Page 37 of Tainted Blood

“It’s easy to lose track of time,” Ka murmured. “What’s a few days when you have centuries?”

“Depends on how you use your days,” Idir said, shrugging. “Look at Alexius. He’spresent. He had a son and a job, something to do. Taj might need to find something to do. Even I have something to do to pass the time yet not lose it. Coming to these events helps. It’s important to touch base with reality.”

“It is, but Taj isn’t my responsibility,” Ka countered. “If he wants to stare into space for days on end, he can do that.”

I almost wanted to meet this vampire they said had such a fickle nature with time. I could understand how a vampire might get that way, but I had never met one. Even the vampires that rejected technology could at least read a calendar.

The conversation died off. Alexius waved down a human to bring him a drink. I didn’t ask for one, even as my throat burned when Alexius's order. It wasn’t even close to when I was supposed to feed again, and I didn’t want to start indulging off schedule, not when I was still having control issues.

“What do you mean he won?” someone growled as the double doors swung open.

17

Sucaria was the first vampire I saw. Her eyes were red as she glared at whoever was coming in right after her. Someone else had won the hunt, and she was pissed about it.

“He couldn’t even be bothered to stay with us to find out the results.”

Oh, Alexius won. That’s nice.

I elbowed him, and he rolled his eyes but didn’t speak up at the sudden activity or the news.

“He was first to return and brought back the biggest stag,” Jamal said with a shrug. “Which means he gets the prize.”

“He didn’t even know there was a prize.” Isaiah chuckled as he walked in beside Kamose, just behind Jamal. “I didn’t tell him.”

“Even better. It’s a surprise.” Jamal grinned.

“We’re over here,” I called out, waving. I immediately wished I hadn’t when Sucaria turned her glare on me. Jamal turned his grin on us, ignoring the raging Gaul from Berlin next to him.

“Fantastic.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black case as he walked over to us. Isaiah and Kamose followed him, also ignoring Sucaria’s rage. As Jamal approached, Caturix and Dago entered, with Caturix directing Sucaria to sit down in a booth away from us. Conall didn’t appear, which I was a bit grateful for.

Jamal sat down across from Alexius, followed by Isaiah. Kamose didn’t sit but leaned on the table in front of me.

“I don’t need a prize,” Alexius said, lifting a hand to block the box Jamal held out to him.

“Doesn’t matter. You came to the hunt, you followed the rules, and you won. You’ll take the prize.”

“Isaiah, tell him,” Alexius growled. “I don’t need prizes or anything like that. I just wanted to go on a hunt.”

Isaiah looked at me, crossing his arms. He was definitely trying not to smile, but a twitch at the corners of his mouth was giving him away.

I reached out and took the box.

“I’ll make sure this gets home with him,” I promised Jamal. Alexius huffed, reaching to grab the box from me, but I avoided him. “You won a prize, and as your assistant, it would deeply upset Rupert if I didn’t make sure all your belongings made it home with you. Neither of us would hear the end of it.”

“Everly.” He was annoyed, but I knew he wouldn’t do anything to me.

“Alexius.” I held the box on the table in front of me, covering it with both hands. I couldn’t explain it, but I wanted him to have this prize, whatever it was. It felt right that he actually got some reward. From the things I had seen so far, no one ever showed Alexius any appreciation except Isaiah. He had won this fair and square, and he deserved to have it, even if he thought it was silly or excessive.

“Considering he doesn’t want it, you should take a look,” Isaiah remarked, finally letting his smile out. “Jamal didn’t show me what it was.”

“Just a little trinket, something I was willing to part with to get others in on a fun hunt,” Jamal said, dismissing whatever was in the box. "It's nothing really."

I had a suspicion that it wasn’t just some little trinket. Opening the box, I couldn’t hide my reaction. The ring inside was a large teardrop ruby surrounded by gold. It looked like a sparkling drop of blood. I nearly dropped the box, almost spooked by holding something that probably cost more than I had ever earned.

“Stunning,” Isaiah said, leaning to look at it. “I see why you thought this would make a fun reward for anyone here. The motif is clear. Where did you get it? Don’t tell me you had it made for something important, then decided to give it away here.”

“It was a random find at an auction, actually. I’m certain it belonged to a royal family at some point or another because of the appraisal I had done. The man’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull. I bought it at the auction precisely for this purpose, though, so who cares where it came from?” Jamal looked at the ring, then me. “It hasn’t been magically altered if you would like to try it on. It’s perfectly safe.”

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