Page 29 of Tainted Blood

“It is,” someone said softly. Alexius tensed for a second, realizing another of the Ancients had snuck over in Isaiah’s absence.

Though if any could ever sneak up on me, it would be her.

“Lyra, have a seat,” Alexius said politely, gesturing to the space Aelia and Isaiah had occupied. He didn’t look at her, didn’t need to. He knew exactly what Lyra looked like. Too much like him, both hailing from the same place. Wavy dark hair, sun-kissed skin, dark eyes. He met Lyra shortly after he had Turned Jacob, her curiosity drawing her to them. Her musical voice and inability to remember her own name led Jacob to name her Lyra.

She sat as silently as she had walked up. Alexius glanced at her, wondering what her move was in coming to see him and Everly like this. She ignored him and looked at Everly, holding out a delicate hand.

“We were introduced earlier, but I think you might appreciate a second introduction. Lyra, vampire of Volos.”

“Everly Abbott. It’s nice to meet you,” Everly said, and Alexius watched her reckon with how to shake Lyra’s hand. It eventually happened

“You were saying they seemed like sharks. They are. All of us are,” Lyra said, turning toward the game, blatantly ignoring him.

It took Alexius a moment to realize Lyra still had Everly’s hand, holding it in a delicate way, her thumb stroking the back of Everly’s hand.

“There is a certain energy when the games begin. The gambling will be innocent tonight, but be careful. The goal isn’t to win. The goal is to make others gamble with things they can’t afford to lose.”

“I’ve never had much interest in gambling.”

“For the best. Every shark is different, and you have to intimately know every other predator at the table, or you’ll find yourself the prey,” she said, nodding. “Take Samas and Ramman. Someone probably already warned you about them. Samas is clearly dangerous, but Ramman is good at playing the prey so Samas can have the kill. Damek and Ivanna? Ivanna will weaken their enemies before her brother strikes, but on a different evening, it might be the other way around. They’re well matched. Kamose is arrogant, but he has reason to be, and it works well for him. His ability to bluff has trapped many in debts they couldn’t pay.”

“How does Isaiah play?” Everly asked.

“Isaiah… He knows everyone too well. He’s very good at reading others, what is truly important to them and what isn’t. Then he aims for their weak spot and will hit it before anyone realizes it. I’ve seen people leave a table with him, not ever touched by him, but when you stand back and look at how the night went, you’ll realize that Isaiah orchestrated at least a quarter of it by manipulating different people.”

“Yeah, that sounds like him,” Everly mumbled, making Lyra laugh in a way he hadn't heard in years. In that moment, Lyra finally released Everly's hand and Alexius felt like he could relax.

“So, you know him well.”

“He’s visited since she came to my household,” Alexius explained. “And you know how I don’t allow anyone to use rank or station in my home.”

“Oh, she got to meet him while he was a normal man, then. A privilege most younger vampires will never enjoy and then only possibly if they know the right Ancient.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “Like one of the two vampires who helped him become who he is today.”

“She would have seen it without me, being an Orphan like him,” Alexius reminded her. Finally, he decided he needed to get to the root of her sudden appearance at their booth. “To what do we owe the pleasure of you stopping by to see us?”

“I wanted to speak to you privately later, if you’ll have me,” she murmured, her gaze filled with something he hadn’t seen in some time. Unadulterated lust. He and Lyra had had dalliances centuries ago, but they never settled down together, never became blood lovers or anything close to that. “I can visit in the morning. I just need to know the direction of your suite.”

Her offer only made him think of the last dozen times they had done this and why it never lasted. She wasn’t warm. She started sweet as honey, but she was certainly a creature of the dark. Not evil, but too okay with being what they were, too comfortable with it. Spending time with her made him indulge darker wants, and he grew less comfortable with it every time they spent the night together.

“I’m sorry, Lyra, but I don’t think we should be meeting in my suite,” he said gently. “Perhaps we can ask for a private sitting room or meet in the library for whatever conversation you might want to have with me.”

“I would call you dense, but I know you’re not,” she said, sighing heavily. “That door remains closed, does it?”

“It does.”

“A pity.” Standing up, she walked away without another word.

“Alexius, what was that?” Everly asked in a whisper beside him. “Did she mean what I think she meant?”

“Yes,” he answered, wishing Lyra hadn’t been so obvious. “She certainly did, and I meant what I said.”

“Sharks. She came to hit on you while everyone was distracted with the game,” Everly pointed out.

Alexius almost smiled. She was right. Lyra had found her opening and used it, which was Lyra’s favorite hunting technique. She didn’t make openings for herself. She let them naturally appear then took advantage, which was how she was so good at sneaking up on people, always catching them off-guard.

With only one chair left open at the game table, Lyra sat down, cutting off someone else reaching for it. She smiled at everyone around the table, graciously accepting the hand dealt to her.

“Smooth,” Everly mumbled, and that made him smile.

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