SWNOVELS Secrets and Seduction: Chapter 23
A servant of the Arden family opened the door for me and invited me in. I had promised Penelope to visit her father to appease him regarding the murder. It was not my job, but our families were closely connected and had known each other for centuries.
No matter what had happened between me and Penelope in the past, I still felt sorry for her. Growing up in a family like hers was a fucking nightmare and if I could at least make her situation a little better, then I was happy with that.
“There you are,” I heard her voice from the grand double cherry wood staircase that led to one of the many floors of the mansion. She ran towards me in her supernatural speed and wrapped me in a tight embrace.
Hesitantly, I patted her back before pulling away.
“Your father?” I asked as I looked around the great hall.
The chandelier hung low from the ceiling, adorned with hundreds of crystals. The black marble beneath my shoes was polished enough for me to look at myself in the reflection, and the walls screamed of decadence, as they always did.
They lived like royalty, showing off their swank for all to see. Not that my parents didn’t. In our circles, it was common to flaunt your wealth and power.
“He should be here any minute,” Penelope replied as she escorted me into the family’s private dining room.
The table was set, blood already poured into self-cooling glasses. I took a seat next to her and made no effort to engage in a conversation.
A few moments later, her father arrived.
For others, he appeared no older than forty, a status of power, a sign that the magic in him was strong and kept him young.
He extended his hand to me, and I shook it, my grip tight.
“It’s kind of you to visit from time to time.” Although he seemed open, this sentence held a snarky undertone.
Nicholas Arden still hadn’t forgiven me for breaking off the engagement to his eldest daughter. The union would have brought our two families even closer together, but I could not commit myself for a lifetime—longer than some might imagine—to a woman who did not fascinate me in any way.
Well, I was fascinated by her stamina and that she never snapped, but that was basically it. I was also sure that Penelope didn’t love me. She put on this show to please her father, nothing more.
“A lot of work, you know.” He nodded and took a few sips of blood. At least it wasn’t alcohol. My kind could get very irritating if too much drinking was involved.
“Yeah, I hear you’ve got your hands full with work. Especially since this school year.” My gaze shot to the side, and I eyed the man with the square features.
“Criminals need a firm hand, and I’m giving it to them.”
No lie.
“Apparently, it’s not strong enough when you’ve got the rabid underclass running around and slaying others. Needless to say, there are already too many eyes on us, especially on Flavian.”
His son was soon to turn fifteen and would become more involved in family affairs. In their outdated hierarchy, he was still above his older daughter. That is, if Flavian wasn’t a sadistic asshole.
Penelope’s fear was justified. If Nicholas learned his son was unpredictable and a danger to the family’s reputation, he would certainly get rid of him and produce a new heir to the throne. Since pure, noble blood flowed through our veins, that would be the least of our problems.
Only impure sired couldn’t produce offspring. Especially not with humans. So he had no reason to keep Flavian, and he didn’t care about the boy either.
“We have everything under control,” I assured him. “Evidence proves it was indeed some mortal. We will find the guilty person.” He eyed me for a while, weighing whether or not to believe me. After a brief nod, it was clear that he had chosen the first option. Idiot.
We ate in silence and finished our drinks.
“Follow me for a cigar, boy.” That was a request I couldn’t refuse, so I kept pace with him and entered the smoking room. Despite his obnoxious nature, he respected me, or rather my family.
We had more influence, eyes and ears around the world.
“I was actually hoping you’d reconsidered the engagement after all.” He lit a cigar, regarded me out of the corner of his eye.
I took out a pack of cigarettes and did the same.
“Then I’m sorry to disappoint you,” I replied, inhaling the smoke. He rolled his eyes.
“We don’t marry for love, kid, we marry out of duty. And your duty is to produce heirs. Knock her up a few times so you’ll have a backup if some turn stupid. Then you can live your life the way you want. Take dozens of other women.” I didn’t let my confusion show.
This man seriously wanted to sell off his daughter so he could make a serious move into our family. Disgusting. “You can try her out for a night, if you want. I don’t give a shit.” Slowly, my jaw dropped.
I never cared much for Penelope, but for him to talk about her like that while she could hear us in the other room made my blood boil.
“To hear such disgusting words from an aristocratic mouth is more than disappointing. My family does well not to welcome such a disgrace to our species into the family.” Fortunately, my parents had realized at the last moment that an alliance with the Arden’s would do us more harm than good.
If they had insisted on the marriage though, I’d have had to obey, bound by their will.
Nicholas rose from the leather chair, and I did the same, ready to attack him at any moment. My parents would understand. No one had the right to harm their heir.
If he was intimidated, he did not show it.
“You dare speak to me like that in my own house?” he almost shouted. A wry smile spread across my lips.
“Anyone who insults a woman in my presence deserves more than dirty words.” I took a step closer, towering over him. “Never forget your last name and never forget mine. My family can crush you like a tiny insect. And if I hear you meddling in our family affairs one more time, my visit won’t be so friendly. Which little criminal killed the girl is entirely my business.”
An irritated expression flitted across his stern features. I took the last drag of the cigarette and ashed straight on his suit.
“Sorry.” I dropped the stub and stomped it on the antique carpet that must have cost a fortune. “Send me the bill.” Without another word, I turned and left.
Penelope met me in the foyer, where I took my jacket. She formed a soundless thank you and I nodded curtly before disappearing into the darkness.
My anger got the better of me. I needed fresh blood.