RUSSIA

WELCOME TO THE ANNUAL GALA DINNER HOSTED BY CARTER MORGAN AND MIDNIGHT INDUSTRIES. WE DO HOPE YOU ENJOY YOURSELF TONIGHT.

"Ebony, are you ready?" I heard Carter's deep voice say through the bathroom door. We had arrived in Russia last night and I was indeed staying in a huge room with Carter. The home we were all staying in was just magnificent. A double-storey mansion on top of a beautiful snow-covered mountain, it looked like it was out of a fairy-tale, well except for the six-foot-tall wall surrounding the entire property with barb wire, motion sensors, security guards and cameras. That bit was not out of any fairy tale. We had arrived here just before the break of dawn; the sun was nearly peeking through the cloud-covered sky. Everyone had gone straight to bed except for Carter. He stayed up doing paperwork at the desk in the bedroom until the late hours of the morning. I fell asleep listening to him type on the computer and mumble quietly under his breath about running out of time. He must have fallen asleep next to me on the bed at some stage and I noticed when I woke up that when he sleeps, he looks dead as he doesn't breathe and for a second there I panicked until I remembered that he was actually dead, hence the vampire thing he has going on.

"I think so," I called back putting more concealer under my dark eyes and spraying my hair with hairspray one more time. Note to self, if you have a dinner to attend to that night you must get more sleep. A few hours just doesn't cut it. The gown looked even more beautiful than I remember, and I couldn't believe that I was wearing it. I took a big breath and opened the door as I exhaled slowly.

I saw Carter standing by the bed fixing his black tie. I couldn't help but stare at him in his tailored black suit and slicked-back dark hair. He looked so handsome my breath hitched in my throat for a second.

"I knew that dress was the one," he smiled looking me up and down as I blushed. "You look absolutely beautiful Ebony; you are going to be the most gorgeous girl in the room tonight for sure." he paused as he walked closer to me, his eyes on mine. "You are perfection," he said gently. Once again, I noticed his eyes slowly turning silver as we stared at each other in silence. My heart was pounding so hard, that I could hear it in my ears. "We better get downstairs, everyone is waiting for you," he said taking my hand in his. "I love how warm your skin feels against mine." he entwined his cold fingers with mine and closed his eyes for just a second. "I almost don't want to leave this room; I enjoy just being around you."

I held his hand tightly. "Me too, more and more each day actually," I smiled. "Do you just want to kick off these shoes and watch The Hangover 2?" I shrugged.

He chuckled in the back of his throat. "I would like nothing more than to do that but unfortunately I have work."

"You always have work," I rolled my eyes.

"Not always." he smiled. "Come, I want to show you off." he pulled me towards the door and out into the corridor. I felt like royalty walking next to him in my beautiful gown. Could this night get any better?

"Hello Carter," a female voice purred behind us. Carter stopped in his tracks and froze at the mere sound of her voice. "You are looking well. Incredible in fact."

He slowly turned to her with his hand still in mine. I felt his hand tense as their eyes meet in what can only be explained as pure tension. "Genevieve," he said in a low voice. They said nothing to each other as if they were having a conversation in their heads. My heart sank as I realised she was probably the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in my life. Her long chocolate-coloured hair flowed below her shoulders as her tight black gown hugged every inch of her perfect curves. I noticed that Callan had her dark eyes and plump lips, and I knew straight away who this beautiful woman was and my stomach sank. This is his ex-wife. "You are looking very nice," he said as his fingers suddenly let go of mine.

"Indeed. What is that?" She said glaring at me with her intense dark eyes. "Is she the entree?" She smirked at me.

"Who?" Carter said almost stuck in a trace. "Oh, this is Ebony my assistant for work. Just my assistant who is here for work purposes," he said awkwardly not even looking at me.

"You employed a human? Are you getting soft in your old age Carter? I remember there was a time when you couldn't even be in the same room as one without ripping its head clean off." she glared at me again. "Shame things have changed because I'm feeling mighty peckish right now."

My heart skipped a beat as she stared at me hungrily.

"I am not that vampire anymore, Genevieve. She is not to be harmed." Carter said abruptly.

"Are you telling me this thing is YOUR human Carter?" She said taking a step closer to me and looking at me with absolute disgust.

His body language suddenly changed, like he was being threatened and the atmosphere become tense as they both stared at each other. She took another step toward me as if to challenge him to react.

"She is indeed MY human Genevieve," he growled as he spoke. "Do not do this."

"Then why does she smell like our son?" She hissed at me.

Carter looked at me with his aqua eyes and I could tell that he was clearly upset at this statement.

"Is your little human girl spending quality time with our son behind closed doors?" She sneered at Carter.

"What are you insinuating ?" He said moving his eyes back to his ex-wife.

"I don't need to insinuate anything; you can smell him too. Why are you protecting her?" She yelled.

"I am not protecting her."

"It's nothing really, he brought me my dress tonight and we talked. That's it, I swear." I blurted out, cutting Carter off and taking a step backwards. "We're just friends"

"Lies, I know my son and he would never be 'friends' with a useless human. She is lying Carter. She betrayed you with our son," Genevieve said as walked towards him and touched his face. "She is lying to you, my darling," she said gently as she stroked his face.

"No, I'm not. He was telling me about London and growing up in the castle and he told me about his grandfather and how he wished he had more time with him. Carter, I swear to you that's it. I would never betray your trust like that," I cried out defending myself but both Carter and Genevieve were no longer listening to me. Carter was locked on her eyes as she slid the tip of her finger down his chest seductively.

Carter caught her hand just before it reached the edge of his pants. "I know my human Genevieve and I trust her. If she says there is nothing going on, then there is nothing going on and kindly stop touching me as you no longer have the right to do that. I do hope you have an enjoyable evening." he smiled on her face sweetly and then turned to me. "Oh, by the way, her name is Ebony and not human. You will kindly address her by her name from now on. Have a wonderful night, Genevieve." he said taking my hand in his once again and pulling me towards the staircase.

"I swear Carter, I would never do anything."

"I know that I trust you more than anyone. My ex-wife is a very vindictive and spiteful woman, who spends her eternal life trying to manipulate me and she has for a very long time but things have changed. I no longer feel the need for her, and she is having a hard time coming to terms with that." he said leading me down the stairs towards the music coming from the ballroom.

"Should I be worried about her?" I said as I stood on the last step his hand still in mine.

"As I said before, you are MY human Ebony, and no harm will come to you. I promise you that." His eyes had specks of silver and grey in them once again.

"Why do your eyes do that when you look at me?" I reached out and touched his face, his eyes turned silver almost immediately.

"It's a sign that you are meant to be with me. I guess it's kind of like when your heart flutters at someone's touch, I have no heart, but I still feel the need for contact now and then." He once again had me in a trance as he looked at me.

"Boss, there you are. Everyone is asking where you are." I heard Jake's voice from behind and I pulled my hand from Carter's face and as always, his eyes turned back to their beautiful aqua.

"I apologise, Jacob, we ran into the ex upstairs," Carter said clearing his throat.

"And Ebony survived? Wow, didn't expect that" Jake smiled at me. "Loving the dress by the way."

"Thank you, loving the suit thing you have going on here. You look kind of..." I said looking at him in his black suit and white tie.

"Like sex on legs, right?" Jake said winking and posing.

"I was going to say nice," I said shaking my head "But you just took that moment away by opening your mouth."

"That's right sex on legs," Jake flicked his collar up "Look out Ladies. There is more than enough of me for everyone. "He turned on his heels and danced towards the ballroom.

"Ok, can we go now?" I said making a face at Carter who was clearly amused by Jake and his ego.

"Of course," he looped his arm in mine and led me to the ballroom. "After you, my lady."