Page 36 of Because the Night

“You’re kidding me?”

Lucas grunts but says nothing. And he stays put on top of me. Awkward as heck.

“When Father turned me, he threw me into his dungeon for weeks, leaving jugs of blood at the door once a night,” says Henry. “Wouldn’t let me out until I promised not to bite the staff or break any of his precious furniture.”

“He chained me to a tree,” says Benedict.

Henry’s brows reach for the sky. “He chained you to a tree? Are you serious? How have I never heard about this?”

“You talk so much, I hardly ever get a word in.” Benedict shrugs. “It was this big old oak. A very nice tree, but still…I had to burrow in the ground each day to stay out of the sun.”

“You chained him to a tree?” I ask in amazement.

“It’s a long story.” Lucas finally climbs off me and offers his hand. “He kept trying to kill me.”

Benedict nods. “I did, that’s true. Our king tasked me with cutting off the evil creature’s head. But Lucas liked how I fought and turned me.”

“The Middle Ages were rough. I thought a Viking berserker might come in handy.”

I blink. “Huh.”

“What did you do for food when you were chained to this tree?” asks Henry.

“Before dawn each day, he would stand at a distance and throw rabbits at me,” says Benedict in the same stoic tone.

Henry cocks his head. “What? Live ones?”

“No,” says Lucas. “That would be cruel. I’d already wrung their necks.”

“Let me just say again how sorry I am that we interrupted your training session,” says the big dude with his bass voice. “Would you like us to go away until you’re finished?”

“Shut up, Benedict,” says Lucas. “It’s good to see you.”

“You, too, old man.”

This vampire must be almost seven-foot tall. He is huge.

“And this must be my new sister Skye, whom I have heard so much about.”

The word that enters my head when Benedict turns my way iscurious. But it’s surrounded in a warm glow of a feeling. Like he’s happy to be here. Guess Lucas was right about my gift and its ability to grow. Seeing the feeling associated with the word could be very helpful.

“Hello,” I say. “I see vampires come in size extra-large. How did Archie not steal you for his guard?”

Benedict snorts. “He tried. Many times. I understand he’s no longer with us?”

“Father tore his head off.” Henry puts a Robert Johnson record on the player. “You know what he’s like when he’s in a mood.”

“He challenged me,” says Lucas. “Sort of. Let’s talk in the living room.”

Benedict wanders back down the hallway, getting comfortable on a fancy-looking French chair. Henry flings himself into an armchair while Lucas takes a seat on the couch. Choosing to sit beside me for the second time tonight—which is weird.

“I’m not going to misbehave.” I nod to the big old wingback sitting empty. “You can go sit on your throne.”

Henry laughs. “Father’s favorite chair does look like a throne, doesn’t it?”

“I’m fine where I am,” says Lucas, and nods to Benedict.

“Leilah will enter the city at sundown,” reports Benedict. “She and her people will immediately move to infiltrate The Boulevard Hotel. She anticipates having it under family control by dawn.”

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