“See, you have a normal name. Everyone but my father calls me Dani.”
“Then I shall endeavour to do the same.”
A slight chill ran up his back. He turned his head, spying his brother eying him from the staff door. His gaze fell on Dani and his eyes narrowed to slits leaving Jamie wondering who she really was.
“It seems duty calls,” Jamie said, indicating his head towards the door. “You running off anywhere?”
Dani looked over at the door, eyes widening a little.
“No.”
“Then I’ll be back.”
She gave him a small smile and a nod. He downed his drink, placed the empty glass on the bar and strode towards where his brother had disappeared. He caught up with him in the Manager’s Office.
“I thought I told you to come straight into the back,” Gavin said with a frown.
“Nice to see you too,” Jamie replied, flopping down into a chair in front of the desk.
“What were you doing with that girl?”
“Who? Dani?”
Gavin’s green eyes darkened.
“Princess Dandelion Farlane, yes.”
Wait? She’s a princess? Typical, Gav always seems to know everyone. Guess it’s in his interests what with ruling the city and all.
“I merely paid for her drink. So, spill, Gav, who are the Farlanes?”
Gavin furrowed his brow again, fist clenching on the desk.
“I told you not to call me that. I thought you’d have learnt some fucking manners whilst you were abroad, but clearly not.”
Jamie grinned, giving his brother a wink. His sibling never had any patience for him. They weren’t true brothers but a shared maker meant they were bonded on some level. It was the way of their species.
“You give me far too much credit, Gav.”
Gavin pinched his brow between his fingers.
“And now I’m beginning to wish I never summoned you here.”
“You still haven’t told me why that is, but first, I want to know about Dani’s family.”
Jamie leant forward in his chair. The girl intrigued him, more than any other fae he’d ever encountered. And Gavin would know all about her considering who he was.
“Two months ago, the Queen of the fae died without an heir. Her only living child, a half fae, half witch gave up her claim and considering her mother died at her hand, not really surprising. Besides, she’s Lucifer’s lover and resides in Hell now. He declared her queen.”
Jamie’s eyebrow raised. For a vampire, he was quite expressive. More so than his brother, but he tried to retain some of his humanity unlike most vampires he knew.
“Wait, what? The Devil as a lover? And Hell has a queen? Shit. Nothing this exciting happened in Prague. Should’ve come back to London sooner.”
Gavin slammed his hand down on the desk.
“Don’t interrupt. The Farlane clan has taken the crown. Dandelion is the youngest daughter of King Mitah. And you will stay away from her. I don’t want you stirring up trouble with the fae. Don’t forget how close you came to being banished when Raquel was still alive.”
Jamie rolled his eyes. Yes, well, that was hardly my fault, but as usual, I get blamed for everything.
“More like you won’t let me forget,” he muttered.
Gavin narrowed his eyes.
“I’m serious, Jamie. Don’t touch her, don’t mess around with her and do not under any circumstances get into bed with her. I know what you’re like.”
Jamie leant back, putting his hands up.
“I have no interest in sleeping with any of the fae, Gav.”
Even if Dani is kind of cute.
Gavin raised his eyebrow.
“You say that now.”
His brother had no faith, although perhaps Jamie didn’t quite blame Gavin for that. He did have a reputation with women. Leaving them high and dry most of the time.
“Why are you so insistent anyway? What’s wrong with her?”
“Nothing as far as I’m aware, but she’s not often seen at court according to my sources.”
Perhaps King Mitah kept his daughter away from the public eye for a reason. Jamie was intrigued. He wanted to know more.
“So you just want me to keep my hands to myself because it might ruin relations between vamps and the fae?”
“Precisely.”
He should’ve known that would be his brother’s reasoning. Well, screw him. I can hang out with whoever I want. He might rule London, but I don’t answer to anyone.
Dani wasn’t why he was here though. Gavin had been very vague in his summons.
“Why am I here?”
“Neave needs help running the bar. Considering you were languishing away in Prague with little to do, I thought you’d be the perfect candidate.”
“Seriously? I’m not your fucking lapdog. You can’t just summon me here for that shit. Bartending is not my forte.”
Gavin pressed his fingers together, eying Jamie with a neutral expression.
“I said running, Jamie, that means dealing with the accounts and staff. I need Neave to be at my disposal and she can’t when she’s chained to this place.”
Jamie sat back. His human father had been grooming him to take over the family business before he turned. He knew how things worked.
“I suppose I can help with that. Would it take up all my evenings?”
“No, you can work that out with Neave.”
“She didn’t even know I was coming.”
Gavin looked away, his expression a little regretful.
“She’s been harassing me to hire help for a while, as has my wife.”
He’d been interested in the girl who’d captured his brother’s attention since he’d learnt of her existence.
“Do I get to meet her?”
“Daisy? At some point. It’s been just over a year since she was turned. The transition has not been easy on her.”
“Never is for the first couple of years. Especially when your sire gets staked six months after she
