There are direct quotes from the book. Not mine but used to spice up the fic. This fic is based on the Vicki Nelson stories by Tanya Huff

Prince of Darkness, Prince of Man

By: Delilah deSora

"What are we going to do with ourselves, Henry? You hungry?"

The vampire snarled, shaking himself to chase away the whisp of remembered words. They danced around in his head, picking at the Hunger, tempting it. He clamped down on his control, reminding himself firmly that it has been the Shadow speaking. It had not been an invitation Tony, the Shadow’s host, had actually meant.

Unfortunately there was a small but growing part of him that didn't care.

He is yours. It whispered to him.

Henry wasn't sure if it was the Prince or the Vampire who whispered to him. Of late it had become harder and harder to separate them.

"Tony. Is. Mine."

"I recognize your power, Nightwalker. But you cannot move me from this body until I am ready to leave."

Except the Shadow had been wrong. What was his had been reclaimed. It had even been made more delicious by the actions of what was his. His human had fought to return to him. His human had heard the words and understood their truth. His human had fought the hold of another to return to him.

Henry sighed. His human had a name and had promptly corrected his declaration, Henry reminded himself. Inside the Prince shifted in irritation, the Hunger rising as he scented violence nearby.

Thunder rumbled overhead and fangs flashed in anger in the sudden light as the smell of burned ozone chased away the scent of blood.

What was he doing out trolling the streets like some drunken peasant? Princes of any kind did not go looking for their own food. Their food came to them.

A second flash of light was lost in eyes that had bled black as the creature turned, staring back the way it had come.

**

"Not yours! My own!"

"I know."

Tony snorted and flung the water bottle away from him. It bounced off the floor, circled, and then rolled back towards him. Like a dog kicked away but crawling back to its master.

Yeah, right. He was no more his own, even in this place, then he had been tucked safely away in Henry's apartment with its view of the city. Henry was vocal about his distaste of windows but Tony had never bought it. Indeed, anyone who had watched the vampire standing before the great window in the living room with the city sprawled out before him, like a toy laid out for the Prince to view, would have trouble believing it.

Unfortunately, he suspected Henry himself was unaware of it himself.

And that was the entire problem wasn't it?

Tony sighed and pressed his forehead against the glass. It wasn't the idea of Henry "owning" him that bothered him. Once he'd even liked it. Everyone wanted to belong to someone. Everyone wanted to feel protected, prized. The problem was that ownership came so naturally to Henry that he didn't prize it. He didn't treasure it. He just . . . expected it. He didn’t seem to appreciate how much giving up oneself meant to the own he had claimed. Henry was Prince. He was Prince and he expected people to give their lives for him. Becoming a vampire had probably only reinforced the Prince, made it stronger.

A flash of light burned images behind his lids and he felt the thunder shake the glass.

His head throbbed and he groaned, pushing away from the cool glass. His body ached and he toyed with the idea of soaking the pains away in a bath. However when the floor shifted under his feet he discarded that idea. With how much vodka was surging through his veins he'd probably drown himself.

And then Henry would probably turn him just to give him a year of hell over it.

In the beginning of their relationship Henry had made it abundantly clear that no one was allowed to hurt what was his. No one. Not even the person whom he had claimed.

He sighed and ran his hands through his hair, glancing around his apartment blearily. He was tired and he ached but every time he closed his eyes he felt the shadows creeping upon him. Sleep was definitely going to be out. The aches of his body came back full force and he sighed, knowing he needed to do something about it.

He padded to the bathroom, digging around for the shiny new first aid kit he had stored there. Carrying it back to the living room he collapsed down on the couch with it. Peeling off his shirt he tossed it aside, forgetting it before it even hit the floor. His fingers skimmed over the plastic case, tracing the familiar cross on the front and laughing softly. First aid kits with their crosses on the cover had always reminded him of new aged vampire hunting kits.

In fact that's sort of why he'd bought one, except he wasn't using it to kill a vampire. He had bought it meaning to use it to heal a vampire's plaything.

Sometimes, he mused as he popped open the top and surveyed the goods inside, living in Henry's rough and tumble world took a toll on a mere human’s body.

Course he'd never have thought he'd be using it to take care of wounds he'd gotten from a shadow.

There was a scratch at his door and he froze. He stared at the door suspiciously and for a long moment there was no other sound. Sighing deeply he shook his head. The vodka was definitely getting to him.

But the moment he began digging around in the kit there was another scratch, this one longer and definitely louder.

"Who's there?" He demanded, fear spiking in him.

Almost immediately he felt foolish for his words. People didn't scratch at doors. They knocked. Shadows didn't scratch either.

"Probably a dog." He grumbled, turning his attention back to the bandages and ointment.

The scratch came a third time and this time Tony could have sworn he heard wood splintering.

"Shit!" He cursed, standing up so quickly he dumped the kit. Cursing under his breath he stepped over the mess and towards the door. People weren't supposed to have pets in this complex but some people ignored the edict. Whoever owned this mutt had probably let it out thinking no one would notice.

"If you've ruined my door I'm going to find your owner and you can help me kick their ass." He hissed under his breath, unlatching his door and yanking it open.

It wasn't a dog.

His gaze had been downwards when he'd yanked open the door and since the one leaning into the frame was shorter then he it brought their faces close together.

He saw his reflection in the black eyes and his breath caught in his throat a second before a deceptively delicate hand pressed against his chest and propelled him backwards. He yelped as he stumbled over the plastic kit and tumbled backwards to the floor. Wincing as already abused elbows and shoulders took the impact he stared up through watery eyes as Henry stalked inside. The door slammed behind him, hitting the frame with enough force to make everything nearby shake.

He swallowed nervously as the vampire peered around, black eyes taking in the surroundings. There was no judgment, no feeling at all in that sweeping gaze. Immediately Tony recognized it for what it was. A predator doing a precursory scan to make sure no other predator was around to interfere with its meal.

He swallowed again, this time feeling a lump sink in his throat as he drew his legs up underneath him. "Henry . . ."

Black eyes slid towards him before that regal face followed, staring down at him emotionlessly.

I thought you were going out to feed, was what he wanted to ask but the words died on his lips. Somehow it seemed like a bad idea to remind the vampire he had been hungry.

He licked lips gone suddenly dry and the black eyes narrowed.

"Henry . . ."

He yelped as a hand buried itself in his hair, jerking his head back as the vampire settled over him. Fangs that were impossibly white against the redness of Henry’s mouth slipped free, gliding out from behind the plump lower lip. Tony felt his eyes widen as he stared at the points, shivering uncontrollably in the tight hold. There was a delicate sniff and the vampire’s tongue pushed against the points of the sharp teeth, as though the predator was tasting the air.

“Henry.” He whispered again, pleading this time.

Lids drooped lazily over the black eyes, and Tony gasped as the hand in his hair tightened, bowing his back. Lips settled over his throat and Henry’s tongue darted over his skin. He felt something whisper over his pulse but it was so soft he couldn’t make out the words. Henry’s face suddenly turned and Tony pushed uselessly at his chest as the vampire nuzzled his cheek, catching his earlobe between teeth and tugging on it a moment before releasing it.

When Henry’s hand released its death grip on the back of his head and he suddenly pulled back. Tony heaved a sigh of relief, thinking the man had finally gotten control of the vampire. Reaching up one hand to rub the back of his head he glanced up and realized he had been wrong.

Henry caught his hand in his, dark eyes studying the cuts and scrapes upon the palm. He tried to tug his hand free but it was futile. Leaning forward Henry’s tongue ran roughly over the scratches. Tony had never considered his hands a sensual area before but, as Henry’s tongue swirled over his palm and in between his fingers, he felt his stomach and lower body tighten. He swallowed hard and tried to weakly pull his hand free. Finally, after like what seemed an eternity Henry let him go.

A hand cupped his chin and black eyes drew him in. He saw Henry’s lips moving but couldn’t hear what he was saying. Whatever it was his body seemed to hear it though because all of a sudden he was practically panting and when Henry leaned forward he practically shoved his face into the vampire’s.

Their mouth’s crashed together but the angle was wrong and Tony felt his lower lip slip between Henry’s. He hadn’t even realized it had been split by the sharp fangs until he tasted blood in his own mouth.

And then Henry went crazy.

Fingers caught in his hair again and Tony whimpered as he was pressed tighter to Henry. For a horrible moment he recalled the sensation of the shadow slipping into his throat, cutting off his breath as Henry’s body rose a bit higher over his, tilting his head all the back as the vampire sealed their mouths together, sucking painfully at his bleeding lip. His fear was drowned in lust as Henry’s tongue probed and swiped at his lip, coaxing more blood from it.

One hand fisted in Henry’s shirt, Tony let his other hand mirror Henry’s, tangling it in the red-gold hair. There was an arm wrapped about his waist now, holding their lower bodies together and Tony groaned as Henry shifted, putting pressure on his arousal. He was rock hard. He’d learned long ago that there was no gradual growing arousal around Henry. When the vampire wanted him his body obeyed and went straight from nothing to all out. He’d remarked on it once, laughing it off as one of the benefits of being young.

Henry’s sly smirk had convinced him otherwise.

He was beginning to feel light headed now. Blinking owlishly he let his head fall back into the vampire’s hold, his fisted hand losing its grip and falling to his own chest. Everything seemed brighter now and he wondering if it was the vodka in Arra’s potion going to his head or Henry.

When the vampire suddenly released him and peered down at him he decided it was Henry.

The vampire studied him and for a moment he thought he saw Henry flicker through those dark eyes but then it was gone.

“You are mine.” The creature, both Prince and vampire, declared, staring down at him.

He was too lightheaded to really argue at the moment.

Nodding to himself Henry released him.

Outside the rain was falling in sheets and beneath him the floors had gone cold. It was just one more sensation in a sea of many as Henry reached down and ghosted sharp nails down his sides. Tony arched and gasped, his eyes closing at the sensation. He cried out as a mouth warmed now with his blood settled on his collar. He felt Henry’s tongue lap at the bruises there, nails running back down his sides again, harder this time.

“Jesus Henry.” He whispered, peeling his eyes open. His hands closed over the vampire’s arms.

He received what could almost be a mischievous smirk from the creature holding him down and then all thought was driven from his mind as fangs closed dangerously tight over a nipple. He arched and cried out again, twisting uselessly in Henry’s grasp. The vampire let him move, let him have the illusion that he could get away if he really wanted to.

He wasn’t going anywhere and they both knew it.

Still, he writhed under the smaller man, whimpering as fangs and tongue teased his body. When his back arched the vampire rode him, when he twisted and thrashed it only made the friction between their bodies greater.

Finally he collapsed, panting for breath. Henry’s hands left his sides then, catching his arms and pushing them up over his head. He stared up at the man as his wrists were pinned above his head with one hand. The other was dragged over his body as the vampire surveyed his handiwork

“You are mine,” Henry growled, staring down at him intently, “The other has been driven back. I will reclaim what is mine.”

Tony resisted the urge to roll his eyes, even though his body bucked in lust at the vampire’s words. With Henry straddling him in what was quite clearly a place of power he wasn’t in any position to argue with him.

Sensing his acceptance, the vampire nodded again, looking smug. For a moment Tony felt a flash of rebellious rage but then Henry suddenly tugged off his pants. When sharp nails grazed his arousal all thoughts of rebellion fled his mind and all Tony could think to do was hiss.

A small smile played over Henry’s lips as he played with his prey. The vampire in him remembered this body, the Prince in him remembered this possession. Both knew how to play it to perfection.

Tony’s eyes closed as he pulled against the hand that held his above his head. Henry’s fingers stroked over his cock, nails dancing over the weeping head, driving him crazy. He felt the familiar tightening in his stomach and he pressed his face against his straining arms, crying softly with each tug. Henry had always known how to mix pain with pleasure in just the right amounts to make his body sing. He was doing so now.

Up, circle, and down. Over and over again Henry’s fingers followed this pattern until Tony felt he could take it now more. The touches were feather light and they were driving him crazy with want. Bracing his feet against the floor, Tony found some leverage and thrust himself up into the vampire’s grip, gasping when it tightened.

Henry amused himself by letting his human have what he wanted for a bit. When he was beginning to tire of this new game he let his hand slip away as Tony thrust up. His fingers slipped down below the man’s weeping arousal, searching for what he wanted. His finger slipped into the hidden passage easily, sinking all the way in, making him sigh in pleasure at the tight grip and making his human groan.

Yes, this was what they both wanted. What they both needed.

Grinning to himself he toyed with them both for a bit, slipping more fingers inside, remapping his human’s hidden secrets. He kept an eye on the expressive face, enjoying the flush that had spread over Tony’s cheeks and the new one forming across his chest. He could smell the blood just under the arousal and it made him growl in the back of his throat.

Feeling impatience building with him he pulled away from the warm body, pleased when Tony’s hands remained above his head of their own accord. He stripped off the clothes that clung to his body, flinging them away. Aware that he was being watched he took a moment to enjoy the view of the one stretched before him, giving himself to him.

His tongue teased his fangs, pricking the Hunger just slightly as he slid into position.

And, ah, it was even better then he remembered!

Both their backs arched as he slid inside, twisting ever so slightly to find the perfect angle. Yes, yes he remembered this. Remembered and missed it. Groaning he reached down, catching his human to him and twisting until he could press his chest to the broad back, wrapping his arms around Tony and holding him tight as they recalled the rhythm that had always worked between them.

The body was warm in his arms and he pressed the palm of his hand against the place where Tony’s heart thudded. He buried his face in the damp hair, inhaling his lover’s scent. He felt Tony’s body tremble in his arms and closed his eyes, tightening his hold as he let a little more of his control slip, driving him deeper and faster into the young man’s body. His hand curled around Tony’s arousal, tugging on it urgently.

“I’ll keep you safe.” He murmured, brushing his fangs over the bared neck, proving his trust by not breaking the skin.

He felt Tony shudder and then he growled in pleasure as Tony shifted and tensed, trapping them together, if only for a moment.

He closed his eyes, letting his head fall back as the feelings washed over him. So much. Almost too much for his heightened senses.

And then, like a dream, it was gone.

Sighing in contentment he pressed his face against the damp, flushed skin of his lover.

Mine.

Always and forever.

Tony would grow old. He would die. But Henry would always consider him his. Neither the prince nor the vampire would accept less.

As the rain fell and lightening lit the night, both vampire and human were content with that.

If only for one night.