(34) Two vampires, a ghoul and a shifter.

In a room down the hall from where Linden and Helmut were now asleep, Piers woke, stretched and yawned. Then he turned his head to look at the wall that separated him from his Sire. "I hate this, I hate it," he hissed in angry frustration as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and sat up. He was rock hard with no expectation of relief unless he took care of it himself. That was bad enough. The pain in his heart made it even worse.

"I should just leave," he said in quiet desperation. But he knew he wouldn't. He never had despite the number of times he'd thought about it. So instead, he headed to the bathroom to relieve the ache in his groin if not the one that went soul deep.

An hour later, he was knocking on Roderick's door. When there was no answer he sighed and turned, going back down the hall to rap on Linden's door. After a long silence, he heard Linden call out, "Be right there."

"Took you long enough," Piers grumbled when Linden opened the door. Then he saw Helmut on the bed in the far room, one arm behind his head as he watched them. "Oh," Piers said softly. "Sorry."

"I'm not," Linden replied with a grin, stepping aside to let Piers in. When Piers hesitated, Linden took his arm and gently tugged. "Get your ass in here. He won't bite, I promise."

Helmut growled in amusement. "At least not you, Piers."

Piers smiled a bit wanly as he sat down on the sofa. "I was going to suggest we go to a club," he told Linden. "But I can see you're otherwise occupied."

"No, no, I can—" Linden looked at Helmut, "well we can come with you."

Helmut nodded in agreement. "Just give us time to get dressed. Is Roderick coming too?"

"No, he's off God knows where. He didn't even leave a note."

"Sorry," Linden said, patting his shoulder. "But you know, when the King gives orders he's got to follow them ASAP."

"I know, I know." Piers sighed before pasting a smile on his face. "So you and him...?"

Linden grinned happily. "Seems like," he admitted as he went in search of something to wear.

"More than seems like," Helmut stated as he came into the room wearing only his jeans, his shoes and shirt in hand. "I'll be back in a few."

"Now," Piers said when the shifter had left, "tell all."

And Linden did, omitting only the more graphic details.