allowed myself to release the anxious feelings that had been pent up inside me. My father conversed with a couple who was sitting beside him, while Arrick and I chatted and laughed at the dancers. It became quickly apparent that nearly all the people present were human. For a region that was supposed to be all about building a secret army, I expected everyone to be a vampire or at least a hybrid.
“Where are all the vampires?” I whispered to my father.
“I believe Titan is the only full vampire in the entire region, with the exception of his soldiers who are all hybrids.”
“What’s a hybrid?”
“Just another word for Blood Mate of Blood Guard,” my father answered my question. “They are all technically the same; each region just has a different name for them.”
“Myself and my son,” Titan interjected, suddenly standing in front of my father and me.
“Your son?” my father asked; genuine surprise in his voice. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had a son.”
“He should be arriving any moment now.” Titan seemed almost dismissive of my father’s apology. “Ahh! Speak of the devil!” He thrust his fist into the air as the mass of dancing bodies made way for his son. Titan’s son had the same dark, caramel skin of his father, and was covered in numerous tattoos. Tribal patterns wrapped around each of his forearms, traveling up to his shoulders and connecting at his collarbone at a sharp point like an arrowhead. He was nearly as tall as Titan, with shaggy brown hair and the dark shadow of a beard blanketing his jaw line.
Father and son embraced in a bear-like hug before turning to face us. “My son, Ronon! This is Cathair, king of the Zakarian region and his daughter, Claire.” My eyebrows rose at the mention of my name, up until that point Titan hadn’t even acknowledged me. My father fisted his hand in greeting; placing it upon his chest, but Ronon overlooked him almost immediately. His aggressive eyes landed on me as his lips pulled up into a victorious grin that only got wider when Arrick wrapped his arm possessively around me.
As curious as I was about Titan’s son, I didn’t like the way he was dissecting me with his eyes. Yet, I couldn’t deny one thing; the two looked so much alike that it could only mean that Ronon was his real son, and not an adopted child like most vampire parents had. But, if that were true then that meant his wife had survived being poisoned, right? So, where was she?
“Now the entertainment can begin!” Titan shouted enthusiastically, as he pulled his son under his meaty arms, directing him toward the head of the party. Neither of them gave us a second glance as they walked away. Something was seriously askew here. My father came counting on Titan’s need for revenge, but I was starting to think that Titan had buried that need; buried it under women, booze, and blood. The question was; what would it take to bring him back to reality?
Before I could start questioning my father, who looked as confused as I felt, the music picked up speed and the dancing couples broke away as they made way for belly dancers. The women gyrated to the music, bouncing their hips from side to side, pulsating their bodies to the beat of the drums. They moved with impeccable timing, each movement matching each other’s in one cohesive dance.
I was still distracted by the bombshell Titan had just dropped on us as I watched the women’s bodies spin in perfect circles, twirling and dipping as they swayed with the beat. As enthralling as they were, I couldn’t help but let my eyes wander over to Ronon. My curiosity kept overpowering me. If he was truly Titan’s son, then that meant he was like me. A pure born vampire. Knowing I was different from everyone else, in a way, made me feel special; but it was also a little lonely. Could Ronon really be like me? And if he was, could he do everything I could do? My hand rose to the stone that was tucked in the crease of my dress, and I watched as Ronon’s eyes found my mine and then traveled to my fingers.
His eyes narrowed for a moment, and I felt the unmistakable sensation of someone trying to read me. It was the tiniest nudge at the edge of my consciousness. I immediately concealed what I was feeling, pushing away