Page 91 of For Love and Blood and Fury

“I’m so sorry to keep you waiting, Mother.” Narine swept into the room, straight black hair hanging down the front of her chest.

Narine’s captivating dark eyes were painted black. Dressed in colorful silks that draped her full figure, she was gliding more than walking. Narine was still every bit the Persian princess she’d once been.

“Don’t add to your follies by making me feel old,” Elena joked before extending her arms to match Narine’s gesture. The embrace was brief but relatively warm as far as affection between predators went.

“I am truly sorry for not meeting you myself?—”

“And for not being in attendance last night,” Elena added.

Narine straightened for a fraction of a second before bowing her head in a more appropriate gesture of contrition. “With the number of guests you surely entertained, I didn’t realize my absence would be so noticed.”

“It was noticed,” Librada replied, tone cold and lethal.

Jaw tightening, Narine let her nostrils flair for an instant before adjusting her features. “Of course. I should have been there.”

When she didn’t volunteer what had stopped her from attending, Elena kept her gaze on Narine. She counted the seconds of uncomfortable silence before movement from the far corner of the room made Elena turn her head.

Four beautiful specimens in white linen floated into the room. Offerings, obviously.

“I have an AB positive for you.” Narine gestured to the androgynous brunette in loose pants and top, looking like they intended to lounge at a resort all day. “Is that still your favorite?”

“I’ve eaten,” Elena said by way of dismissal.

“Oh, come on.” Narine’s smile was bright and warm and conducive to clouding judgment. It reminded Elena of the woman she’d met over a century ago. Smart, cunning, seductive. She’d been a vampire without a nest then, and Elena hadn’t hesitated to take her in. “It’s rude to decline my hospitality.”

With a glance, Elena dismissed Narine’s human lovers. She could smell Narine all over each of them. And while that was no deterrent to drinking from them, she was finding herself ready to get back home. To get to the women who smelled like her.

When her lovers hesitated, Narine gave them the signal that it was okay to go. To return to lounging by the pool or whatever they’d been doing.

“You used to be a lot more fun,” Narine decided before leading them to the upholstered couch and armchairs near a transparent grand piano.

“You used to be more direct.” Elena crossed one leg over the other. “You haven’t asked about the rumors regarding my brief absence after an attack on myposition,” she said instead oflife.

Reclined on the small sofa, Narine laughed. “Because I don’t believe them.” She waved her hand. “You don’t make it a habit to tell people your business. The way I heard it, you were gone a few days. That’s hardly shock?—”

“They’re true,” Elena said.

Narine’s amusement melted in an instant. She sat up, luscious brows furrowed. “True?” She shook her head. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“You didn’t avoid attending my gathering because you feared I couldn’t protect you?” Elena let the worry slip out.

“Couldn’t protect me?” Narine laughed, but it was coated in caustic rage. “Elena, you are the strongest vampire I’ve ever met. Not just physically, but mentally.” She shook her head as if to bring herself back to the point. “What do you mean by the rumors are true? I don’t understand.” She leaned forward, huge, dark eyes imploring her to confess.

Next to her, Librada shifted. She wouldn’t want Elena to tell Narine what happened. She’d want the details to remain nebulous and amorphous. But there was no hiding that Lance and Jesus and Robert were dead. That her human proxy had been killed. Even if no one was stupid enough to ask for confirmation, there was no point in pretending. Not here.

Twisting the garnet ring on her middle finger, she opened her mouth and spilled. While she talked, Narine’s face crumpled into horror and then grief. She’d been close to Robert once.

“But there is not a single established cartel that would ever bring down a world of hell on themselves by breaking the treaty,” Narine said, eyes still wide with disbelief.

“Perhaps a band of male vampires living on the outskirts of society would be desperate enough to take the swing,” Elena considered aloud. It still sounded so impossible to her, but the brain’s capacity for delusion had surprised her before.

“Baylor’s crew?” Narine’s head was tipped to one side.

“Who is that?” Librada leaned forward like she’d barely stopped herself from lunging.

“A fucking nobody. Harmless loser playing in the swamp with a handful of other orphaned males.” Narine shook her head. “I offered them a place in my nest when they were here a few years ago, but they wanted to go it alone. It was stupid and unnecessarily difficult, but Baylor was the oldest among them and he’s barely fifty. The survivalist type, you know? They’re too stupid to know how stupid they are.”

“Stupid enough to attack me?”

---