Page 6 of Tainted Blood

“You dress like a human, which is fine since you were one recently, but you’re about to be in a room of ancient vampires. I don’t want you to feel out of place or embarrassed. Alexius, I’m trusting you to handle it.”

“Or?”

“Or I’ll ask Imani to fly up and spend Everly’s first evening here taking her shopping and getting her an emergency wardrobe.”

“I’ll handle it,” Alexius said quickly. “Good night, Isaiah.” Alexius hung up.

“Who’s Imani?” I couldn’t remember why I recognized her name.

“Mistress of Phoenix, Isaiah’s granddaughter, for lack of a better term,” Alexius answered, shoving his phone into his pocket. “High-strung and powerful. She plays the game just as well as Isaiah, but her skill led her to having one of the worst areas for a nest because no one else could handle it. We don’t want Imani involved. She’s one of Isaiah’s favorites.”

“Phoenix? As in Phoenix, Arizona… the desert? He put his granddaughter in thedesert?”

“No. Maria did, and Isaiah couldn’t fight against it.”

“Oh. That’s mean,” I said, setting up my phone to stream a movie to the flat screen. I put on a new adaptation ofDracula, a mini-series that seemed promising, and sank deeper into the couch. “Can you just ask Rupert to go out and get me new clothes like he does for you? I don’t really care. He knows what I like to wear.”

“I certainly can. Stay here. I’ll watch this with you when I get back.”

I was halfway into the first episode when he returned. Sitting down on the other side of the couch, his legs stretched out and his posture poor, he watched the mini-series with me in silence. I paused the series, wondering if he was going to tell me if Rupert needed me for anything. When he gestured for me to restart the show, I frowned and got to the point.

“Will Rupert handle it?” I asked, needing some sort of verification, so I could put it out of my mind. The idea of needing to go shopping for whatever might be acceptable among the upper echelon of vampires horrified me, and I was trying to cover that up. Rupert having my back was a boon I needed.

“He’s going to check your measurements with your current wardrobe before you head to bed, so please stay here for the time being. When you wake tonight, you’ll have to try on several things and get them properly fitted. He knows who to contact for that as well.”

“Tell him thank you from me if you see him. This house wouldn’t run without him,” I said, hitting play.

“No, it wouldn’t,” Alexius agreed. He took another sip from his drink, something I had watched him ignore for some time. He made a face, and I knew it had to be cold now. “I will relay your thanks. He already knows, though.” He stood up again, swirling the contents of his glass as he headed for the small bar.

“Which part?” I asked once he was done replacing his forgotten blood.

“Both.” He sat down again with me. “What are we watching this evening? I feel like I recognize it, but I can’t place what or where from.”

“Oh, I’ve been meaning to watch this, and I’ll restart the episode for you. You might recognize it more if I do that.”

“That doesn’t tell me what it is,” he said, frowning before taking a drink.

“A new adaptation ofDracula, a mini-series by—”

His groan made me chuckle. He hatedDraculastories, from the original to every retelling and adaptation, but I was developing a perverse love for them.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“I turned it on before you decided to watch with me. Plus, it’s practically educational, considering the circumstances.”

4

ALEXIUS

He watched the abhorrent show until she was forced to retire. He suffered through two and a half episodes.

“Promise you won’t finish it without me,” Everly demanded as she left. She stopped in the doorway, looking over at him expectantly, and he knew he had to give her the harmless promise.

“I won’t finish the show without you. I swear it on my honor,” he said, seeing a smile forming. “Why would I ever wish to continue this torture without my torturer?”

“That’s a fair point,” she conceded, her smile shifting into a full grin. He couldn’t help but return the smile, knowing there were very few who felt comfortable smiling around him. He could name those people on one hand, including Everly.

Playfulness wasn’t something Alexius had expected out of this arrangement, but there it was, a teasing from her to him, which he found enjoyable.

---