I hated to leave her and I almost turned back before I reached my car. I could feel her lips on mine and the taste of her on my tongue but I had to leave. When she decided to have me it would be with her being sober, plus I needed to take of something tonight. It couldn't wait. I knew she was safe for now and I would have her in my arms in the morning.

Jumping in the car I headed back to the vampire's. Now I had to decide what I was going to say and what to leave out. They were a race to be weary of. Not as straightforward as wolves. I, personally, did not trust any vampire. Oh sure there were some decent ones but their mind worked differently than ours and they always thought of a way to use information against you. Wolves were more the action type and not the methodological type.

Reaching my destination I still had not decided what information to leave out. It was always hard to plan when it came to the vamps. In a way they were very predictable but in others you just didn't know.

"Mr. Gladstone what do we owe this honour?" The same guard was on the door as he was a couple nights ago. I did not know his name. In their world only the strongest of them mattered.

Keeping my eyes on his chin, avoiding all eye contact for safety reasons only. It was a safe practice. I was strong and usually a vampire cannot hold a dominate shifter but there has been the odd case. I would not take any chances of being enthralled. The weaker of the vampires found it amusing but the more powerful ones admired our thought process and knew we took that caution seriously and that we did not see them as a weaker species.

"I would like an audience with you Lord," I informed him. Where we had Alpha's they went by Lord. To each their own.

"What does this business concern?" I had to bite my tongue. The vamp in front of me was just a foot soldier and lower in the pack hierarchy than I was. I did not like being questioned but I understood. There was no way I would allow anyone near Jack if I didn't know the whys behind it.

"Nate?" Charles pushed his way past the soldier. This was one of the few vampires I actually liked. I didn't know a lot about him but he seemed more human than the others. I did know that he was the Lord's human servant for almost 100 years before he became a vampire himself. I also knew he had only been turned a few years ago but was extremely powerful.

Usually power grew with age but with Charles it was different. I wasn't sure how he gained so much power in such a short time but Jack and I wondered if it had anything to do with being a human servant for so long. It was rare for a Master vampire to change his servant into a vampire but this Master was different from most. It was things like this that the Toronto Lord did that had Jack even considering a somewhat alliance with him.

"Hi Charles. How are you?" I greeted him with a hand shake.

"I am surprised to see you here. Sorry I missed your last visit," Charles said. He was asking in a roundabout way why I was here without demanding an answer.

He had a better understanding on us wolves. That was another reason I respected this man. Vampire. "Something came up and I would like to talk to your Lord if he has time. If it wasn't important I would not bother you with any of this." I was hoping that letting him know that I would not have bothered them if I didn't have to would get me in the door without any other questions.

Charles eyes clouded over, I knew he was most likely talking to his Master. That was one thing I envied about the vampires. The only thing really. They were able to talk to each other through their minds. "Yes, he has time now. Actually you came at a perfect time. He just finished a business meeting." Charles had a smirk on his face which told me I did not want to know what kind of meeting he just had. "Follow me."

The building that the vampires conducted business in was a huge night club. A little stereotypical but if it works then why fix it. The few other times I had been here we always went down the hall and up the stairs in some hidden office with a 2-way mirror over seeing the club. This time we continued down the hall and made our way downstairs.

The stairs were wide and at least 2 storeys down. I followed Charles in silence still thinking of what I should keep to myself. When we reached the bottom of the stairs we turned right, down that hall stood a huge metal door with no guards posted at it. I had always seen guards at every door in this building so this surprised me.

"Not even you my friend could break through that door," Charles answered my unasked question. Pulling the door open we walked into a huge room with way too many shadows for my liking.

From what my eyes could see the room looked round with a rug covering most of the stone floor. I could not see the walls but by the smell they too were made of stone. In the center of the room there was a few plush and oversized couches and a chair that could pass off more like a throne. To the side of the room was a massive size bed with disheveled black silk sheets. The smell of sex and blood still lingered in the air. I also knew we were not the only ones in the room. I may not been able to see anyone but I could smell the cold and decay from at least 6 other vampires.

Lord Anton sat relaxed on his throne wearing snug fit leather pants, black boots, and a crimson delicate dress shirt that bared half his pale smooth chest. His long curly blonde locks draped over his shoulder. He looked bored but I knew he knew everything that was happening around him. Lord Anton was one of the most powerful vampires I had ever met.

"Mr. Gladstone. How nice it is to see you again in such a short time. What do I owe this honour too?" Lord Anton spoke and it sent a shiver down my back. I knew he could contain his power but he had chosen not too right now. It felt like a cold wind that circled my body.

He knew he had the upper hand right now and was letting me know he knew it. "Lord Anton, I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me. I have a concern about a human in your city. I understand these matters do not usually concern you but I find myself hoping that you may find this intriguing." The Toronto vampires did not usually hunt but took on only willing donors. It was in their nature to hunt just like it was in mine so I was hoping this may help.

Lord Anton raised a delicate blonde brow. I think I caught him off guard. Wolves never ask for help. We have never asked for his assistance in the many of years we have been travelling into his territory. "I am listening." He nodded to one of the couches and I took a seat. Charles went to the other one, closer to his Master.

Sitting at the edge of couch with my elbows resting on my knees I looked at Lord Anton but kept my eyes on his chin. Never looking up. "There is this business man that treats his office assistant like his property and tried to sell her body to better his business. A man like this doesn't just do this kind of thing once. I worry about his next victim. He is a human predator that risks the safety of innocent women." Even hearing myself explain this I would be surprised if he would do anything. To be honest why would they care. I did because Mady was my mate and still would if she wasn't but I would have gone to the human authorities instead of coming here.

Lord Anton sat still and watched me but said nothing. It was Charles that spoke first. "You found your mate. This...business man tried to sell her to you or someone else? Not that it matter. Congratulations!" I could hear the genuine happiness for me in his voice. I was more concerned on how he knew. Charles chuckled. "I could smell another on you. I can also hear how your heartbeat speeds up while you talked. I have no doubt that this man's actions would not have bothered you if it was any other female but your reaction is too strong for just that." Once again he answered my unasked question.

I raised a questioning eyebrow and nodded. In return he just smiled. He was not going to answer how he had known the answer to the questions that I only thought about. I knew my face read nothing. I was very good at schooling my physical responses.

As if I was not in the room Charles looked at his Master and both of their eyes clouded over. Lord Anton gave a slight nod before Charles turned his body to face me. "I will personally take care of this matter. I would also like to offer further safety to your mate. I know how you wolves are like when it comes to your mate and would not want an incident to happen on our territory." I was clearly suspicious. Why did he want to know who Mady was? "Nate I only wish to help. No strings attached as you might say. This is only to protect our territory also out of my friendship for you." I could never tell if a vampire was lying. They were just wired different. Plus it did not help that they had no heartbeat and their emotional scent barely changed in less it was a very strong emotion.

Also rejecting a gift would only insult them. They had no reason to offer their assistance and they were doing me a favour in dealing with Mr. Jackson. "Thank you. I accept your generous offer. The man's name is Gerald Jackson. If you have a paper I can leave his work address with you. My mate is Mady Marlone."

Now that got a reaction out of Charles. Most vampires keep their faces still and only show us anything if they want too. But hearing Mady's name had actually shocked Charles.

"I actually know this woman. I give you my word no harm will come too her as long as she is in our territory. May I ask you a favour in return?" At my nod he continued, "Please do not mention my name around her. I have not seen your Mady in many years and I would like to have her not remember who I am." A growl escaped my lips. I did not like knowing my mate had a past with him. "Relax wolf we were not in a relationship. She was a friend of a woman who I was close to for a brief time." Charles explained but looked a bit lost as if he was thinking back to that time.

"Is there anything else?" Lord Anton asked, dragging my attention back to him.

I stood and replied, "No Lord Anton. Once again I would like to thank you for your time and understanding of this matter." Turning to Charles I added, "Thank you as well for looking after this. I appreciate it."

With that Charles lead me back up the stairs and to the door in silence. The same guard stood by the door and opened it to let me out. As I turned to look at Charles he was already gone.

Damn vampires.