---Brandon's POV—
Vlad is correct. I would have protected Eva at all costs anyway and that was before I learned of her abilities. I should have killed Victor myself, but I knew that if she found out, she would never forgive me. I am now bound to Vlad. My vow is my bond. He knows that Hunters have a code. He's hunted many of my kind
and converted some. Everyone knows who Dracula is. We just didn't always see his face.
Now, Vincent, few know who he is and what he's done. He's wiped out kingdoms. No Hunter has ever caught him and lived. They would vanish and then any trace of Vincent would too. But Eva loves him. He softens for her. Maybe a lot of what I have been taught is wrong.
Even Prince Eric isn't how the Hunters made him seem. He's grounded and has an ease about him. Eva is his queen and it is obvious by how he looks at her when she's not looking.
Sam, I have no problems with. The Falls have always either worked with Hunters or at least never against us. He's the most powerful regional Alpha that America has ever seen since the time of the White Wolf too, yet, he bows to Eva. She's the ultimate Alpha. I have loved that woman for years and never knew why until now.
—-End POV----
Derek inquires, “So Egypt?”
I smile and nod, “Yeah it will be interesting.”
Vlad raises his eyebrow at me, “We still have research to do.”
I sigh, “I'm aware.”
Derek looks between Vlad and Vincent before asking, “So you and Vincent are brothers?”
Vlad nods, “Half-brothers but yes.”
“That makes more sense,” Derek says.
Vlad asks, “How so?”
Derek explains, “You're more direct where he's more subtle. However, you both keep stealing glances at my partner.”
I smile. Here comes the possessive big brother talk even though he doesn't know that he's talking to men that are centuries old.
Vincent grins, “l'd hope so because I love my girlfriend.”
Derek sighs, “The problem being, friend, is I think your brother might too. Victor nearly crushed her spirit and I'll be damned if I allow another man to. I'm not a violent man but I know some who are.”
Vincent puts his hand on Derek’s shoulder, “Man it's fine. I couldn't hurt her if I tried. She'd kill me first.”
I giggle, “D I'm good. I have even more people to support me than before too.”
Katie supports me, “It's true D!”
Derek responds, “I trust you Katie. Now I want my dances before you disappear again!”
I roll my eyes, “Fine what are we doing?”
Derek grins, “Rumba and pasodoble.”
I roll my shoulders, “Fine bring it!”
Derek laughs, “Oh I will.”
—-Vlad’s POV—-
I need to have a word with my brother and I don't want the others to overhear so I open our mindlink.
‘If they're friends, why those styles? I know one is rather seductive,’ I say to him.
I hear him sigh, ‘They both can be. He won't overstep much.’
That is not what I wanted to hear as I felt my heat building.
‘Much! Much!’ I yell through our link.
I see my bastard brother smirk, ‘Well brother you sound like you almost care.’
He knows this whole mate thing is a hard limit for me. After Elena, I swore off any type of bond until Eva shattered my plan.
I sneer, ‘I don't like anyone touching what's mine!’
Vincent chuckles, ‘Do you hear yourself right now?’
‘Of course, I fucking do!’ I yell in our minds.
Vincent chuckles as he pats my shoulder, ‘Oh dear brother, you have much to learn.’
I roll my eyes, ‘Just what do you mean by that?’
Vincent smiles as he looks at her, ‘Eva is nothing like any woman you've ever known. She doesn't take well to being controlled either.’
‘Earlier she didn't mind,’ I replied.
Vincent explains, ‘That's different. This is the last bit of the human life she thought she knew.’
I look at her and how happy she is and I sigh, ‘She'll have to let it go.’
Vincent nods sadly, ‘We both know that. It will be up to us to protect her when they face their mortality.’
Sam joins our mental conversation, ‘Guys just table it. You know she can either hear you or at the very least sense you right now.’
He does have a point. We need to finish this private chat quickly.
‘You shifters are close to humans, how do you deal with it and the loss of your own because of age limitations,’ Vincent asked.
Sam sighs, ‘It's not easy. Our Snow White has a huge heart, and it's going to devastate her.’
Vincent takes in a breath, ‘I'm concerned it could release her darkside. You saw what she did to Victor and the others.’
Sam shakes his head before continuing to use our link, ‘She held back then too.’
‘Yeah, that was holding back!’ Vincent emphasized.
Sam nods, ‘I see your concern. We will figure it out. We all love her!’
Vincent smiles, ‘We do!’
Sam chuckles, ‘I get it now.’
Vincent pats his shoulder, ‘Yeah I didn't like you at first either.’
Sam nods, ‘With good reason because vampires are known for being Playboys.’
Vincent nods, ‘You're not wrong there.’
Sam looks at us, ‘I know none of you guys are. I know how you feel towards her.’
Vincent sighs, ‘It's not easy to admit.’
Sam nods, ‘No, it's not! We are all good now.’
‘Yeah, but I still don't like Derek touching her or how Brandon looks at her,’ I say in our minds.
Sam puts his hand on my shoulder as he pushes the link, ‘Derek is harmless, but we should keep an eye on Brandon. I think he loves her and I don't care what debt he may have just made either.’
Since we were now all in agreement, I closed our link.
—-End POV—-
“So let's Rumba!” Derek exclaims.
Bad Things by Jace Everett starts to play which is the theme song for the show True Blood.
Katie squeals, “Oh God, love this show!”
“Me too. Love me some Lafayette. Sookie just pissed me off! I loved some Alcide Herveaux too!” I say.
She winks at Sam, “Oh, I know.”
Kia asks, “But which vampire would you choose between Bill and Eric?”
I think for a second, “That's the hard part because both would be ideal for different reasons.” I can feel my mates’ tension and I giggle before I continue, “Bill can be too broody but Eric can be too impulsive.”
Kia nods, “Agreed on both.”
“If I went by just body type, l'd go with Eric. I like a big strong man to carry me to bed,” I say flirtaciously.
She laughs, “Oh I bet you do!”
Vincent kisses my cheek, “She's got perfection at home so no need for fictional characters.” I roll my eyes and he growls, “Just keep taunting me!”
I tease, “But it's so fun!”
After our discussion of True Blood, I resumed my dance with Derek. Our Rumba is a classic 19th-century version that is a very passionate, seductive dance, where the woman seeks to seduce the man with her flirty, sexy hip movements and facial expressions. I'm selling it hardcore too! Since I have found my mates, my dancing skills have dramatically improved.
My dancing is getting to my guys because I can sense their mounting desire and frustration that they can't take me here and now.
Then we start our Pasodoble. Closer by Nine Inch Nails starts to play. We keep it fairly traditional with him being the matador and I being the cape. But I decided to get a bit aggressive with it. I made the ending truly mine. I threw Derek to the ground and put my foot on his chest in triumph as I nailed a classic victorious pose as the song ended.
I was expecting applause which I got briefly until everyone was frozen but my mates. They have me surrounded. Oh shit! What have I gotten myself into?