Page 60 of The Darkest Night

“Would you like some more?” Vlad asked with a charming smile.

Mae pursed her lips. She didn’t want to look like a pig, but damn if using her magic didn’t make her famished. “Yes, please.”

And you’re calling me a glutton, Hellreaver mocked.

Mae ignored him. Vlad got up to serve her. So did Nikolai.

Her stomach sank as more and more food piled up in front of her. “Hmm, you guys, I don’t think I’m gonna be able to finish all of this.”

The two men ignored her, their attention focused on besting one another in some kind of futile one-upmanship. Bryony sighed. Mae was about to tell them off when Hellreaver came to her rescue.

Vlad and Nikolai froze as the weapon rocked up to the table and gobbled half the contents of her plate.

“That was for your mistress, you foul fiend!” Vlad said sharply.

Nikolai scowled. “He’s right. You shouldn’t eat Mae’s food.”

Hellreaver bared his teeth at them.

“That’s enough, all of you!” Mae snapped. She narrowed her eyes at Vlad and Nikolai while Hellreaver grumpily returned to his own meal. “Let me make one thing clear. Men who throw temper tantrums do not appeal to me. So, whatever this thing is between you, get over it!”

She stabbed a piece of chicken violently with a fork and shoved it in her mouth.

Violet choked on a chuckle. Miles chewed slowly on a carrot, his fascinated gaze swinging between the two men and Mae.

Bryony sniffed. “Well said.”

Vlad and Nikolai took their seats, their faces stiff.

Miles pointed his knife at the pair framing Mae, his expression innocent. “Does that mean you’re actually interested in both of them?”

Magic fluttered around Mae. The table trembled.

“Jesus, read the room!” Abraham hissed at Miles.

It wasn’t until they retired to the lounge area for coffee that Mae finally got to voice some of the burning questions at the forefront of her mind.

“Does your presence here have anything to do withOniksand Alexei Antonovich?” she asked Vlad.

The others looked surprised.

“Antonovich?” Bryony repeated.

Mae didn’t look away from Vlad. “It’s the name of the guy I was performing an autopsy on, the night of the attack.”

Nikolai shared a confused glance with Violet and Miles.

Vlad’s lips stretched in a smile that didn’t quite meet his eyes. “I’m…a little shocked you made the connection so quickly.”

“Don’t be. It was the NYPD detective and the FBI agent who interviewed me yesterday who first hinted at a possible connection between Antonovich and the attack on Grandview.”

Vlad leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “I take it you’re referring to Lieutenant Dickson and Special Agent Calvarro?”

Mae dipped her chin.

A far away look came over Vlad. “Those two are…interesting.” He steepled his hands under his chin, his red-brown gaze growing focused as it bored into her. “Do you believe thereisa connection?”

Mae’s scalp prickled.What does he mean, interesting?

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