Sir. My lord. Master Roydon." The young man blurted out most available titles except for "Your Majesty" and "Prince of Darkness." These were implied nonetheless.

We kissed each other, long and deep, while my legs opened like the covers of a book.

His full name is Matthew Gabriel Philippe Bertrand Sebastien de Clermont. He was also a very good Sebastien, and a passable Gabriel. He hates Bertrand and will not answer to Philippe.

I know,I can smell it, too.

It begins with absence and desire. It begins with blood and fear. It begins with a discovery of witches.

You persist in this romantic vision of what it is to be a vampire, but despite my best efforts to curb it I have a taste for blood.

Wordlessly I looked back at him, astonished that a kiss on the palm could be so intimate.