Page 90 of After Darkness Falls

"What about the other huntsman?" she asked. “You said two casualties.”

Levi watched her closely. New vampires weren't equipped to deal with their newfound strength. Her rage might destroy the whole house.

Never mind. He could build another one.

"He died. I believe he was called Reiss."

Choe gasped and leaned against the glass display case behind her.

Good. She was sad and shocked, but not wrathful. An acquaintance, perhaps a friend, but not a close one.

He kept going. "All ferals were destroyed, and we estimate that about thirty-four vampires escaped Oldcrest's borders. As we've killed another forty, I'd say we haven't heard the last of them. Besides, we found no leader among the bodies we've assembled. Strictly foot soldiers."

Better she focused on the oncoming threat than grief.

He was right to start with that; some of her ire and sorrow disappeared, morphing into concern.

"Do we know more about their queen?"

"Not as of yet, but I'll send orders shortly. Most of my forces will be looking into it. I've also contacted your brother. He's on his way."

Her eyes widened.

"How do you know my brother?" she asked.

Thus prompted, Levi told her everything. His journey to London many moons ago, suspecting what she was at first glance, Tom and Viola's visit, his decision to have her protected while they figured out the real enemy.

"I never expected them to breach Oldcrest. The implication isn't something anyone would like to believe. Someone here has betrayed us. We knew there was a traitor among your entourage because of the scarf. Now we’re sure he or she lives here. No one may enter or even find this hill unless they've been invited by a resident. Today's attack wasn't part of the plan. Your brother and I agreed that we wanted you to finish school. Finish learning about our kind, and then ideally start to suspect what you were so the truth might not have been that much of a shock."

He hated the way she'd been turned, surrounded by violence and fear. A born vampire joining their ranks was a joyous event. In the old days, it would have been celebrated.

“Besides, knowing your nature, and speaking of it outside these wards, might have increased the danger to you. We…”

The blow didn't surprise him when it came. She was a lot more collected than most newborns he'd encountered, but he'd known the anger would win eventually.

As well as the lust for his blood. His flesh, his essence.

This, she probably didn't understand.

The shove on his chest was so strong Levi was flung backward, and then she had him pinned on the wall. He could have pushed her back, but what was the point? He rather liked her on top.

"Didn't it occur to you that I might have known there was something wrong with me long before I even got here?" she growled.

"Sure. No doubt you thought you might have ADHD or be bipolar. I doubt you were prepared to hear that you might be a vampire."

She cut him off. "Never again. You will never lie to me."

Levi didn't like making promises he might have to break. If it was in her best interest, if telling her the truth might put her in danger…

She stepped forward, closing the small distance between them, her chest against his.

"Never again," she repeated slowly, weight on every word.

Dammit.

"All right. Never again. I do reserve the right to hide Christmas presents and…"

He never finished the sentence, because her lips were crashing against his.

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