be in town a while.” He whispered his address in her ear. “Ring the bell any time. There’s always someone to answer, and they’ll leave you for me.”
“Confident, aren’t you?”
“I’m better than you’ve ever met, bella Imma. Better than you will ever meet again.” He licked the line of blood trailing down her elegant neck. “I’ll see you soon.” And, feeling bold and well fed, he used a bit of his power to build shadows around himself, so that it would seem to her he’d disappeared into the night. And thus were tall tales of vampires created, he thought with grin.
Though he and the others walked down many streets and up a few alleys, no one rose to challenge him. And that was a puzzle. Someone, some vampire, was currently holding the territory. Not well, and definitely not with enough power to defeat Xavier, but enough that it grated at his senses like a stone in his boot. His own presence had to be doing the same to whoever this weak vampire lord was, but the vamp was hiding. Recuperating maybe, from what had been weeks of vampire battles. Then again, this one wouldn’t have lasted for weeks, so he’d most likely arrived in the city not long before Xavier himself.
Whatever was keeping the pathetic Lord of Spain, who clearly didn’t deserve the title, in hiding, there was nothing Xavier could do about it. So he signaled to the others and strode directly home instead. His human servant, Albert, was waiting with tea and wine. Albert had been with him for ten years now, growing from a restless teenager to a responsible man while serving as Xavier’s eyes and ears during the day. He seemed content with his position. He had access to a generous household fund, and if he ever decided to take a wife, Xavier hoped they’d remain with him. Even after the children came.
He wanted his Fortalesa, which is what he’d decided to call the old citadel, to be a village with humans and vampires living together, creating families by birth or adoption. Whatever it took for all of them to feel as if they were safe and belonged. That was what he wanted for his headquarters, his lair, when he became the new Lord of Spain.
All he needed now was for the present cowardly lord to show himself and die.
XAVIER WAS FILLED with determination when he rose the following night. Still flush with Imma’s generously offered blood, his power was like a feral creature demanding unchained violence. When the others finally rose, they found him pacing the front parlor, unable to remain still.
“He’s lost whatever power he was using to hide himself. I know where he is.”
Chuy stood in the kitchen with the other two vampires. Rémy and Hadrien were twin brothers whom he’d come across in France, when he’d ventured over that border. It had been done mostly out of curiosity, but finding the two had been a stroke of luck. Especially when they’d proved willing to join him in his search for a permanent home. They looked like they were in their early twenties, and in reality, they were not much beyond that. But they were tall and strong, and together had enough power to fight off any vampires who might think to take advantage of his distraction when he was in the midst of a challenge.
All three put down their evening tea and gave him their full attention. “Is tonight the night, then?” Chuy asked.
“It is. Are you ready?” His question was directed at the group, and they all answered with a bob of the head and single word.
“Sire.”
“Victory awaits us.”
THE OTHER VAMPIRE was waiting for him. He was older than was typical for a vampire, well into his thirties when he’d been turned, Xavier would guess. But he’d been a vampire long enough for its healing effects to have worked on him. And that wasn’t the only aspect of the vamp that drew Xavier’s attention. He’d seemed weak the previous night, as if struggling to remain hidden. But Xavier saw now that it had been a ruse, a mask of sorts to fool the challenger he’d known had been searching for him.
Xavier smiled inwardly. That was all right. The power burning inside him had been hungry for violence and it would certainly get it from this one. “Xavier Prospero Flores,” he said by way of introduction, when he stood no more than twelve feet from the other vampire.
“Leonardo Gilberto,” the