Sweeter Than Wine by Bianca D'Arc Page A

information, he turned up.” Matt nodded toward the newcomer. “I thought you should probably meet.”
    “We’ve already met.” Sebastian strode forward as the stranger stood, hand outstretched in greeting and a broad smile on his face. They pounded each other on the back like old friends and Christy took a moment to scan Sebastian’s memories for the stranger’s identity.
    “Cameron.” The name slipped from her lips as the men broke apart. Blue eyes twinkled at her, taking her measure.
    “And who’s this wee lassie? Can it be you’ve found your One, Sebastian?” The teasing light in his eyes belied the almost awed tone of his lightly accented voice.
    Curious, Christy moved closer.
    Sebastian put one strong arm around her. “I have, Cam. May I introduce my mate, Christina.”
    “A pleasure to meet you, milady. Though I wish it were under better circumstances.”
    Christy quickly searched a few of Sebastian’s memories of this man and realized he was a long time friend. There was something different about him though—different from the earthy energy of Matt and not quite the raw sexual energy of Sebastian and his vampire friends. This man was something else altogether.
    Christy held out her hand and was charmed by the gallant way Cameron raised it to his lips for a gentle, polite salute. Her hand tingled where he touched. Magic. It had to be.
    But it was different from any of the magic she’d felt before.
    She turned puzzled eyes up to Sebastian.
    “What is he?”
    On the other side of the couch, Matt laughed and she realized he’d heard her as well.
    Sebastian sent the shifter a stern look while speculation filled the gaze of their new guest.
    “We’ll discuss it later,” Sebastian told her quickly. “Shall we sit?” Sebastian invited his guests to relax as he and Christy claimed the cozy love seat.
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    A troubled expression crossed the newcomer’s face as he ran one hand through his fiery red hair. He had freckles too, but his build was that of a giant and he looked like he had muscles on his muscles, though he seemed a gentle soul, on the surface at least.
    “So tell me, why are you here, Cam? I haven’t seen you in a hundred years or more.”
    Christy stifled her gasp at the casual way Sebastian spoke in terms of centuries.
    She’d have to get used to this immortality stuff.
    The other man sighed. “When your shifter friend sent out that information request, red flags went up all over the globe. Of late, there’s been some trouble with the Altor Custodis. ”
    Sebastian leaned forward. “What kind of trouble?”
    “After consulting with some of the mountain were tribes and the were folk’s High Priestess in Montana,” Cam said, “we’re drawing a rather ugly picture of infiltration at the highest levels. Sebastian, the Venifucus are back. Or perhaps it’s more accurate to say, they never completely left.”
    Both Sebastian and Matt looked as grave as she’d ever seen them, but Christy had no clue what was going on. All she got from Sebastian’s memories—what he’d let her see of them—was a frightening account of a society of watchers. The Altor Custodis watched all kinds of supernaturals, though they had never been known to interfere in any way.
    “But if they don’t interfere, why are you so worried? I mean, if they only watch and record…” Christy betrayed her knowledge of Sebastian’s thoughts, but nobody seemed surprised.
    If possible though, Cameron’s face grew even darker. “That’s the problem, lass.
    Recently, they’ve been interfering in a very big way. Last Samhain, a mage who was definitely a member of the Altor Custodis tried to assassinate a young priestess and her were wolf mates. He would have succeeded too, if not for the intervention of two of my kin and one of your kind, a fellow named Dante d’Angleterre.”
    Sebastian whistled through his teeth. “I didn’t know old Dante was still around, but that explains where Marc got the