Temptations Mate: Chapter Four

Wildwind, The estate of the Marquess of Wiltshire was less than half an hour's ride from the center of London but it provided all the space and privacy the vampire craved.

Built of white stone, it was designed along pure, classical lines with massive marble columns and tall windows that overlooked immaculately manicured lawns and a private wood.

It was not the first manor house that Blaine had built on that precise spot. Blaine had, after all, owned the property for several hundred years. But like all others before it, Wildwind was built as much for security as it was for serenity.

The vast grounds were guarded during the evening by his clan brothers while during the daylight hours protection duty fell to the limited number of daywalkers and the ravenous Kuduro demons who could defeat all but the most powerful of magical enemies. The house itself was bound in hexes to keep out unwelcomed intruders, including any overly curious humans.

Not that the elaborate defenses were all that necessary.

Only a demon or mortal rushing towards their grave would be foolhardy enough to invade Blaine's lair.

Even those who had an invitation thought twice crossing the threshhold.

Sprawled in a massive wooden chair that had once belonged to a Roman general who had made the unfortunate mistake of killing a human under his clan's protection, Blaine surveyed the various guests who filled his home.

There was a combination of demons, vampires, lycans, a few dozen nymphs, several sprites and a handful of humans, all beautiful and all anxious to capture Blaine's attention.

'Twas a pity he had no interest in the writhing mass of half naked bodies that were temptingly displayed across the various cushions and settees scattered throughout the room. The feast of flesh was perfectly calculated to appeal to Blaine's baser instincts but he could summon up nothing more than mild disinterest and cold apathy.

Waving away the flaming haired nymph who had his bare chest on display and was kneeling at Blaine's feet with his head tilted in silent invitation, the vampire ruefully accepted that his once varied and voracious appetite could now only be sated by one man.

A man he had taken a considerable step closer to getting into his bed.

Blaine had finally managed to secure a meeting with Prince Samuel earlier in the evening. The Fey Prince had been noticeably unsettled and his guard ridiculously on edge. Blaine hadn't seen the need to quibble with unnecessary pleasantries and had laid out his proposal to Sam in bald terms.

"I wish you to stop supplying William Schuester with his immortality potion," Blaine said settling across the table from the golden haired Prince.

Sam gave a lopsided grin before leaning back in his chair. "Why, my dear Marquess would I do such a thing? Contrary to his own estimation, William is inconsequential and his thirst for immortality has provided me with all manner of magical curiosities. I could drain him for another century at least."

Blaine took a sip of blood from the golden goblet that had been set before him. "I suspect you could. But he is but one mage; I imagine there are several more where he came from. He'd be no great loss."

Sam gave Blaine a pointed look. "And what concerns have you with my business with Schuester? Tis hardly a new arrangement and a vampire seldom troubles themselves with the affairs of the Fey."

Blaine took another drink. He considered lying to Sam but the Fey Prince was shrewd and valued honesty. He'd been known to hex those who he felt were less than forthright in their dealings with him or those under his protection. As far as Blaine knew Sam lacked Blaine's ferocity; the Prince seldom killed, instead using his magic to make his enemies wish he had dispatched them. Sam was fearless and, like all leaders in the demon world, ruthless when need be.

"It is not Schuester that concerns me but his apprentice."

Sam's entire being shifted. The hazy sheen of glittering light that had encompassed the room suddenly evaporated and the soft, haunting melody that had filled the air stopped playing. Sam sat ramrod straight in his seat and sent a look of pure malice at Blaine before turning to his guard.

"Leave us."

The Fey centurion visibly paled, his skin losing its luminance and his eyes widening in shock. The Fey were a powerful people but vampires were an unpredictable species and Blaine had a particularly blood thirsty reputation.

"Your highness, I do not think-"

Sam flung out a hand and the centurion flew into the wall and then was banged up against the ceiling. "I do not recall," Sam ground out slowly, "asking you to think." The centurion abruptly fell to the floor. "Now, leave us."

Blaine raised an eyebrow at the display but kept quiet.

"Kurt is not one of your conquests," Sam said, venom dripping from his lips.

"No," Blaine readily agreed, meeting the Prince's eyes, "he is my mate."

Sam studied Blaine for several moments and then it was if another switch had been flipped. At Sam's smile the music started back up and the gauzy glittering light came back into the room. He relaxed back into his seat and clapped his hands together.

"And you are his," Sam declared happily. "He doesn't know it yet but he'll accept it. 'Tis the wee one's fate and none of us can escape that which has been written for us. He will never be free to come to you as long as William is in the picture, however. The mage wouldn't allow it."

"No, I don't imagine he would," Blaine agreed.

"Then tis a fortunate bit of business that he shan't be receiving any more potions from my people," Sam said casually as he bit into a bit of chocolate.

Blaine smiled then frowned. "That's most helpful but it still doesn't remove him from the equation."

"Aye, but it does," Sam contradicted, "Immortality was not meant for humans. They can chase it, but they'll never quite catch it. William's time was up long ago and every second he's had since has been borrowed. I don't give the potions lightly, and never more than needed for the agreed upon time period. In order for William to maintain his immortality, he must keep up his supply. The potions schedule must be kept or the human reverts to their natural state. Unfortunately for William his natural state at this point is a bag of bones and he knows it. That explains his urgency in trying to meet with me. By my calculations he's got less than a fortnight to go before Father Time catches up with him and The Reaper comes to collect the devil's due."

Blaine narrowed his gaze at Sam. "You knew? You knew his time was short and you've denied him an audience. Without your consent no Fey in the land would service him."

Sam shrugged. "I've grown weary of William. And Kurt is…special. Far more so than either of you know and he needs out from under that oaf's thumb. I was going to offer my condolences and then my protection when William unexpectedly expired…but something tells me Kurt won't be needing it, aye?"

Blaine smiled at the blonde. "Your Highness, I do believe I've misjudged you. Here I was thinking you had no killer instinct."

Sam quirked his lips and took a sip of wine. "You wouldn't be the first. Fey I may be, but demon I still am. Just because I choose to walk in the light does not mean I am not at home in the shadow. You'd do well to remember that. Should Kurt come to any harm at your hands, it's your head I'll be taking, vampire."

Blaine drained his goblet dry. "I'll keep that in mind, but know this Sam: should you ever come for me, you'd better bring your army. You'll need them to collect the bits of flesh and bone left behind after I tear you limb from limb."

Sam laughed a gentle melodic sound that Blaine couldn't help but be soothed by.

"I like you Blaine. You're an evil blood sucking son of a bitch, but we all have our crosses to bear. Be good to Kurt and…remember you're his mate as much as he is yours."

"That's the second time you've said that. Kurt's a warlock, witches don't have mates," Blaine pointed out bitterly.

Sam raised an eyebrow. "Kurt's blood is not pure witch, you know. True indeed his father was one, but his mother…she was no ordinary nymph. She was one of the Caereni, my grandmother's people. Much like you vamps, they mate for life. Unlike you vamps, they don't couple until they find their mate."

Blaine choked on air. "You expect me to believe that Kurt's walked around for a century and a half unclaimed and untouched?"

"Aye," Sam said simply.

"I don't-"

"You're his mate," Sam said harshly, "He was waiting for you. The Caereni, they can't couple until they find their mate. Kurt may only be a half breed but the Caereni blood is strong within him. It's why I offered him sanctuary and why he accepted me into his heart. The blood speaks to him, rules him to a certain degree. If he's coupled, it's because he was forced to."

Blaine growled at the thought of someone forcing their advances on Kurt and Sam beamed at the display of possessiveness. "Ah, you'll be good for the wee one."

"How do you know that he hasn't-"

"He's not bound to anyone," Sam cut in. "The Caereni are bound to their mates for eternity. Where their mate goes they are compelled to follow. To be without them is to lose their magic. I suspect that Kurt knows at least this much about his mother's people. Might explain why the poor lad's been running you all about the Continent, aye?"

"So once he's given himself to me-"

"It's for eternity…as I said, like you vamps. Yours for eternity or until one of you literally loses your head."

Blaine smiled. Kurt would be his, wholly and totally his bound to him not just by Blaine's mark but by Kurt's own blood.

"Sam," Blaine said refilling his goblet and raising it towards the Prince, "to newfound friends."

"Nay," Sam said raising his glass with a brilliant smile, "to newfound family."

Blaine was startled out of his memories when the far doors were flung open and a dark haired Asian vampire with cognac colored eyes hurried in.

Most people were deceived by Michael's youthful appearance and the air of innocence that clung to him even after two centuries, but not Blaine. After all, he had turned him back when he was little more than a mere boy trapped under the rule of his tyrannical father. Blaine had watched in pride as Mike had ripped his father to shreds, gorging himself on the man's blood and scattering his remains throughout his bed chamber. Although Mike would never possess Blaine's own power, he was a brutal killer when necessary and loyal beyond reason.

It was this loyalty that led Blaine to demand the demon maintain constant guard on Kurt ever since he had first captured Blaine's fancy.

With a lift of his brow, Blaine gestured for Mike to join him, knowing the vampire would never have abandoned his post without reason.

Knifing through the guests with a fluidity that betrayed his expertise as a dancer, Mike fell to his knees before Blaine and bent his head.

"Master."

"Speak, Michael."

"Kurt left the manor."

"Tis an odd hour for him to be out for a stroll," Blaine frowned. It was only because Kurt's maid, Tina had sent word to Mike that her master had retired for the evening that Blaine had agreed to reluctantly indulge his brother Nikolas' desire for tonight's small gathering. His clan had needs after all, even if his were currently going unfulfilled. "Where was Schuester taking him?"

"He was not with the mage, Master. He was alone."

"Alone?"

"Alone and on foot," Mike confirmed.

"Damn that boy to hell and back." Blaine's hands clenched the arms of his chair, nails digging into the wood as it threatened to shatter beneath the sudden pressure. "I trust Jesse is following him?"

"Of course, Master."

Blaine glanced towards the windows, judging the hours before sunrise.

"Kurt is impulsive, but he's no fool. Why would he be traipsing about the streets of London at this hour of the night alone?" Blaine turned back to Mike. "Did a messenger arrive?"

"No master, no one approached the house."

Something dangerously close to fury flared through Blaine as he rose to his feet. Where in the devil could Kurt be headed to at such an hour? Although London was ablaze with parties, he could never attend one without the Duke as his escort.

So that meant Kurt was either conducting business of a questionable nature…or he was meeting a lover.

It was the thought of the latter that triggered the loss of Blaine's self control. He flew in a snarling, biting rage, going so far as to snap the neck of a lower demon who dared step into his path of destruction and sending most of the guests either fleeing the room in terror or dropping to their knees in fear.

Despite Blaine's display of temper, Nikolas remained unimpressed.

"Really, Blaine? You're making an ass of yourself," Nick snapped, shoving his older brother back down into his chair. "Just go collect the boy, bring him back here and be done with it. Chain him to your bed, have your way with him and make him yours. You're acting as if you're some type of bloody human, pining and plotting like a besotted fool. If you want him, take him. And stop killing my god damn party guests."

Nick started to stomp off when he caught sight of two twin sprites, heads bowed, and bosoms visible through the gossamer of their gowns. "You two, come with me. I need to be relaxed."

"Oh yes, Master Nikolas." The sprites answered in unison, rising to their feet and falling into step behind him.

"Nick." Blaine called.

"Yes." His brother responded without turning around.

"Thank you."

Nick merely nodded and exited the room.

Blaine turned to Mike. "Where is Schuester?"

"He is in South Hampton attempting to lure Sam out of hiding."

Blaine smiled, and then frowned. Sam had met with him but it had taken more cajoling on his part than should have been necessary and Blaine knew Sam's cautiousness was not out of fear of him.

"Have you yet discovered what has unsettled the Fey?"

"I fear not, Master."

Blaine crooked his finger, beckoning Mike to rise to his feet.

"Perhaps my absence has allowed my clan to forget that my orders are not mere suggestions. They are commands that are meant to be obeyed. I am to be obeyed."

The frigid air in Blaine's voice wrapped around Mike and caused the younger vampire to flinch. Throughout his years he'd seen what Blaine did to servants who failed him and soldiers who refused to obey.

"Forgive me, master," Mike said softly, knowing that Blaine could behead him at any moment. "I have sought to discover the truth but the Fey refuse to speak."

"The fey refuse? How very bold of them," Blaine drawled, his gaze sweeping over Mike and those clansmen brave enough to remain in his presence. "It's so very disappointing that my most fearsome warrior has been bested by a handful of Fey."

The insult found its mark and Mike flushed in agitation. "I shall discover the truth." He pledged.

"Yes you will."

Blaine narrowed his gaze, dismissing the trifling annoyance from his mind. He had far more important matters to command his attention. Not the least of which was putting an end to the dance he'd been doing with Kurt.

He had struggled to be patient, but he would not tolerate Kurt being in danger. And he most certainly would not tolerate him taking a lover, especially after what Sam had told him. If Kurt had chosen to mate with any other than Blaine, then God had better be with the bastard because Blaine would kill the man who had dared to touch what was his.

"Mike, tonight you will prepare chambers for Mr. Hummel and rid the lair of any…undesirable guests before I return."

A flicker of surprise passed over Mike's face before he managed to smooth it away.

"Y-Yes Master."

Blaine walked across the room, pausing in the doorway. "Ah, and Michael, I shall need the services of a chef."

"It's the middle…," Mike began, and then gave a nod. "Yes Master."

Stepping into the antechamber, Blaine pulled a satin cloak over his formal evening attire and glanced toward Madame Berry, a small, pleasantly curved, raven haired female who hovered with rest of the humans.

With a tiny squeal of pleasure the brunette rushed forward, sinking into a deep curtsy that called to attention to the pearly mounds of breasts that overflowed her velvet gown.

"Rachel."

"My Lord?" She breathed.

"Schuester will be returning to his home in a few hours. I want you waiting for him."

"Do you have any specific instructions, my lord?"

Blaine raised an eyebrow. "Ensure that he does not discover that Mr. Hummel is not his in his bed. The more hours you can keep him distracted, the better. I'm sure you'll come up with some way to occupy the Duke's time."

Rachel daringly lifted her gaze, regarding him naked lust.

"Entertaining William Schuester would be a foolish waste of my…talents, my lord. Send Shelby or one of your other females to Schuester and I will make you forget all about the unremarkable Mr. Hummel."

Blaine's expression hardened with unmistakable anger. He tangled a hand in Rachel's lush locks and jerked her head back, exposing the pale column of her neck. His features shifted, his eyes blackened and his fangs snapped out. Rachel's eyes widened in terror and she trembled within his grasp.

"Do not speak ill of him again, or you won't live long enough to regret it." Blaine growled as he flung Rachel from him and stalked towards the door. As he reached the threshold he heard her call after him, petulant jealousy infusing her voice.

"What is so bloody special about him anyway?"

Blaine turned and regarded Rachel with a look that made her blood run cold and forced her to drop her gaze.

"He is mine," Blaine answered before striding out of the room.