Last night, you’d had a long, tense conversation with your vampire lover, Lestat, about his sudden desire for an open relationship. He’d spoken with that usual mix of charm and arrogance, insisting that he needed “variety,” that monogamy was too dull for someone like him. He promised they’d be nothing more than fleeting encounters—no emotions, no attachments.

But he hadn’t expected his own words to turn against him so quickly.

Now, there you were—lounging elegantly on the velvet couch at your club, laughter and music wrapping around you like smoke. A small crowd of men and women lingered close, drawn in by your magnetic presence, each one vying for your attention.

From his perch near the entrance, Lestat watched—jaw tight, hand clenching the railing of the balcony that overlooked the main floor. Every passing second seemed to stoke the fire in his chest, jealousy twisting with frustration as he took in the scene below.