. He didn’t need backup, period.

Eli was one of the most powerful warriors in the history of Dark Ones. He could decimate entire legions single-handedly and unarmed. With his human Mate and their adopted daughter in the Cove, as well as his son’s vulnerable family also in residence or visiting while Ryu was abroad, Eli was extremely incentivized to ensure that no threat came within a fifty-mile radius of the Dark King’s base.

But the truth was, he couldn’t give two fucks about the King’ safety.

Not that Ramses needed the protection.

The Dark King stifled a frustrated sigh.

Amidst all this mayhem and madness, what was he doing while his Chosen focused on neutralizing the ever-escalating chaos their enemies bred?

He started his night by entertaining the Great Lakes vampire queen when she showed up in his Atrium uninvited.

Which led to a messy business that unfortunately required the employment of various parts of his body—into various parts of her body.

She’d left satisfied with their private tête-à-tête, while he was left with the urge to douse himself with bleach.

Directly on her heels came the right hand of the British Columbia vampire queen. In exchange for their continued tacit support of his unstated dominion over not only New England, but also most of North America, a great deal of funds and weaponry would exchange hands.

Further, in fair trade for intelligence about the animal spirits currently hiding out in the Yukon territory just north of their boundary, currency of a more personal nature was provided, not unlike the requirements of the Great Lakes queen before her.

If Ramses cared more, perhaps he might have paused to appreciate the irony:

In the middle of his cock thrusting in and out of the queen’s second-in-command, she moaned a well-argued case for her Liege to be considered as a potential Consort for the one and only Dark King in the world.

Such a union would certainly help solidify his implicit rule over North America, for the British Columbia queen had the allegiance of the rest of the Canadian vampire hives.

Perhaps there was a less “involved” way to deal with these meetings, Ramses allowed. But sex was the most expedient path to get what he wanted each and every time.

Vampires loved to fuck and fight. Blame it on the bloodlust.

And too, he was not a patient male, nor did he wish to mince words.

His body was a weapon in his arsenal, just like his mind. He’d long since become inured to wielding it as needed for maximum impact with minimal fuss.

She’d taught him that.

It wasn’t personal. It was business.

This being the case, he did what he had to, even if he took no pleasure in the process.

Meanwhile, this… adventure-filled night was just getting started, with no escape in sight.

Appearances must be upheld. It wouldn’t do for the most powerful ruler of the most powerful vampire hive to roll his eyes or growl in frustration. Though he’d done that internally many times over the past couple of hours.

He almost preferred the bartered fucking to the current interminable soliloquy of complaints.

Almost.

“…so you see, my Liege, my House’s claim to the western territories is far more substantiated by written records meticulously kept throughout my noble lineage than Andor Varna’s tenuous grasp. Hundreds of years ago when the contracts were signed and sealed, the legalities therein were enforced by law. Now, in modern times…”

The claimant vampire noble droned on in his nasally voice, hands clasped behind his narrow back.

A back Ramses could easily snap in two with his bare hands.

Internally, his eyes rolled again, deploring how far vampires had come down in the world.

The modern versions of Dark Ones left much to be desired. So watered down from their former glory that it was like comparing Sabretooth tigers of old to the clawless housecats of today.

To see what had become of the great Dark empire she’d built over three millennia, Ashlu’s soul must be cringing from the Heavens.

Or, more likely, Hell.

It mattered not to Ramses where her spirit had gone, or even if it still existed in the Universal Balance. The organ that used to beat only for the Dark Queen Ashlu had turned to stone long ago.

As impenetrable as the rest of him.

Outwardly, Ramses nodded and blinked at appropriate moments to indicate that he was paying attention.

It was no secret that Varna coveted the New England throne. He’d tried to usurp Jade Cicada’s rule before Ramses. But when the critical moment came, when he could have challenged Ramses for the figurative scepter, he’d taken one