In this modern world, the world knew many different species other than human. The Awakening had ensured that. Shifters of all kinds, witches, and several others. Yet in her mind, none were as alluring as the vampires. They were very much alive, not the undead as movies had claimed, with very specific needs and habits. Changing into one was not easy and not many survived. It was considered almost a form of suicide by most humans. Nevertheless, these vampires could have anyone they chose in the human ranks. Their fangs could easily produce an aphrodisiac effect and were sensitive to the touch. So, they were a revered race even as they were greatly feared by the humans they shared a world with.

Families of vampires were rare. Families had to do everything together for any satisfaction to be had. That included feeding and sex. Most weren't willing to share. There were exceptions usually couples or mates.

The two Eris had a thing for were not a couple but they were a family. They were not related but blood brothers. They had been from their own report for centuries. They both preferred the team effort and tended to keep women around. Needless to say, they had their pick. For both of their needs.

They were warriors, the both of them. You could tell. Women liked them because they were hot. Muscular even Romanus although he downplayed it more with elegance. Like a tiger with a silken pelt. Arion not so much with the hiding it thing. More like the leopard, wilder and not as tolerant of people. Romanus was better with people but more in the way a cat tolerated mice. Why they owned a nightclub she didn't know. There was a lot of things about them that she didn't know and wanted to. Curiosity was a weakness of hers.

Vampiric traits to the side, Eris was fascinated more by them in general. Yeah, they were built in a way that made her mouth water and hot with fangs bared, but it was those looks they gave to any woman not in their group. Hungry. Needy. Curious.

Like with all those women, there was still something they weren't getting that they needed desperately. It made her wonder what that was. The rumor was that it was rare for them to feed on someone and sleep with her. Which for most of them was perfectly alright. One or the other was intense enough to give a girl chills. So the rumor went. Personally, she wanted both but that was just her style. All or nothing. Eris had never been chosen to go into the VIP section. She wanted to, but she didn't want to be like the other girls and work the bouncers. The flattering and giggling was beyond her.

Besides, she had a thing. She danced for them. Eris went there every Saturday night after work. she would order a glass of red wine (so maybe she had always wanted to try the vampire thing) and take it to the dance floor. Eris knew they watched at least part of the time because a month after it became a habit to go there, the glass of wine became free. Compliments of the house. Eris talked to the bartender and he said the request came from upstairs. Along with the bouncers being told to look out for her. Encouraged by that, Eris kept dancing. That went on for a couple of months.

Then it changed. It began as every other night. She got the usual and went to the dance floor.

Up top, she was being watched. Broodingly.

"Arion, you're being rude. We have guests."

"We have guests every night. She only comes in once a week."

"You're hungry and so am I. Come feed so we can both watch her."

With a curse, Arion turned. "Who's wanting a bite?" he asked flippantly. Romanus smiled and gestured to the girl next to him. Arion dropped down onto the sofa and picked up her arm.

"I thought vampires bit the neck." She simpered. Romanus smiled charmingly as Arion rolled his eyes.

"We're saving it." He answered smoothly as Arion bit in and she gasped. Thirty minutes later, she was leaving hurriedly.

"She won't be back," Arion commented, once again facing the window looking out over the dance floor. Romanus joined him at the sound of the door closing. "I was hungry and not in the mood to play with my food."

"We both were hungry. I'm still healing from the fight with my brother. She'll get over it and go on to live a normal life, blah blah." He cocked his head. "How the hell does she go down that low?"

"I have no idea but I would love to find out."

"We've talked about that."

"And as innocent as she looks, we would only hurt her. I know." He grinned at Romanus. "But I would still love to find out. Just not acting on it." Looking back, he let out a low whistle as she did a back bend then came up to drink from her glass of red wine. Fangs started to peek out as she licked her lips. "If you could bite her or take her, which would it be?"

"Honestly?" Romanus considered thoughtfully. "I'm not sure I could separate the two. That's part of why she's not already up here on the couch or in our bed."

"That's just what I was thinking."

Romanus smiled. "Well, our tastes usually do run parallel."

"Is that why I hang around?" Arion laughed.

Downstairs, Eris drained her glass and set it on the railing, smiling at the bouncer. She leaned against it to catch her breath in time to see the woman practically run out and smiled smugly. Couldn't handle her boys and their bite.

"You want to go upstairs and meet the vampires, little girl?" a smooth voice spoke behind her and Eris turned warily. That tone of voice had to be...yep. A dark-haired vampire with full fangs stood there and unless Eris missed her guess, he had his mesmerizing voice on full blast. Too bad for him that junk didn't work with her. Never had. "You could just leave with me."

"Or you could just leave me alone. I like that better." Eris tossed at him and heard a low growl. She raised her chin in challenge even as the bouncer came around the railing. "I'm not here for just any vampire. There are two, in particular, I'm waiting for."

"And she has their protection." The bouncer added. Surprised happiness surged through her at the bouncer's words.

"Really?" Eris asked delightedly. The bouncer tried his best not to crack a smile as he nodded.

"Lucas. If I were you, I would leave. This is their house. Unless of course, you are suicidal."

"Beat it, Lucas," Eris said smugly. A loud bang on the glass rang out from upstairs and Lucas ran. The bouncer shook his head.

"Too late. You ok?"

Nodding, Eris laughed and went back to the dance floor. She just missed seeing Arion coming out the door at a flat out run after the intruder. Romanus stood in the doorway and called out.

"Arion, don't let his blood stain our floors." His voice was hard and was only heard by those close by, but Arion raised a hand briefly on his way out the door. The music hit loud and clear and Eris started dancing. Romanus turned and watched from the top of the stairs. Slowly, his eyes began to go deep red and fangs started to slide out. He started to walk down the stairs. Suddenly Arion's bloody hand was on his shoulder.

"Come on. Let's go." Arion said in a low voice. Romanus looked at him with blood red eyes and Arion locked gazes with him. The rage rolled and boiled inside those eyes but he wasn't gone yet.

"He could have..."

"But he didn't and is now regretting setting foot in our place. He'll be lucky to make it to the nearest blood clinic." With a low curse, Arion put pressure on his shoulder. "Is fear the reaction you want her to have to you?" Romanus shook his head and his eyes began to clear. The hand on Romanus' shoulder relaxed. "Besides I had an idea that will help that image in your head. Come on." He turned and walked towards the bar. With a deep breath to regain control, Romanus followed him.

"Danny, she likes the dark red, right?" Arion called out as he went through the doors.

"Yeah. The darker the better."

Arion smiled a little. This would be perfect and would start to fulfill that promise he'd made to Romanus' brother to stabilize him. Hopefully.

"What are you thinking?" Romanus asked as Arion stopped in front of the wine rack.

"Giving her a new brand to try. A glass a week, right? That's her limit?"

"Yes."

"Then this shouldn't hurt her and will keep any other vampires from sniffing around her. Her wine."

"Our blood." Romanus finished, seeing where he was going with this. Arion smiled and added the clincher.

"With the side benefit of us knowing that part of us is inside her."

Part of Romanus calmed at his choice of words and Arion grinned. He knew his friend well. "That's perfect. One glass wouldn't hurt her. Especially diluted. It will make her stronger in some ways as well. Give her some more protection."

"First glass tonight and let our car take her home?" Arion suggested as the bouncer came through the doors. Romanus nodded, thinking of the vampire that was even now bleeding in the street.

"Steve, what do you need?"

"Just giving you an update. He didn't touch her although he came close. I think she could have handled it on her own, to tell you the truth."

"Why's that?"

"He tried to compel her. Emphasis on tried." He added. Arion smiled and Romanus laughed. "Your girl out there is apparently immune to a vampire's compulsion. She told him to get lost and seemed overjoyed that the two of you were protecting her. Why haven't you guys taken her upstairs yet? She would go. She said she was waiting for you two."

"Because we like watching her dance." Arion said.

"Not run out the door, like our guest tonight." Romanus added.

"Guys, I don't think she's the type to run."

"Thanks, Steve. For the update." Romanus interrupted and Steve nodded.

As he left, Arion brought out his pocket knife. Romanus picked up an empty wine bottle and a funnel.

"We could get a serious reprimand for this from that council." He commented idly. Arion shrugged. "Technically, it's the beginning stages of changing someone."

"I don't give a flying fuck what the council thinks. She's drinking our blood mixed with wine. It's not like we are planning on biting her." He casually sliced his wrist and held it over the funnel. Watching the blood drain down into the bottle, he smiled at the thought. "Although she would make a beautiful mistress, wouldn't she?"

"Dangerous road that we aren't going down, Arion," Romanus said firmly. He knew his friend too well to take that suggestion as casually as it was offered. Arion moved his wrist and closed the cut. He handed the knife to Roman and Roman repeated his actions.

"Just an observation. We will need to find one soon. Another century of this and..."

"You'll be fine. You're not slipping."

"No, you are," Arion said bluntly, ending the dancing around the topic. Romanus closed the wound and looked at him. "Your eyes were bloody and do you really need reminding that it isn't the first time you've almost slipped recently?"

"I was angry both times and no, the reminder is unnecessary."

"You were murderous. You would have killed him."

"So? Coming into our turf meant he was suicidal. Trying to take our girl..."

"Was attempted suicide." Arion finished, relenting. "Hey which bottle do you think she'd like better?"

"The older wine is her favorite." He said. He reached up onto the most expensive shelf and brought one down.

"That's from Dionysos' winery." Arion considered. "Good choice." He popped the cork and filled the bottle the rest of the way up with a careful hand. "So once a week we do this to keep our scent in her."

"Exactly."

"You know if we were going to take her..."

"We're not, Arion." Romanus cut him off. Arion waved a hand.

"But say we were. Hypothetically. This would be a good way of preparing her for it. So that she could handle both."

"You like dangerous roads tonight, don't you?"

"I just know accidents happen even on the safest ones. This gives us a little bit of breathing room." Arion said tightly.

"I'm not even going to..."

Arion set the bottle down hard enough to silence him and crack the empty bottle.

"We need something to hold onto. An idea if not a warm body. Now we are missing out on her dancing." He turned and stalked out the doors. Eris saw them come storming out, heading through the crowd back towards VIP. Romanus touched Arion's shoulder and was shrugged off. Eris went over to the DJ.

"Hey, could you play something slower for me?"

"You got it."

Slow, throbbing music hit and their footsteps slowed as Eris began walking towards the center of the dance floor. Eris made eye contact with them both, one at a time then began a slow erotic dance. Heat shot through her veins as they both stopped and began watching. She was under their protection.

Ok. So why was she under their protection?