Page 60 of The Tenor's Shadow

When they reached the three, none of them said anything. At first, Freddie was confused, until he realized they were all staring at Gabriela. Freddie nudged Anthony, who immediately figured out the problem.

“Uh, Gabriela, will you go on to the hotel?” Anthony asked. “These are some, uh, business associates of Freddie that we need to meet with.”

There was a flash of something on Gabriela’s face, perhaps anger at being dismissed, but it was quickly gone.

“Of course,” she said. She nodded to the group and headed off toward the busy taxi stand.

The vampires stood in silence as Gabriela walked away, her burgundy carry-on rolling by her side. Anthony rolled his eyes, but Freddie knew it was prudent. Once she was out of earshot, Rose skipped the introductions and dove right in.

“Any developments?”

“No. We’ll proceed as expected to the Hotel Burton Midtown.” Freddie clocked the frustration on Anthony’s face. “Anthony, this is Rose and her sister Lillian from the coven. That is Garrett.”

Rose and Lillian nodded. Garrett did not.

“Rose and Lillian, the two of you should plan on staying hidden.” Freddie was all business. “Report back anything suspicious.”

“And if we see one of the Azarians?” Lillian asked.

“Take them out. We’re not taking any chances. Try to stay quiet, if possible. And no going rogue, Garrett.”

Garrett let out an annoyed grunt.

Rose gave him a sharp look. “We’ll keep an eye on him. There’s a black car out front. We’ll follow you to the hotel.”

“I can’t have all of you hanging around during rehearsal,” Anthony said. “And I’ll have Gabriela with me most of the time. She’s my dresser and my friend, I won’t send her away.”

Anthony was already annoyed at the situation. Freddie had hoped this would go smoother.

Lillian led the vampires off, speaking without looking back. “We’ll stay out of the way. You won’t see us again unless the worst happens.”

As Anthony watched the group walk away, Freddie removed their luggage from the carousel.

“The all-black looks are a lot,” Anthony commented. “Do members of your coven always dress like some weird mix of CIA agents and mafiosos?”

“Master Hughes likes the uniformity of it.”

“Unless you’re hiding in the shadows, a gang of people in black suits sticks out.”

“Vampires don’t need clothing to camouflage themselves.”

“All the more reason to add a dash of color.”

Freddie chuckled, stacking the luggage and wheeling it towards the exit.

“I’ll pass along the feedback.”

The Hotel Burton was lovely, if nothing spectacular. The room was spacious, with simple but luxurious furnishings in gray and chrome. The bathroom floor was heated, which made Anthony happy.

They were in bed within the hour, with Anthony’s head tucked into Freddie’s armpit. The feeling of rightness suffused Freddie as he lay there. Neither of them were in the mood for more than sleeping, with Anthony on edge about stepping into a major role in two days, and Freddie worried about keeping him safe. But despite the uncertainty, Freddie felt a deep satisfaction that Anthony trusted him with his life. Anthony might not be a vampire, or even fully believe in the idea of mates, but Freddie’s body coursed with the need to protect his beloved.

Although Freddie didn’t sleep, having Anthony snoring into his side was the most restful sensation he’d ever experienced. When the sun peeked through the hotel’s sheer curtains, he jostled Anthony awake.

They arrived at the Manhattan Lyric at ten in the morning, standing for a long moment outside to take in the huge, elegant opera house. It was overwhelming, built in the 1920s in the Beaux-Arts style, with arched windows, balustrades, bas-relief panels, and sculptures of figures from Greek myths. It exuded a bluster of enforced permanence. While the Opera La Rambla projected a cozy antiquity, this building was yelling out “I exist!” to the entire world.

Freddie heard a hitch in his mate’s breath as they surveyed the landmark. He reached out and grabbed Anthony’s hand, intertwining their fingers.

“It’s just so much, you know?” There was a scratchiness to Anthony’s voice. “I’ve always dreamt of being here. Part of me thought it would never happen. “

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