“Yes, Cassandra needs to learn vampire nest nuances, but not within the first 30 seconds of meeting her nest-mates.” Sylas turned to tuck his spawn further away from Electra, which she raised a brow at. When she didn’t back off quickly enough, his skin paled and his eyes glowed with red rage. Again, the more aggressive Sylas became, the calmer Cassandra felt. “Back up.” 

“Goodness?” Electra dramatically laughed to the room and shrugged one shoulder at him. “You are the last vampire I ever thought would become a possessive asshole once they became a sire.” 

“What utter bullshit.” 

“Joshua?”

“No, Leora, that’s bullshit.” Cassandra peered over Sylas’s shoulder and realised she could see the meeting room table, and everyone else sat at it. “Every single vampire becomes ‘a possessive asshole’ once they become a sire. If anything, Electra should have expected Sylas’s behaviour, and Angelika shouldn’t have made such a dick move.” Cassandra raised a brow and took in Joshua. He had a neat quiff of brown hair, deep brown eyes, and a red and black suit to match his eyeliner and eyeshadow. His waistcoat was dark red, and the shirt underneath had a low V neck with ruffles to show off the start of his neck. He looked like he could have walked off a magazine cover, with his angular face and sharp cheekbones. Yet, there was a fiery aura around Joshua that made Cassandra think he often spoke his mind like this. “I think Cassandra’s reaction was rather tame, considering.”

“Oh yeah.” A woman moved to sit on the table beside him. She had explosive black pigtails with fluffy purple scrunchies and a cat ear headband on. Her dress was Lolita-style, black, with a purple cat paw print on it. She had freckles that looked to be painted on her pale cheeks, and black and purple makeup on. She giggled and booped Joshua’s nose with one of her polished black and purple nails. “When Zaff jumped me for not returning his favourite fur coat, you made the most adorable little roar and yanked out some of his hair, before we managed to pin you.” 

“No one threatens my sire.” Joshua leaned towards Leora with a smirk, and his eyes flashed red. 

“Oh, don’t remind me of that horrible incident.” Cassandra subconsciously lifted her head to look to the right and locate the new speaker. Sylas still held her, and shot Electra a look. They silently agreed that this was good, and they were letting her take in the nest from the safety of his arms. Electra nodded and waved with encouragement to the others to keep talking. “It took me weeks to grow my hair over the bald patch left from that bitch fight.” 

“Actually, Zeff, I thought it was an improvement.”

“You’re more prickly than my pedigree rose garden.” Zeff clicked her fingers sassily at him, and then ran the same hand back through his thick, curly ginger hair. He wore a black mesh shirt, black skinny jeans, and a long black jacket with explosive red feathers lining the back and over each shoulder. It gave Zeff a vibrant collar worthy of any cabaret. His lips were painted red, and his eyes had red eyeliner with wing like flicks at the ends. “But what would I expect from the company lawyer, but a vicious little neck-biter?” 

“And what would I expect from our public relations officer, but a drama queen.” 

“It’s pronounced Drag Queen, bitch.” Zeff blew Joshua a kiss, and everyone chuckled. “You were never so easily ruffled, were you darling?” 

“No. But it takes a lot to get a rise out of me.” This vampire was tall, slender, and wore a long purple silk dressing gown-esk dress, with a long black silk tie around his neck. His hair was long, down, and the ends were dyed white. His leggings were black and his pumps were purple. 

“Slay, James, slay.” 

“No, that’s Davon’s job. To slay.” Electra sauntered over to place a hand on the shoulder of a man with short spiky blonde hair, and blue sunglasses. He wore a black suit with a blue waistcoat, tie and gloves. His expression was so stoic, Cassandra doubted he made any expression without considerable effort. “He’s our security.” The Vampire lord actively took over their introductions now that Cassandra had calmed down enough that her vampiric features had withdrawn. Sylas also moved to hold her to his side and rubbed her back to keep her calm. “With his spawn, Nessa, they ensure our business is locked up tighter than a nun’s purse.” 

“Can I get an ahem?” Zaff offered to the room, and James grinned at his maker. A woman beside Davon with a short black bob of messy hair, a long sleeved white blouse tucked into black slacks and kitten heels whispered something into her sire’s ear. Davon’s expression didn’t change, but he did nod and hand her a round silver token. It was too large to be a nickel or a dime. She walked over to a vending machine that was blacked out, and put the coin in. Absently, Cassandra noticed her getting a cup of coffee, and would have liked one of those herself. If she could still drink coffee, that is. 

“Everyone here has a specific role within DataNet Inc.; everyone works with their sire.” Sylas finally spoke and his smile was warm when Cassandra finally looked at him. “Davon and his spawn work security. Leora and Joshua are our legal team. Zaff and James cover advertisements and handle all social media. Electra is our Vampire Lord, and with Angelika, they run the nest and ensure we adhere to Underfolk council laws.”

“And, of course?” Electra swanned over to sit on the edge of the desk and faced Cassandra. “Sylas is our tech team. He maintains our servers, databases, and responds to any tech support needs our clients may have. Including if they suspect they have been hacked.”

“And now we are the tech team.” Sylas spoke softly in her ear and she turned to look at him. “And you have nothing to worry about. I’ll teach you everything you need to know.” He whispered and Cassandra warily glanced around the room again. Everyone was staring at her. They’re all waiting to see my reaction to this vampire circus. Electra’s gaze was especially calculating. 

“Welcome to the nest, fang-baby.” Angelika jumped up to sit on the edge of the desk beside her maker with a chaotic grin on her pale face. Cassandra scowled, and didn’t like that woman as far as she could throw her. However far that was now she was a vampire, it didn’t matter. “Give it time, and you’ll love it here.” Like hell I will. 

“Here.” Nessa startled Cassandra, suddenly appearing to her right, and offered her a cup of coffee. It was the drink she got from the vending machine, but almost immediately, the metallic aroma in the air told her it wasn’t coffee. “It’s fresh from a donor bag.” Cassandra’s mouth started to water and she became tunnel visioned on the cup of blood. Her hands shook as she reached for it, and her fangs extended hungrily. 

“Go on.” Sylas reached over to take the cup from Nessa, nodding at her in thanks, and coaxed it into Cassandra’s hands. “You’ll feel better once you’ve fed.” He guided the cup in her hands to her lips and with a moan of relief, Cassandra gulped down the blood. She swooned into Sylas’s arms as she drank it down, and his fangs snagged on his bottom lip as he watched her feed. 

“Boring!” Zaff sang and took a hip flask from his fluffy red handbag. Sylas would have ignored his nest-mate and continued to indulge in watching his spawn drink her fill. If only Zaff kept his mouth shut. “I much prefer my blood straight from the vein. Oh, Sylas, we should take your spawn hunting tonight.” 

“Oscar’s place has a hooker theme tonight.” James offered, and Zaff’s salacious grin said it all. 

“I’m not-”

“Oh, that would be a wonderful way to truly settle your spawn into our nest.” Electra sealed the deal before Sylas could argue about it. “Yes. Let’s go out to eat tonight. Council rules apply, and your spawn should learn how to hunt within the parameters of Underfolk law.” 

“I’ll decide when she’s ready to hunt.” Sylas tried to stand his ground, but one look from Electra made it clear this was not a suggestion. 

“We’re going to go and hunt as a nest. Get your spawn something slutty to wear.” 

“I’ll pay for our admission.” Angelika took out her phone and proceeded to buy their tickets. “Ooo, the Seven Sirens are playing tonight.” 

“How many of them have we fucked?” Electra tapped her chin in thought. 

“All apart from the drummer.”

“Let’s finish the set tonight.” Cassandra lowered her cup, licking her lips and her red eyes hungry for more, as she watched Electra and Angelika share a wanton kiss. It made Cassandra blush with how filthy it was. 

“Excellent.” Electra kissed Angelika off the table and playfully smacked her backside. Sending her away to take her seat. “Now, let’s get the boring business out of the way so we can look forward to hunting tonight.” The vampire lord stalked over to the head of the table and picked up a presentation remote. “Where were we before Sylas was tardy with his fang-baby? Ah yes. Our targets for this quarter.” Everyone returned to their seats, and Nessa took the cup from Cassandra slowly enough to whisper something to her quickly. 

“I was turned 2 years ago.” Nessa smiled with a shrug. “They seem intense, but it’s a nice nest. If you want to talk to a fellow spawn, I’m here.” 

“Thank you, I-” Nessa walked off before Cassandra could thank her properly. Sylas held her elbows and guided her to the last set of vacant chairs to take their seats. 

“Come on.” Sylas chuckled and his arm rested across the back of her chair. Keeping his precious spawn close, and letting her draw comfort from his embrace. “Do you want some more blood?” Cassandra wished she could say no, but her stomach was rumbling. Now that she’d had a taste, her appetite had roared to life. 

“Sorry. I’m still hungry.” She licked her lips and his eyes darted to the flash of tongue. One day, he was determined to taste her tongue, but that day was not today. “Can I have more?”

“Of course.” He dared to stroke his thumb across her chin, and ignored the cooing aw’s from the other vampires around the table. “You don’t need to be sorry about being hungry. I’ll get you mo-”

“I’ll have a pitcher of blood brought up so you can stop making goo-goo eyes at your spawn for long enough to focus on my presentation, Sylas.” Electra snapped at him…but her scowl melted into a smile. It’s about time he finally became a sire. I’m so glad Orian hasn’t ruined his view of sire-spawn relationships forever. He deserves to be happy. “I’ll begin by saying that we simply must add more investor’s to our cause in-”