Once in her lair, she called Jorlan.
“My Queen, what an honor to hear from you,” Jorlan said, his voice smooth as cream.
Wasting no time, she said, “We’ve been invited to a special dinner with the vampyrs. I’d like you to accompany me.”
“What’s the occasion?”
“A friend of Tariq’s is visiting from out of town,” she said.
“And I imagine it’s a chance to show you off,” Jorlan mused.
The disturbing thought, which hadn’t crossed her mind until Jorlan mentioned it, made Reyna all the more determined to have him go with her. “Tariq also wants to meet you.”
“Curious, is he? The feeling’s mutual. When’s this shindig?” he asked.
“Tonight, in less than an hour,” Reyna said, already headed toward her bathroom.
“Not much notice but doable. I’ll be ready in twenty. You’ll ride with me,” Jorlan said decisively and hung up.
“Twenty minutes?” Reyna said to air. Crap! Now she really had to hurry. She’d planned to arrive the same way she left. Should have realized Jorlan would want his own transportation.
Instead of the soak she’d planned, Reyna took the fastest shower on record. After a minute’s contemplation of her clothing options, she selected a scooped necked, long-sleeved color block sheath which fell to her knees. The center was black and the side panels were white, providing a nice contrast. The dress was one she’d purchased for a business function she’d attended with Jorlan. Black and white pumps and silver jewelry completed the look. She tamed her mane but left it loose for the occasion.
When Jorlan knocked at the door two minutes later, she was ready to go.
Jorlan scrutinized her from head-to-toe when she let him in. With his finger, he indicated she twirl. Reyna complied. “You’ll do,” he pronounced.
“Thank you,” she said, sincerely grateful for the confidence boost. Reyna hadn’t been sure baring her neck was wise, but the dress struck the right note between dressy but not too formal if she’d misjudged the dress code.
Jorlan wore a white dress shirt, unbuttoned to reveal a great deal of his chest, and a pair of loose black dress pants with the matching, unlined jacket. He looked like a high-priced gigolo, or a male fashion model. He had tawny skin, a long, lean muscular body, patrician features, dark eyes, and brown hair liberally streaked with gold. Reyna had been told by more than one female that Jorlan was a walking wet dream.
“Why are you wearing your contacts?” he asked abruptly.
She automatically reached up and touched the corner of one eye. Her eyes had always revealed her difference to others. It was instinct to hide them. “Habit.”
He made a tsking sound. “One day you’ll stop hiding who you are. Let’s go. We don’t want to be late.”
The drive passed in silence. Reyna’s nerves grew tauter as their destination neared. By the time they arrived, she knew coming had been a bad idea. The thought of being surrounded by so many vampyrs made her antsy.
She turned to Jorlan as he parked in the garage. “I changed my mind. Let’s go back to the den.”
“We’re here now. Might as well stay. You have to meet them sometime, Reyna. May as well be tonight when I can be with you,” Jorlan stated calmly and exited the vehicle.
Reyna lingered inside, certain they were making a huge mistake.
Jorlan came around the low slung sport’s car and opened her door. “Come on. Out with you.”
“I’m telling you, Jorlan, I’ve got a bad feeling about tonight,” she said, refusing to budge.
“That’s your nerves talking. Get out of the car, Reyna,” he ordered firmly.
“You stay. I’m leaving.” Before she could poof out of there, Tariq’s masculine frame appeared beside her.
“Mi corazon, leaving so soon?” One large hand reached out to capture her arm and ease her out of the car.
“Will you stop doing that?” Reyna muttered, realizing she must have let her shield drop.
Tariq placed his arm around her waist and plastered her to his side. “Never,” he said, nuzzling her temple.
Knowing she was good and trapped, both by Tariq and the promise she’d given him, Reyna subsided and accepted her fate.
Jorlan watched them with both eyebrows arched. “You handle her very well. I’m impressed.”
Reyna felt Tariq’s focus shift and lock onto Jorlan. “You must be Jorlan. I’m told I have you to thank for her coming to me?”
Jorlan smiled mockingly. “I got her here. It’s up to you to keep her.”
“Jorlan!” Reyna snarled, wanting nothing more than to hiss at him to shut up. Were she in cat form, her fur would be standing on edge. She was in no mood for his antics.
“I’m up to the challenge. Never fear,” Tariq assured him coolly.
“Time will tell,” Jorlan said.
“Indeed.” Turning to Reyna, Tariq said, “Our guests are waiting.”
She guessed Tariq’s intentions a second before he teleported them and reached out quickly to capture Jorlan by the sleeve, dragging him along for the ride.
When they landed, Jorlan said grumpily, “A little warning next time, Kitten.” He tugged on his shirt, straightened the collar, and made sure the pleat in his pants was still correctly centered.
Tariq escorted Reyna inside what appeared to be a small formal dining room, stopping just inside the entrance. The white linen covered table had seating for twenty. The long rectangular table sat on a plush oriental rug in golds and reds, the color of which was picked up throughout the room in the wallpaper and cherry hard wood floors. The chandelier was a masterful piece of artwork in itself, with gold accents and multi-tiered crystals dangling from its center.
Uniformed waiters in black and white stood at attention along the walls. The table was set with formal place settings: an array of real silver flatware, crystal water goblets and slender wine glasses, gold rimmed dinner and bread plates, and linen napkins stood up in fancy designs. The red roses in the centerpiece added a splash of color in an otherwise sea of white.
Reyna was so busy checking out the set up, it took her a minute to notice they were the center of attention. She stiffened automatically.
It’s just my inner council, Tariq said in her mind. He urged her forward with his arm held tightly around her waist.
The inner council was the Vampalien version of the Felini elders. These were the men who ruled by Tariq’s side. The need to make a good impression and be accepted warred with a lifetime’s experience of being rejected. Instinctively she turned to Jorlan, an unconscious appeal in her eyes.
Jorlan immediately stepped up and flanked her left side. Together, they turned as a unit and faced the enemy.
Mi corazon, they are not the enemy. They are our people and will welcome you with open arms, Tariq admonished with a sigh.
That remains to be seen, she told him, not relaxing her guard. Her skin crawled with the need to be somewhere, anywhere else.
A short, stocky man with black curly hair, curious intelligent black eyes, and olive toned skin came forward to be introduced.
“Reyna, this is Enrique. Enrique, this is my Heart’s Blood, Reyna and her…” Tariq turned an inquiring glance on Reyna.
“Cousin,” Jorlan supplied.
“Ah yes, her cousin, Jorlan,” Tariq continued smoothly. “Enrique is my second in command.”
Enrique nodded politely. “It’s a pleasure to meet you finally. Part of my duties is handling the day-to-day operations of this facility. If you need or want anything, you’ve only to let me know.”
“Thank you,” Reyna murmured.
Enrique moved to the side and a couple took his place. The man was massive, standing taller than Tariq. He had white-blond hair and pale blue eyes. To his right stood a woman his polar opposite. Where he was tall, she was short, coming only to Reyna’s shoulders. She had long, straight brown hair, skin the color of nutmeg, and a slender body sheathed in a beautiful caftan.
“This is Thor and his blood mate, Isis. Thor is a computer systems expert and Isis is my public liaison. Thor, Isis, I’m proud to present my blood mate, Reyna, and her cousin Jorlan,” Tariq said.
“Hello,” Reyna said.
“Nice to meet you,” Isis said.
“When you get the opportunity, I’d like to discuss Illuminator Inc.’s firewall. That’s some mighty fine technical work you did there. I want to compare notes,” Thor said with a gleam in his eyes Reyna recognized all too well.
She deferred him to Jorlan. “Jorlan’s our technical expert. He’s the one you want to speak with.”
Jorlan gave him a slow grin. “Let me know when and where.”
Turning slightly, Tariq motioned to another male. “This is Darth. He handles the vampyr entering our territory from other clutches.” Darth was another tall male, but his build was slimmer than Tariq’s. His hair was a shaggy, dirty blond. His face was round and pleasant, and he gave the overall impression of the boy next door, if that boy had a dangerous edge to him.
“Sort of like immigrations?” Reyna asked curiously.
“Exactly,” Darth said, grinning madly. “Nice to meet you. You’ve certainly kept the boss off his game. It’s been rather entertaining to see.”
Smiling wryly, Reyna said, “Glad to be of service.”
“And last but not least, this is Conall. Conall is my security expert. He handles all the training,” Tariq said.
Conall had brown hair, brown eyes, and the build and look of the men portrayed in human movies as a member of their Special Forces. His body was a lethal weapon and it showed in the way he carried himself.
“Nice to meet you,” she said.
“Same goes,” Conall returned with a nod.
There was a stir at the entrance and they all turned.
“Our guest of honor has arrived,” Tariq said, his voice warmed with pleasure and if she wasn’t mistaken, anticipation.