Thomas could have kept his mouth shut, not saying anything to Eddie about how this made him feel, but when he’d answered his sister and said that there was nobody special in his life, Thomas had seen red. It had hurt to hear his lover say those words while he’d had to stand there silently. By the time they’d reached the kitchen, he’d already felt his dark power rise in his chest, making it impossible to pull back and cage the beast. He’d wanted this confrontation, because he wanted Eddie to confess that they had something special, that what was growing between them was not just sex, but affection, love. But by doing so, he’d pushed him away.

“Fuck!” Thomas cursed and swung himself onto his motorcycle, inserting and turning the key, hitting the start button, and letting the engine roar to life. He pulled into the quiet street and raced down the hill until he had to stop at a stop sign. There was no traffic. He was about to pull into the intersection, when he saw a dark figure emerge from the shadows and step into the light of the street lamp.

Shock made him almost lose his balance on the motorcycle. What he saw was impossible. He squeezed his eyes shut and blinked them open again.

“Christ!” he hissed.

The man walked toward him, his gait casual and relaxed. “Not my name, that’s for sure, but I never cared much about what you called me, lover, as long as you talked to me.”

Kasper, his maker, the man who’d died in front of Thomas’s eyes months earlier, stopped in front of the motorcycle. The dark power radiating from him left absolutely no uncertainty that this was indeed his maker.

Thomas found his voice again. “You’re dead.”

A wistful smile crossed Kasper’s face. “Ah, yes, that incident was unfortunate. But let’s not talk about that right now. We have other things to discuss.”

Kasper killed the engine, and removed the key. Suddenly there was only silence around them. Reluctantly, Thomas dismounted and rolled his bike to the sidewalk, parking it. His entire body was tense and alert. His dark power simmered just below the surface, and he knew he could strike Kasper the instant he felt any danger.

“The only thing we have to discuss is why you’re alive,” Thomas answered. There had to be an explanation for it. No vampire had ever come back after being turned into dust. “You turned into dust in front of me. I saw you die.”

“Are you sure it was I?” Kasper smiled.

Thomas narrowed his eyes. There had been no doubt.

“Later, I’ll feed your curiosity, but first, there’s something we’ll have to settle.” Kasper looked up and down the street, but it was deserted. “Your lover, Eddie. I’m afraid he’s not honest with you.”

“How—?”

Kasper raised his hand. “I’ve had my people watch you and him.” He shook his head. “He’s cute, I give you that, but really, can you not see that he’s just playing with you?”

Defiantly, Thomas squared his stance. “He’s not playing with me. Stay out of this. You’d better tell me what you want.”

“Isn’t that evident? I want you back, my sweet Thomas. You’ve had your fun. You’ve sown your wild oats. Now it’s time to return and claim what’s yours. To sit by my side as we rule the world of the vampires.”

“You’re out of your fucking mind if you think I’ll ever return to you!”

“You’ve got nothing else. I overheard your fight with your lover. But that’s not all. I know what he really thinks. I know what he does behind your back.” He pulled an iPhone from his pocket and tapped on it. “Did you know that he’s been planning to leave you all along?”

At Kasper’s treacherous words, the dark power inside Thomas roared, wanting to burst to the surface. He sensed it growing stronger, drawn to the power that Kasper was exuding. “You’re lying!”

“Am I?” He tapped something on his iPhone, then held it up.

Thomas instantly recognized Nina’s voice coming from the device. “What didn’t you like about the flat I showed you earlier?”

“It’s not in the right neighborhood. I told you I didn’t want to live in Noe Valley,” Eddie’s voice replied.

Surprise and dread filled him. Eddie was discussing apartments with Nina. Why?

“That’s not considered Noe Valley. It’s practically the Mission. And I thought you said you’d like living in the Mission,” Nina continued.

“Fine. But it was also too expensive. I don’t want to pay that much in rent. I just want something small, just something for myself.”