Page 27 of The Baritone's Rival

“I can take care of myself,” Trent reiterated, quieter this time, as if he were trying to convince himself.

“It’s nothing to be ashamed about,” Oscar said, wanting to soothe Trent’s frustration. Trent was stubborn, and that wouldbe exacerbated by the adrenaline crash that accompanied the end of any fight. “You hold your own against vampires better than any human I’ve ever seen. But you can’t compete with supernatural abilities.”

“Sure I can,” Trent grunted. “The bloodlust and the boredom make vampires stupid. I would have figured out a way to get him off me.”

Trent looked at Oscar as if he were trying to project confidence, but Oscar could see the fear underneath.

“If they keep coming, eventually they’ll slip through your defenses,” Oscar said softly. “Especially if they send more than one. You have so many more ways to die than we do.”

Trent’s brow furrowed, but he said nothing.

“This is my fault?—”

“It is,” Trent interrupted.

“—so let me help make it right.” Oscar stepped toward Trent and dared to reach out and touch him on the bare arm. Trent looked down at it, but didn’t pull away or say anything. Oscar continued despite the energy that crackled where their skin met.

“Take Freddie up on his offer. Get out of town for a week or two. I’ll go with you. Now all three of the vampires that attacked me are dead, but this one had a whole day to report to its master. Anthony will smooth over your absence. You’ll be back in plenty of time for the Manhattan Lyric.”

Trent shook Oscar’s hand off his arm.

“You’d love that, wouldn’t you?” he said. “Get rid of your main competition for the audition.”

“I would go with you! I’m not worried about the audition.”

Trent’s face went dark. “And that’s why people like you are so frustrating. You canaffordnot to worry.”

“People like me?”

“Rich people. Vampires.” Trent waved at him dismissively. “Assholes that don’t have to work. You’ll always have your coven to take care of you. It’s not like you have a real job.”

The flame of righteous indignation sprang up in Oscar’s chest. “It’s called having a community! I work for the coven.”

“Exactly. Ineedmy opera career to be successful. Otherwise, I don’t eat when the student loans come due.” Trent walked to the now-glassless window frame, gesturing downward as he surveyed the mess of shards and wood splinters on the floor. “This will be such a pain in the ass to clean up.”

Oscar fought the urge to snap back at him. Trent knew nothing about his past, nothing about where he came from, but it didn’t matter. Oscar had put him in danger. He needed Trent to agree to go with him.

“You could have died!” He couldn’t stop himself from caring about his mate’s well-being, even if the two of them would never complete the mating bond.

For just a second, Oscar saw real fear flash across Trent’s face. Whatever his past with vampires might be, Trent understood that he was in a precarious position.

“Please.” Oscar wrestled his emotions under control. He kept his tone low and soft. “Just for a couple of weeks. Give Freddie time to locate the bastards.”

Trent stared out through the empty air into the cold night. Oscar and Justin said nothing. The silence was oppressive.

Finally, he turned his face toward them, frustrated resignation in his eyes.

“Fine. Two weeks. Anthonywillmake sure the absences don’t hurt my grades.”

Oscar nodded slowly.

“And,” Trent continued, “I have to be back for the audition. Even if there’s an army of vampires waiting for me, I’m going.”

Chapter 9

Trent

When Trent walked out the front door of his apartment complex, Oscar stood there with a rakish smile on his face, his long brown hair tossed by the breeze. The sun was peeking out from the roof of the building behind Trent, and its rays glinted in Oscar’s eyes, turning them a subtle orange-red.

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