Caleb's Tempting Mate (Saber Chronicles Book 3) by R. E. Butler Page B

removed a bag of blood from the mini fridge, poured it into a coffee mug, and heated it.  When he opened the microwave and lifted the mug to his lips, the scent of the warmed blood hit his nose and his fangs punched from his gums.  He preferred fresh blood, but reheated did the job well enough.
    Pushing thoughts of finding a mate, stopping his donors from trying to wiggle their way into his bed, and his sister’s lack of immortality into the back of his mind, he dressed and left his suite on the top floor of the supernatural hotel in Belle Terra.  He had the entire floor to himself.  Dialing his right-hand, Nash, as he strode down the carpeted hallway to the private elevator, he punched the button to go to the lobby.
    “My schedule says there’s a private meeting at ten.  Who is it?”
    “Good evening to you, too.”
    The door slid shut, and he rolled his eyes.  “Well?”
    Nash chuckled.  “Jeff Riggs has proposed to his mate, Belinda.  He wants her to become a kiss member.”
    “Is she human or vampire?”
    “Human.”
    “She can’t be part of the kiss.”
    “I know.  He’s going to change her after their honeymoon.  He wants you to meet her beforehand, and he’d like you to come to the wedding, which is Thursday night.”
    The elevator reached the ground floor, and he exited through the back and out to his waiting town car.  Nash, dressed in a black suit with a blood red tie, stood at the open door.
    “Move Jeff and his mate to eight thirty.  I’ll tell them I’m too busy to go to the wedding on Thursday.”
    “You’re not.”
    “I don’t want to go.  Besides, who gets married on a Thursday night?”
    “It’s the full moon.  I guess she thought it would be romantic.”
    He stared silently at Nash and then changed the subject.  “I’m meeting Aubrey at Heat, and I want to feed before she and her truemate arrive.”
    “I can get someone now,” Nash offered after shutting the door and climbing behind the wheel.
    “I’ll eat at the club.  Just move the appointment.”
    “You got it.”
    The office where Caleb handled kiss affairs was three blocks from the hotel.  Supernaturally owned businesses lined the streets, and the sidewalks were crowded now that the sun had set.
    Inside the two-story office building, Caleb greeted the receptionist, a kiss member, and headed up the stairs to his glass-walled office.  Nash followed close behind, and in just a few minutes, his first appointments began.  When he’d become master vampire of Belle Terra, he’d had no clue how much politics was involved.  It hadn’t just been him enjoying being the biggest, baddest vampire around.  He had to settle disputes between kiss members, decide who joined, meet with other masters from time to time to discuss territories, and in between all that, he wondered if he’d ever find his truemate.
    “Is the human Jeff’s truemate?” he asked.
    Nash blinked in surprise.  “Um, I don’t think so.  I believe they were high school sweethearts and were going to get married.  He was turned after a car accident nearly killed him and a doctor took pity on him.  Why?”
    “Aubrey’s guy is her truemate.”
    “Alaric, right?  The saber-tooth tiger shifter?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Did something happen with one of your donors?”  Nash looked over his tablet at Caleb.
    “No.  I was just thinking about whether I’d ever find my truemate.  Do you think about that?”
    “Sure.  I think we all do.  Who wouldn’t want the one right person to spend eternity with?”
    Nash left and Caleb pushed another unwanted thought away and got to work.  He didn’t have much time before he needed to meet his sister and her new family.  He hoped like hell the male was honorable and would take good care of Aubrey.  She deserved to find some happiness.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Caleb walked up the circular staircase that led to his private floor in Heat.  Downstairs on the public level, things were heating up as they always