Dying to Date(2)

If only she could work her talents on me, Melissa mused.

“I think we should open up your were-creature options,” Abbey said, focusing on her screen. “Right now you’ll only consider predatory species. I know a really nice were-mouse I could set you up with.”

Melissa arched a brow. Vampires were predators by nature. She wanted similar instincts in a mate. Then again, beggars couldn’t be choosers, and for the first time in her life, it seemed she’d fallen into that category.

“Fine,” she said. “All weres welcome. Maybe I’ll meet that one special were-squirrel that changes my opinion forever.”

“Done,” Abbey said with a few clicks of her mouse. “Now the only other restrictions you have are on what we call the death races.”

“Vampires,” she clarified. Despite her fangs, she’d never been a fan of dating her own species. When you dealt with immortals centuries old, you tended to uncover master manipulators and ancient beings whose sanity was beginning to wear. “I keep telling you, any age gap of more than a century causes issues.”

Abbey leveled her with an annoyed stare. “You know your father is several hundred years older than I am.”

It was true Lucian cornered the market on ancient beings in New York. Hell, he’d been old as dirt when he’d first come into her life. She still remembered looking across the tavern as a young child and seeing him prowl toward her and her mother. Though not a drop of blood related them, Lucian had been the only father she’d ever known, and when an accident had nearly killed her, he’d saved her the only way he could.

Hence her current penchant for drinking blood and avoiding the sun.

Melissa waved her hand. “Lucian doesn’t count. You guys broke all the other rules anyway. Age was the least of your worries.”

Shaking her head, Abbey turned back to the computer. “I know you don’t like dating vamps, but there are other beings in the category. It covers demons, ghouls, phantoms, and necromancers.”

“Demons are even more vicious than my people are,” she said, ticking off the types on her fingers. “Ghouls tend to be messy with their food. Carcasses in bed, severed fingers in the coffee pots. Such a drag in the mornings. As for phantoms, they are literally incorporeal. I’m not quite ready to swear off sex in order to have a meaningful relationship.”

“That just leaves necromancers. All the fun of a human with the durability and lifespan of an immortal.”

“Abbey.” The single word was a reproof.

The other woman sighed. “I know.”

“I’m surprised their kind is even allowed to join Fated Match.”

“I know there are issues between the necromancer and the vamp population, but that still leaves the rest of the supernatural world for them to date in. They need help finding their mates just as much as any other species.”

“Certainly no member of a death race would go near them. Not with the trouble they’ve caused in the past, and their ability to control the dead. I’m not taking a chance on a man who could make me hop up and down on one foot with the snap of his fingers.” She looked away. “Besides, you know as well as I do, Lucian has been dealing with uprisings in the necromancer community for weeks.”

Abbey sighed. “It’s probably just as well. With them banned from major cities, you’d be looking at a long distance relationship anyway.” Her fingers tapped against the keys before she shook her head. “Sorry, but it looks like there’s no way to open up your match possibilities any more than they already are.”

“Perfect.” She tilted her head back. Vampires spent hundreds of years alone, searching for their mates. She had barely passed her first century. Even if Abbey could find decent pairings, the odds of finding a long-term companion were slim.

“Don’t give up hope. We have mixers a few times a month. I’ll put you on the guest list for the next one.”

“Thanks.” She pushed from her seat. “We’re still on for dinner Thursday with Lucian, correct?”

“We’ll be there,” Abbey agreed. “Lucian wants to talk to you about beefing up security. You know he’s worried about the necromancer situation.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m not having bodyguards tail my every move. I work on several human charities. How would I explain my new vampire shadows?”

“You’re Lucian’s heir,” Abbey pointed out. “Not to mention you’re always in the spotlight. I saw you on the cover of the Magical Times last month. If the necromancers were serious about striking out at the vamp community, you’d be a good target.”