Page 21 of Because the Night

Henry snorts.

“It was a joke,” I say. “First names are fine. Who’s Benedict?”

“Someone who is not here,” answers Lucas, watching the crowd. And that’s all he says, as per the usual. Keeping secrets doesn’t make him half as alluring and mysterious as he seems to think it does. All right, so it probably does. But it is still a deeply annoying habit.

I take another sip of blood. “Okay. Next question. Do we get any other gifts when we change?”

“Like what?” asks Lucas.

“I don’t know. Like reading minds, or starting fires with our thoughts, or stuff like that.”

“Not that I’ve heard of,” says Henry.

Lucas studies me. “It’s very rare. Why are you asking, Skye?”

“No reason.” I take another sip. “Just watched too many vampire movies, I guess.”

His gaze narrows on me.

I stare back at him, transfixed. It’s the same way I feel with the humans and their irresistible blood. As if I have a need only he can meet, which is absolutely not the case at all. The way my nipples have hardened to peaks beneath my jacket, however, is not helping.

“Have you fed recently?” asks Henry, interrupting the staring contest. Thank goodness. “You’re looking a little hungry, Father.”

“It’s next on my list of things to do.”

“Monica,” Henry calls out to a woman in a slinky dress, curled up on the lap of another vampire. “Come here, please.” Then he turns back to us and says, “We met in the VIP section at a Stage Dive concert last year. A charming girl, and a vegan, which gives the blood such an interesting taste.”

Monica is gorgeous, with olive skin and shoulder-length, curly brown hair. She’s naturally graceful. She doesn’t even need vamp juice to make her so. And I am not the least bit jealous at all because that would just be weird.

Lucas’s gaze fixes on her and his whole body goes statue still. Like he’s about to pounce or something. Then a smile curves his lips, and he takes her hand and leads her farther back into the garden without a word.

I watch until they’re out of sight, for some reason. It must be a newborn thing. Being clingy with the vampire who killed me and made me drink his blood, etcetera. Nothing else makes sense. Because I don’t actually care about him walking away with someone else.

“Don’t worry, he’ll be back in a minute.” Henry bumps his shoulders against mine with a smile. “Well, maybe not a minute. He hasn’t gotten laid in over seventy years. It wouldn’t surpriseme if he’s forgotten how to do it. Do you think I should go back there and give him some pointers? Remind him of what goes where? There are bound to be some anatomy books around here I could use.”

I sip my blood and keep my mouth shut.

“No. You’re probably right. Father doesn’t have much of a sense of humor,” says Henry. “Thank goodness you’re here, little sister. Where would I be without you?”

“No idea.”

“Me neither.” He grins. “Fucking and feeding go exceptionally well together. You should try it sometime. Mind you, mortals can be so fragile. Are you any good at dancing?”

“Well—”

A shout comes from inside as a large figure strides through the French doors and out into the garden. It’s the guard from last night with the shaved head and suit. The one who was guarding the steel door in the subbasement level of The Boulevard Hotel. Everyone gives him a wide berth, but they don’t go anywhere. Heck no. They’re all gathering outside, eyes alight with excitement at whatever’s about to happen.

“Oh, shit,” mumbles Henry.

“What?” I ask.

“Lucas,” the man shouts. “We have business, you and I.”

Lucas appears opposite him in a blur of motion. He wipes blood off his chin and says, “Hello, Berin.”

“I didn’t challenge you last night because I didn’t want to disgrace the board. But I’ve resigned my position now. It’s time for you to answer for his death.”

“Archie doesn’t deserve your loyalty.”

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