The Royal Flush (Knights of the Darkness Chronicles(Book Three)) (44 page)

“Hey Natasha, what’s up?” Devin asked. “Elise told me that you were going to need some help.”

“Hey cutie-pie, yeah, you heard right.”

“Well, that’s cool with me, I’m not doing shit else. I’ll be right over, want me to bring some of the others?” Devin asked.

“Yeah. the more the merrier”

“You’re sounding very merry at the moment. What gives?”

“Can’t a girl just be happy?” Natasha asked.

“Of course, she can… I just want to know why you’re so happy right now?”

“I have my reasons. Besides, I’m pretty excited about the party tonight. I want it to go well and my parents are coming. I want them to meet all of my friends. This’ll be their first time meeting all of you, so I hope they won’t feel too overwhelmed,” Natasha said.

“Do they know that Darian and Xavier are vampires and that you’re in a threesome relationship?”

“Yep.”

“Ohhh, well in that case, I hope they don’t feel too overwhelmed.” Devin chuckled. “Okay, we’re on our way, we’ll be there soon.”

“Thanks, I really appreciate this. See you later.”

Natasha turned her car onto the main road leading up to Darian’s home. She pulled in front of the mansion.
End of the line. My pretty palace,
she thought to herself as she glanced at the grandeur of Darian’s home. It still amazed her that she lived there now. Every time she entered the mansion, she felt like a princess in a very erotic, and sometimes dangerous, fairytale. She walked in, greeting the human servants along the way as she headed towards the room where she stored the other party decorations. Some of the human servants entered the room.

“Do you need our help?” they asked.

Natasha looked at them and nodded. “Yes, I do, I'm glad
that you offered.”

She pointed to a few boxes in the corner of the room. “Those are the streamers and balloons

silver and black. I’d like the grand ballroom decorated as well as the part of the house that leads to the grand ball room.”

They turned and l
eft the room carrying the boxes with them. The doorbell sounded, Natasha answered it. She squealed in delight when she saw Justin, Adrian, Devin, Carmen, and Nicole standing in front of her.

“Hey sexy,” Adrian said as he leaned forward, kissing Natasha lightly on her cheek.

She giggled.

“Heya boys... and girls. Come on in.” She stepped aside as they entered.

“How are you doing, Tasha?” Justin asked as he hugged her.

“Oh, I’m doing great.” She watched them enter.

“I called them, figured we’d get the job done twice as fast with twice as much man-power. Also, having more hands meant less work for me. I get lazy like that sometimes.” Devin smiled.

“Oh really?” Justin looked at Devin, “that’s some sneaky, underhanded shit right there.
I’m
going to use that strategy one of these days.”

“Works every time, I swear.” Devin’s grin was enormous.“Okay, what do you need us to do?” Nicole asked, excited to finally be inside Darian’s home. “Man, this place is awesome.” She looked around the inside of the mansion. “When he does something, I can tell he goes all the way.”

“You can say that again,” Devin added. “It’s amazing that some people can afford to live in a huge mansion like this. When I say this, I mean Elise and Xander as well.”

“I know what you mean. I bet he has enough money to wipe his ass with. I know that Xander does,” Justin said.

“He probably has his bed filled with thousand-dollar bills, just so he could sleep on a bed of money,” Devin joked.

Both he and Justin laughed, even Natasha and Adrian chuckled; Devin looked at Natasha. “Okay babe, what do you want us to do?”

“Oh, are you out of jokes already?” she asked teasingly.

“No, I have a whole bag of jokes I’m saving for later.” Devin winked.

Natasha rolled her eyes playfully. “Stop making fun of my men.”

“We need to get started if we want the house ready in time,” Adrian said getting back on track.
“Right you are. We need to decorate all of this.” Natasha pointed to the parlor and towards the grand ballroom. “Plus I want the front entrance to be festive as well. So Nicole, would you mind doing the front entrance?”

“Sure, no problem. Where are the decorations?” she asked.

“Is this it?” Adrian pointed to a box beside the door. Nicole looked at Adrian, smiling. There was something behind her smile that Natasha recognized, but she said nothing.

“Yeah, that’s it,” Natasha confirmed. “Um, Adrian, would you mind helping her?” she added, attempting to play matchmaker.

Nicole grinned wider as Adrian nodded. “Sure.”

He leaned down, picking up the box filled with balloons and streamers.

Natasha looked at Justin and Devin.

“All right, you guys are with me. We’re going to decorate this space here.” She pointed to the open parlor. “I just want the house to look as festive as possible.”

“Yeah, we’ve got it,” Devin and Justin said in unison.

Natasha gave them a sideways glance, but kept all comments to herself. “Let’s get started.”

She opened a box and they began removing its contents. Justin began blowing up balloons at an abnormally fast pace as Devin taped the streamers up on the walls and ceiling before Natasha could finish twisting the two colors together.

“Whoa guys! Remember, I’m human, I can’t move as fast as you can,” she stated holding a tangled mess of streamers.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot. My bad,” Devin said, smiling mischievously.

Natasha tossed him a smirk.

“Forgot my ass,” she grinned as she untangled the streamers. Devin worked at a slower pace keeping up with her as they decorated the main parlor.

Adrian and Nicole returned, they looked at the others. “Anything else?” he asked.

Natasha looked around. “Well, I ordered the hors’douves so hat's already done, but the hallway needs to be decorated.”

Adrian looked down the long corridor. “Okay, we’ll do that.”

Natasha continued to set up the decorations until every room on the main floor was completed. They all gathered in the dining room for a snack. The human servants prepared sliced beef with cheese sandwiches loaded with sweet and hot peppers, onions and tomatoes, which everyone enjoyed.

“He’s going to be sixteen-hundred and fifty, is that right?” Adrian asked.

Natasha nodded. “Yep.”

Adrian whistled. “I’m always amazed at the older ones. I can’t imagine how remarkable it must be for them to have seen centuries pass by. My Dad is over two centuries old. It’s funny, because he was born in 1795 in London, England. I can’t even imagine seeing him dressed in the fashions of that time.” He shook his head at the thought. “But it’s funny whenever I try.”

“Yeah, Elise is about that old as well. She was born in France, which is really cool. She was a Duchess when she was married to the former Pride king,” Devin said.

“Oh yeah, Elise told me a little bit about him.”

Devin made an offhand gesture. “The guy was an asshole. I was glad when he died. He was a great strategist and all, but he was one of those types that has to have control over everything. He smothered Elise, we all knew it. But enough about him, before he came into the picture, Elise said that she was courted by plenty of famous men.”

“Really?” Natasha asked, intrigued. “Like who?”

“Um, the emperor of France… well self-proclaimed, that is. A few generals, titled lords, you know… the upper crust crowd. That’s why it’s so funny to see her with Sergio, not that I’m at all against their relationship, I love them together,” Devin said, smiling.

“I think I know what you mean. So how old
is
Sergio?” Natasha asked.

“Sergio is a hundred and twenty-five years old,” Devin answered

“I thought he was younger,” Adrian remarked under his breath.

“You be nice,” Natasha scolded playfully.

“I’ll be good. I’m just saying, he’s pretty quick tempered,” Adrian replied.

“You’re one to talk!” Justin said, plainly outing Adrian. “You’re as dependable for flying of the handle as he is from what I’ve seen.”

“Shut up! And who in the hell asked you?!” Adrian barked, feigning anger, he playfully punched Justin in the arm, making the younger wolf laugh.

The doorbell sounded again and Natasha answered it. Warren and Matthew had finally arrived and they brought a present each. She smiled as she hugged both men after inviting them inside.

“We bought Darian a little something special, providing you tell him the good news tonight,” Warren said, secretly challenging Natasha to come clean with her two lovers.

“I will, it’s my birthday surprise, now hush. Besides, I’m sure Darian will just love it.”

“He will. Where’s everyone at?” Matthew asked.

“Oh, we’re all in here, come on, follow me.” Natasha led the way into the living room where the others were relaxing. Matthew and Warren entered the room, greeting everyone. Adrian looked at Matthew then threw a glance at Warren, he watched the two men standing side by side.

“Hi, Matthew,” Adrian greeted in a calm tone.

“Hello, Adrian,” Matthew replied.

Adrian still concerned Matthew. It wasn’t too long ago when he had threatened Matthew after realizing that Warren was leaving him.

“I’m going to grab another can of pop.” Adrian walked away followed gleefully by Nicole.

“Wow! This place looks great. You guys really outdid yourselves,” Matthew commented as he looked around the parlor and ballroom.

“Yeah, the front entrance looks great, as well,” Warren complimented.

Both men settled down on the sofas, making themselves more comfortable as they waited for the vampires to rise. Natasha looked at her watch; the time was six o’clock pm. The sun was still shining high in the sky. It was the thing she disliked most about the summer daylight hours. But things were looking better now that Darian had acquired a resistance to daylight, if not sunlight. She was satisfied with what she could get. As they sat around talking, the door bell rung. Natasha rose to answer it, but Matthew stopped her.

“I can get it,” he suggested. “You’ve done enough.”

“No, I’ve got it, don’t worry, it’s probably the cake.” Natasha walked out of the living room, heading towards the front door. She opened it and gasped. Before her stood one of the most breathtakingly handsome men she had ever laid her eyes on. He wore a light cream sleeveless button up shirt and matching flat-front slacks. His long, braided and beaded, jet black hair flowed onto his shoulders. His golden-brown eyes gazed at Natasha as his full, luscious, shapely lips parted in a smile revealing white teeth.

“Natasha Hemingway, I presume,” Kysen said in a sensual and slightly Egyptian-accented voice.

Natasha struggled to find her voice, she cleared her throat. “Do... do I know you?”

“No. Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kysen Mesah, I believed Darian has informed you that I was coming,” he said with arrogant charm.

Natasha’s brain managed to connect the information and she nodded.
So
this
was Darian’s Master, the man responsible for his immortality
. She stepped to the side looking past him, she was shocked to see the sun was still in the sky. “You can walk around in the sun?!”

“As all ancient, omnipotent vampires can,” Kysen stated.

Natasha fought the urge to roll her eyes. She remembered what Xavier said:
“Try not to lose your temper.” She would try... oh would she try!

“Well, it’s amazing. Please come into the living room, that’s where everyone is.” Natasha led Kysen into the living room.

He looked around Darian’s mansion on the way. “I see that his taste hasn’t changed much... only a slight difference. Hmmmm, there is some renaissance influence as well as Victorian,” Kysen noted as he recognized the various styles of artwork and furniture design. He looked at the leather sofas in the living room. “Ahh, he has obviously taking a liking to the more common and conventional style of décor. That part is new.”

The others were already gazing at Kysen, some caught his scent or heard his voice before he entered the room. Justin gasped and rose instinctively.

“Everyone, this is Mr. Kysen Mesah, Darian’s Master,” Natasha introduced the man standing beside her.

She fought hard to keep her voice steady as she could feel Kysen’s aura and it frightened her. She became aware that he knew how she felt when the power of his aura vanished. She looked at him as he greeted the others and knew that he had put a shield over his aura. She wondered if he did it for her benefit.

“
I did it for everyone’s benefit,”
Kysen told her telepathically.

Natasha bit her bottom lip, she didn’t like having her mind invaded, but she decided to hold her tongue.

“May I?” Kysen asked as he pointed to a chair.

“Go right ahead,” Natasha offered.