Page 19 of Vampire's Vixen

“I looked into her background, yes. I haven’t sent her any gifts or anything…well…I did, but it was anonymous. I donated five thousand dollars to the school’s lunch program. They’re hurting for cash to help their low-income students.”

He looked so earnest, it was hard to dump him in the “potential troublemaker” pile.

“You know, I’d like to say something without sounding too rude.”

“Please, just be direct,” he said. “I don’t mind blunt.”

“Good. Zandre, you’re going to get yourself in trouble if you keep following her. You have to be ready to accept she may not be interested in you, she may not be available, and she may not even believe that she’s connected to you in any way.” I leaned back in my chair. “You have a lot to lose if you make a stupid move. You’re the town’s representative to the Northwest Vampire Collective. You can’t be caught skulking around a stranger’s ass, so to speak.”

He stared at me, unblinking. “And you care because…?”

“Because my clients are looking for happiness. I do everything I can to help them. And that sometimes includes being a hard ass and shaking them free from their delusions.”

“Delusions… You’re a witch. Don’t you believe in reincarnation?”

“Of course I do, but…I also believe that grief can make us believe all sorts of things. I will check into Denise, but I don’t think she’s your fated mate. I get none of the usual tingles I get when I put two people together.” I sighed. “I wish it were this easy. But Zandre, let me do this my way. Don’t go after her yourself. Promise me?”

He sighed. “You seem to know my plans before I do. You’re good, I’ll give you that.”

“I’ve been trained to anticipate potential romantic fuckups. Anyway, as far as me finding you the perfect match, I can’t guarantee anything, but I’ll have a far better chance of doing so than the average matchmaker or dating site.” I shrugged. “Are you game? If not, I’ll return your fee right now. But if you want me to help you, you need to agree to try it my way.”

Zandre shifted, and that was the first time I noticed him fidgeting at all. He had an incredible ability to freeze, to sit like a statue. It was unnerving. He leaned forward, just enough to show that he was really listening.

“All right. Let’s give it a few months. I’ll stay away from Denise. But regardless of the fact that you think otherwise, she’s Eugenia. She’s come back to find me, even if she doesn’t realize it just yet. And I think you’ll see the truth as you look into her past. There has to be something in the back of her memory about me. I know there does.”

I wanted to shake him, to say Wake up, you’re in denial but it was going to take more than that to convince him that Denise Rober wasn’t his reincarnated love. These were the cases I hated working on—where someone was hung up on someone from the past. I had a hunch that Zandre wasn’t going to let go of his belief that Denise Rober was his long-lost love, returned to pick up their romance again.

“Well, I guess we’ll have to see. Now, if you’ll indulge me, tell me about the kind of woman you’re looking for. Are you…” This was going to be a sensitive question. “Are you looking for another vampire?”

He eyed me carefully, then said, “It doesn’t matter to me. Human, shifter…witch…I don’t care. The only kind of woman I’m not interested in is Fae. I don’t trust them, and they don’t like vampires.”

I paused again. “You do realize that any other woman besides one who’s a vampire will never match your lifespan. Are you willing to lose someone again? I know I’m being blunt, but you said you preferred that.”

It was Zandre’s turn to pause. Finally, he said, “Some soulmates stay with us through lifetimes. I happen to believe that if she’s my true match, she’ll return to me. Like?—”

“Don’t say it,” I said. “Remember, we aren’t talking about Denise now.”

“Right. Okay, then anyone but one of the Fae, anywhere from twenty-five to forty. Athletic, not a smoker, she can’t eat or use garlic, open minded and not afraid of blood.” He paused, glancing over at me.

I did my best to not react. “Right. Not squeamish.”

“I want her to be well-educated. If I can’t talk to another woman, I don’t want to be around her. I need someone who’s got a good head on her shoulders. Beauty fades, brains are forever. I’m not saying I don’t want beauty, but it’s not the primary focus. I haven’t been a hormonal teenager for over two hundred years, Maisy.”

At that moment, I heard the loneliness in his voice. I’d never thought about it, but it must be a lonely life, especially when you were facing years that would not end until you walked into the sun, or until you decided to end it by fire, or—in a more gruesome sense—some nutjob self-proclaimed vampire slayer got to you.

“I understand,” I said. “I truly do. You want a companion.”

“Yes, I want a companion. Find her for me, Maisy. Because I trust you, and I’d hate to think that I’ve misplaced my trust.” With that, he stood and reached out.

I suppressed a shudder and shook his hand. “As long as you work with me, Zandre, we can do our best to make this happen.” And with that, I escorted him out and quickly locked the door. It took me ten minutes to stop shaking.

CHAPTER NINE

The next morning, I found myself staring at my computer. Astra was making breakfast, and I was ready for work. As I scanned Zandre’s questionnaire, my stomach knotted again.

“Auntie, I need your advice. I think Zandre threatened me last night. Subtly, but it felt like a threat.” I had tossed and turned all night.

Yes, I want a companion. Find her for me, Maisy. Because I trust you, and I’d hate to think that I’ve misplaced my trust.

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