Page 13 of Because the Night

“We can make a case for him having challenged you, which resulted in this.” Rose frowns. “But you can’t just go around killing vampires. Especially not board members. We really do have rules now. At least for the next few days.”

“Don’t make us have to hunt you.”

Lucas’ smile is bitter. “I can’t believe you want to regulate our existence. Attempting to avoid just that is why most of us came here.”

“It was necessary,” says Rose. “You have no idea the dangers we faced.”

“Do you truly believe either of us would have agreed to it otherwise?” asks Javier.

Lucas grunts. “No one touches a hair on my pretty little newborn’s head.”

Rose sighs some more. “Yes. You’ve made that quite clear.”

“The Hills are mine.” Lucas jumps off the table. “I don’t want to see another vampire in the area uninvited.”

“We’ll see that word gets around,” says Rose. “But Archie’s family is sizeable, and their loyalty to him zealous, to say the least. I would anticipate visitors out for revenge, if I were you. Whether we condone such activities or not.”

Lucas nods. “I understand.”

“You are, of course, permitted to defend yourself. Will you be taking Archie’s seat on the board?”

“Hell no.”

“Lucas.” Rose sighs. “One way or another, someone will need to represent your territory. Even if the rules are relaxed, we hope to continue working together for the betterment of our kind.”

“I am not spending the rest of eternity in fucking board meetings.” He wanders over to stand at my side. His vintage suit is trashed. The formerly white shirt smudged with ash. “It was good to see you both. Hopefully next time we can have a proper visit and not talk business.”

Javier just waves him away.

“You picked the worst damn time to wake up. It would have been simpler if you’d stayed asleep,” says Rose. “You know that, don’t you?”

“I know,” says Lucas. “But it was time. Or near enough.”

“Time for what?” I ask as we’re heading out the door. I do my best to keep any lingering fear out of my voice. And any hint of a freak-out off my face. Lucas doesn’t seem the type to appreciate either.

The trip back through the bar is even worse this time. Patrons are no longer content with just whispers and stares.We’re actually getting growled at. Which is rude. In all likelihood, they’re members of Archie’s family.

“Time to live, Skye,” he says, throwing an arm around my shoulders. As if his night of killing has made him merry. Such a psychopath. “It’s time for us to live.”

Behind the scarred door in the basement of the house in the Hollywood Hills is a network of rooms. It’s a little like Batman’s lair, but with fewer bats and no technology. It’s actually quite homey, with paintings, black-and-white photos, and tapestries on the walls. And all of the furniture is antique; there’s even a chandelier.

The door opens into a sprawling, grandiose living room with a collection of Chesterfields, chaise lounges, and wingbacks. There’s also a long wooden table that seats twelve. A wall of books that appear to be even older than the ones upstairs, and several cabinets full of curiosities. A wide hallway leads off from the room. That’s where the bedroom is, along with a variety of other locked doors.

Lucas heads through his bedroom and into the attached bathroom upon our return, with me following close behind. We didn’t talk much on the drive back to the house. I think I was in shock. But now I have questions, and lots of them. As much as I resent Lucas, he is my sole teacher when it comes to the undead and this new life of mine.

“Are the heart and the head the main ways to kill vampires?” I ask.

“Yes,” he says, shrugging out of his filthy suit jacket and toeing off his shoes. “Plotting my downfall already?”

“A girl needs her hobbies.”

He snorts. “Hold on to your sense of humor, Skye. It’ll serve you well in the centuries to come. Fire and sunlight can also kill, but you need sustained exposure.”

“I don’t suppose you have any magical rings that enable us to walk around in daylight?”

He stares blankly at me.

“Just asking.”

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