Page 34 of Tainted Blood

“It’s a good catch. You should be proud. I’m heading back in with Alexius and Everly,” Isis told him. “I’ll tell Mother how you did, and you can wait for the final verdict with Jamal.”

“Of course. Thank you for coming with me. I hope you got the fresh air you desired.”

“It had more hot air than I would have liked, but I can’t control what other people do with their tongues.” Isis shrugged and started walking.

I was fine with letting her head back on her own, but Alexius made his move to get going as well. Isis must have realized we were indeed heading back to the mansion, as he’d said, because she waited while we caught up. Once we were out of sight of everyone, Isis visibly relaxed. She moved closer than I had seen her yet, and I wondered if she had major issues with personal space or just issues with the people I’d seen her with so far.

“Conall is interested in her,” she said softly. “He was wondering if her temper might be too much for you, considering your past issues with your own. He was bold enough to ask Isaiah if he was sure you should be working with her.”

What is she playing at?

“Is there a reason you feel the need to watch out for me and mine, Isis?” he asked. “I am… appreciative, but it won’t get you anything.”

“You think my family doesn’t have our eyes and ears on the pulse of our community? We’ve heard things, and we’re loyal to Isaiah. Considering I could step away and Isaiah couldn’t, I decided to make sure you had the information you needed as quickly as possible. Your household is important to Isaiah; therefore, it’s important to my family.”

“We’ve never been close, so forgive me if I decide to continue to keep my distance from the other vampires here, including you and your family.”

“You always have, and no offense has ever been taken. None will be taken now. I keep my distance as well and am grateful most understand it. I won’t attempt to take that from you.”

“Is that why you stand so far from everyone? Trying to keep your distance?” I asked.

“You do pay attention,” Isis said with a smile. “Yes. I don’t like being touched, and many vampires can be very physical. Most come from cultures that encouraged it. Keeping my distance creates other barriers as well, letting me move silently through some of these events and watch others for my parents. I’m glad you noticed and decided to ask about it. It’s not a secret that I don’t like to be touched.”

“She shouldn’t have needed to ask. My apologies. I am intentionally not curious about others for my own reasons, which meant I couldn’t tell her much about you before we arrived.”

“I tried. I asked him a lot of questions,” I confirmed, sighing.

“The distance Alexius keeps is reasonable. I’ve understood it for centuries. It’s not easy to be close to people you may need to kill. The hunter and the hunted will always find it difficult to be friends.” Isis gave us a sad look. “And you are a hunter. I saw the way you looked at Conall. You’ll learn that keeping your distance is for the best.”

“All vampires are predators,” I said, frowning.

“Isis is another hunter like me,” Alexius explained. “Remember how I said the oldest and best vampires will often handle problems themselves? I’m not the only vampire in the world willing to do what I do. I’m just the oldest, the most experienced, and the most powerful.”

“I handle problems that arise in the areas around Kamose’s nest, so we don’t need to call in Alexius or any of the others. However, one time we reached out to Isaiah to send Alexius because I wasn’t comfortable doing it. I wasn't sure I would survive it.”

“Are there any more here?” I wanted to know who had been trained or had trained themselves to kill vampires. They were the ones I wanted to really avoid. As it was, I was grateful Alexius was standing between Isis and me. She seemed nice, just withdrawn, but I didn’t know her.

“Samas could have been, but he plays games with Ramman instead,” Isis said, shaking her head in clear distaste of that Ancient and his lover. “He’s a killer. There’s no need for what they do, but no one can stop them because they’ve always been clear about the rules. When people take Ramman’s bait, they do so knowing the risks. It’s hard to punish a man when his warnings are clear, and someone steps over the line.”

“I don’t believe there’s anyone else here. I believe you and I are the only ones who do it in an official capacity. I believe one of Aelia’s sons might do the same for her but not like us.”

“Yes, Maxwell. He will kill Aelia’s enemies if they step out of line in Rome, but hunting feral and dangerous vampires or investigating the way you and I do? He’s not of our ilk, not really. He’s a soldier in the same way Samas is a killer. Put Maxwell on a battlefield or the dueling grounds, and he excels, but tracking, thehunt… he wouldn’t manage.”

I rubbed my temples thanks to a phantom headache.

“Thank you for telling her things I haven’t been able to. I’ve been preoccupied with too many things recently, and my natural inclination to let Isaiah or Jacob talk to all of you and keep up with current events left me unprepared. That you give this information selflessly is a testament to your family.”

“Information is power, and my giving of it isn’t entirely selfless. Ilikeour world. I remember the dark days when Isaiah, my father, and several of the others here were fighting others of our age, trying to bring some control to the vampires of the world. I remember how Jacob started his nest and how you became the vampire you are now. If someone was willing to murder Jacob, regardless of the potential consequences, then they would certainly be capable of killing any number of us. If there is a vampire or group of vampires in the world that bold… Well, they must be ancients like us, which means they are probablyhere. Again, we listen, Alexius. We have to.” She nodded toward me, but her eyes stayed on him.

“And now, a year after they killed your only son, you come into the public eye for the first time with an Orphan, a human from his nest, who you saved from her final death with the blood of her killer, the blood of one of your son’s killers. We’re both old. It’s not difficult to understand that she is probably in danger just being here, or perhaps, you thought it was too dangerous to leave her in Savannah while you attended. You brought her to keep her close because that’s the easiest way to keep her safe.”

Holy shit. Isaiah didn’t tell her what Alexius and I are trying to do here, right? Or is she just that smart to figure it out or assumes we’re looking for anyone who might be involved? Is she just taking a shot in the dark?

“Be careful, Isis. Sometimes knowing too much is just as dangerous as knowing too little,” Alexius warned, his voice so soft, I nearly missed what he said, the night wind nearly taking it away. “However, your instincts are good. Keep trusting them.”

She took a step away, bowing her head.

“I understand. If there’s anything else I can do for you and yours, I will attempt to do so. If she needs a place to hide, she is welcome to do so with me and mine.” Isis turned, took a step, then stopped before looking back at us as if she’d remembered one more thing. “Be watchful of Dago.” Isis walked away quickly, disappearing into the dark as if the shadows clung to her and wrapped around her like a cloak.

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