The Once and Future Primus

The Once and Future Primus

The main manor of Iriy Hills Estates was a marvel of architectural beauty, especially considering the centuries old date of construction. It dominated the center of the main community, dwarfing the other homes and buildings surrounding it in size and grandeur. The outside was something like a gothic Victorian palace, the inside gold-and-marble perfection.

But none of that was on Ira’s mind as he stormed up to the ornately carved doors and flung them open. He should have been enjoying the pleasant lethargy of the post-orgasmic haze. Instead, he was considering wringing the neck of his ex-girlfriend. No women, ever again, he thought, not entirely fairly.

Zo Williams, the girl in question, hadn’t even had sense enough to hide. She was waiting for him in the receiving area of the manor, lounging casually on a gold upholstered couch. Her hair showed no signs of Ira sending her sailing into the bushes. The pink t-shirt and denim jacket she wore were still intact, but she must have changed her jeans. There wasn’t a tear on the knee.

Just the sight of her made his teeth ache. He wound his shadow tightly down inside himself. Wouldn’t do to scare the fledges.

“I told you to stop this, Zo,” Ira hissed.

She rose from her recline with all the supernatural grace her vampiric nature could muster, but he would not be distracted.

“I didn’t hurt him,” she said. Her voice was patient and placating, as if he were the one in the wrong.

“But you were going to,” he countered, and the thought filled him with more fury than it really should have.

Zo shrugged. “I was just gonna test him, see if he could take it. Most humans don’t have what it takes to last with a vampire.”

“Not if they’re never given the chance,” Ira said, grinding his teeth.

Her head canted, just slightly. “And what makes you think this one is different than any of the others? They all turned tail and ran, never to be heard from again.”

Ira didn’t blame them, he honestly didn’t, but it hurt his ego all the same. But Regan hadn’t. The thought made something rise inside him that seemed vaguely like hope.

“This one didn’t.” He smiled triumphantly. “He stayed.”

She gave him her sweetest smile. “For now.”

Before he had consciously registered the motion, Ira had taken a step forward into her personal space. “Don’t you touch him, Zo.”

“Oh, Ira,” she sighed, her eyes filling with tenderness. “All this loyalty and devotion for a little scrap of a human boy. You can do so much better.”

Intending to touch his face, she raised her hand, but Ira stepped backwards.

“You presume much, fledge.” His voice was dark, containing a hint of restrained violence.

Dropping her head, Zo exposed her neck. “Forgive me.”

“No,” Ira said. “Never again.”

Permission had not been given, but Zo’s head snapped up.

“I mean it, Zo.” He looked her dead in the face. “Harm this one, and you will be dead to me.”

“What makes this one so special?” Zo’s charming mask was slipping, her own anger starting to show. “What makes you think he won’t leave you like everyone else left you? We could have been good together.”

“You didn’t even love me,” Ira said.

“Oh, grow up,” Zo spat. “You have responsibilities to this house, and love is not one of them. You have the charisma and drive to lead, and I have the ruthless practicality.”

Ira’s brow wrinkled. “What are you talking about?”

“You know the Primus will be returning soon?” she asked.

“Yes,” Ira said impatiently.

“They say he will announce his heir when he returns,” she said.

His eyes narrowed. “So?”

She smiled, a fierce intensity in her eyes. “They say it will be you.”