What in l’enfer was Sabien doing? 

He rarely made mistakes. His last one nearly costed him his sister’s life. He wouldn’t repeat that again, yet here he was, testing fate by talking to Aubrey. 

Years had gone by. A decade, to be exact. A mere blip in Sabien’s centuries-long existence. It didn’t feel that way with Aubrey, however. Sabien had been excruciatingly aware of every passing second, where Aubrey had no clue how much Sabien wanted him, how much he fucking craved him like an addict. 

It happened when they met for the first time. The calling sounded like a siren’s song, luring him toward his doom. He couldn’t forget that day in the studio. Their eyes collided, and a powerful thump pounded in his chest, and his silent heart made its first beat.  

Sabien didn’t know what to think, let alone feel. He had grown accustomed to being alone, categorizing humans as an essential need rather than actually existing people. It was better that way. Made things less complicated. Except for the part that did make things complicated and explained why Sabien was so drawn to Aubrey in the first place. 

Sabien had known it, and that it was something Aubrey could not possibly understand. Aubrey was so perfectly human that the idea of it was preposterous. Soulmates were merely metaphors for humans, as a way to bring more meaning to love. Fated mates were a step beyond for his ilk, or rather, the monsters who lurked and existed in plain sight. His sister had the luxury and the blessing of finding her fated mate, here of all places. It was why she joined Wonted’s brood. For safety, protection, and a life. She was tired of running and moving to different places. Here, she was promised a home. Here, she had her mate. 

The difference between Sabien and Vanille was that she didn’t resist it. 

Sabien fought the call aggressively. He outright refused the calling, regardless of the primal urge — the need — to be as close to Aubrey as possible. He’d gone through centuries of heaven and hell. He’d seen the best and the worst this world had to offer, only to meet a boy who’d shaken him up, a boy whose sole existence was to make Sabien happy. The concept was wrong on so many levels, and he couldn’t fathom how Vanille blithely accepted her destiny. Her mate was also human and still hadn’t a clue. It was a delicate situation. This party, after all, was to celebrate finding her fated mate and newly discovered muse, Wesley Pearce. 

Humans weren’t supposed to know about the supernatural. Both worlds existed on a precarious balance, policed by a secret order known as The Sanctum. 

To bond with a human was preposterous. It would put them under scrutiny, yet being in a part of a brood meant following specific, vampire-written laws. Laws that not even The Sanctum could get involved with unless a human’s life was under threat. 

Sabien had long implemented and followed his personal belief: humans were meals. Wasn’t that the curse of vampirism? To feed on the life you once had? Hunt, feed, fuck, and even kill? The transition to the undead created the daemonic spirit that stirred within vampires. Shifters had their beasts. Vampires had their daemons. He was a primal, bloodthirsty monster, forced to play pretend so that he could exist unbothered. 

The history her shared with Aubrey had been nothing but cordial and brief encounters, professional because of their work. However, tonight challenged everything. 

Sabien had been watching from a distance when the old creep, Rex, approached Aubrey.

The terrace had many hiding places among the enchanting garden and angelic sculptures that allowed Sabien to lurk, despite his imposing frame. The soft amber lighting from the swaying paper lanterns on wires connected to various iron posts, combined with the silvery glow of the moonlight created a dreamy, haunting landscape. 

Unfortunately, that walking pit stain of a man decided to encroach on Aubrey’s personal space, ruining the splendid view. 

Aubrey was a dream for Sabien. Dressed in black like he was meant to. Sleek, fitted, sinuous. Aubrey had a lean and slender build, with black hair falling like a silk curtain to his narrow shoulders. Sabien knew the color of Aubrey’s eyes from memory. Their slanted shape was home to royal purple spheres, reminding Sabien of the plums he used to savor as a mortal man.  

During their conversation, Sabien was aware that he had fucked up. That somewhere and somehow, he had hurt Aubrey’s feelings. He might have done it intentionally, testing Aubrey. 

He certainly reaped the consequences, but watching Aubrey walk away was an award he savored shamelessly. From the sway of his shoulders to his hips, Aubrey gave plenty for Sabien to admire. Tight black jeans accentuated his shifting globes. Sabien wanted to bite that ass like a peach. He had a feeling Aubrey was soft in areas that counted despite his slender stature. Areas like his navel, his ass, his… 

Sabien’s cock grew plump in his slacks. He groaned, cupping his bulge while the fingers of his free hand pushed through his hair in agitation. Aubrey walking away aroused his daemon. He wanted to chase after him and grab him by his hair. He would like it even more if Aubrey ran. 

“Maybe I can help you with that,” purred a voice Sabien could recognize anywhere. 

Zachary Abendroth was a fellow model and vampire. He appeared as if he had been beside Sabien the entire time. He must’ve floated as mist, watching like the filthy voyeur he was. Zachary had taken an interest in the modeling industry because of Sabien. One could call Zachary’s behaviors as obsessive, a trait Sabien had unhealthily enabled plentifully in the past.  

Usually, Sabien’s daemon would have perked up with Zachary near, eager for what would often transpire between them.

This time was different. His daemon’s had shifted toward one, specific human. 

“No, I don’t need your help,” Sabien hissed. His cock softened enough for Sabien to remove his palm. “What did you see?”

“Enough,” Zachary replied slyly. The brunette was just as large and imposing. Broad-shouldered, muscular, and fair-skinned. His black-brown hair was coiffed and a touch wavy, emphasizing his high cheekbones and square jaw. Steel gray eyes were half-lidded and glinting with mischief. He wore a white suede suit with brown loafers. Zachary possessed a careless, sensuality, and a laziness to match. “You let that boy get under your skin.” He added and tilted his head, “Why?” 

Sabien wanted to tell Zachary to mind his own fucking business but knew better. In their long, sordid history of companionship, Zachary consistently ensured that everything that happened in Sabien’s life was, in fact, his fucking business. 

“Leave him alone, Zach. He’s not worth your time.” Sabien said, feeling on edge.

“Sure, whatever you say,” Zachary said casually, “my offer still stands. It’s been a while, Sabien dearest.”

Sabien rolled his eyes, “no.” 

Zachary slid closer. Their shoulders touching caused Sabien to tense. Zachary was slightly taller, by roughly half an inch. Sabien leveled his Arctic-blue gaze with Zachary's steel-gray orbs. They created a storm together. Tempestuous, destructive, and downright hot.

“Sabien,” Zachary purred, “do you really not want to see me on my knees as you throat fuck me?” He leaned in, teasing the shell of Sabien’s ear with his lips. “I’ll even bite.”

“Zachary,” Sabien whispered angrily, the warning sound feeble from the way his breath stuttered. His fangs almost sprang out as the conflict waged inside him — anger and lust. “I will not… I won’t do anything with you. Not tonight, and not… anymore.” 

Boundaries. He needed to set boundaries with himself. No more casual intimacy. No more risky behaviors. No more fucking Zachary. 

He told himself these boundaries had nothing to do with Aubrey, or with the fact that he had a vision of Aubrey on his knees, making the same filthy proposal as Zachary. 

“Not anymore…” Zachary’s large hand grabbed Sabien’s neck from behind and yanked him close. Their bodies aligned. Every hard line and muscle melded as Zachary wrapped his free arm around Sabien’s waist in an vice grip. Sabien’s eyes flashed as did Zachary’s, fangs extended. “I’m not a fan of this side of you, Sabien. We’re meant to have fun together and paint the town red.” 

Sabien narrowed his eyes, the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He huffed like an angry bull, his cock aching and flushed against the outline of Zachary’s bulge. 

“Oh, Sabien.” Zachary said in a saccharine tone, “You can’t resist this. You can’t resist me.” He bridged the distance until his lips were a hair’s breadth from Sabien’s mouth. 

Frozen, Sabien’s daemon reacted instead, dispersing Sabien’s body into tiny particles, his mind floating with the forming mist and he rushed away from Zachary, seeking an escape.