Page 9 of Barely Breathing

His words loosen the knot in my chest, and for a fleeting moment, I’m grateful for his relentlessness. “Thanks.”

His grin returns full force. “Now, let’s figure out how to deal with the Freemonts without starting a supernatural war.”

I frown. “Do we need to do anything? They’ll bitch and moan, and then something else will come along to distract them. Zephronis withdrew his blessing. Do they really think the council will go against a great wizard’s decision?”

Even as I say it, I know that the pompous family probably does think they have a case.

“I don’t think we need to worry about thecouncil right now. But if the Freemonts stir enough rumors and trouble, it will become a problem. Supernaturals can be gossipy bitches.”

“I’m sure our mother has a plan for fighting gossip,” I say.

“That does seem to be in Lady Astrid’s wheelhouse,” Anthony agrees. “We’ll table that problem. What else is going on?”

I am all too willing to stop talking about the Freemonts and change the subject. “I could use your help with?—”

The elevator dings, and our mother glides into the penthouse. The click of Astrid’s diamond-studded heels announces her presence. “Tamara, there you are.”

Her clipped tone doesn’t reek of motherly concern. I don’t answer as I wait for her to continue.

“Is the thing with Costin still happening?” she asks before sniffing the sickly sweet air and wrinkling her nose. She waves her hand in front of her face as if to brush away the offensive odor. “You’re not eating candy, are you?”

She looks pointedly at me.

“No,” I say.

“No, you’re not seeing Constantine?” she demands.

I can tell she hopes I got the vampire out of my system. Telling her my relationship status is“it’scomplicated”isn’t a good option. Besides, it’s not like I’d go to Astrid for relationship advice. So I simply answer, “Yes, I’m seeing Costin. No, I’m not eating candy.”

I look at Anthony’s pink drink. My brother never gets interrogated about his diet. That honor is all mine.

“Very well. I suppose we need to have Costin and his sister over sometime soon.” She talks more to herself than to us, her fingers tracing the edge of her book. “We’ll need a new blood supply sent to the country estate. I hate dealing with the New York blood banks, but it can’t be helped.” She pauses, studying me. “There are eight million people in this city, and the banks act like they can’t just go out and get more blood.”

“I hear the homeless population doesn’t mind donating for cash and a meal,” Anthony suggests, suppressing his grin to hide the fact he’s teasing her. “Want me to invite?—?”

“We can’t serve a master vampire hobo blood from a back alley.” Astrid misses the joke.

“I’ll call the banks for you,” Anthony offers.

Astrid starts to nod before frowning. “No. The last time you ordered enchanted blood, I had vampire bats sleeping in every dark corner of the house for a month. I’ll take care of it.”

I share a smirk with my brother. It wasn’t an accident. He thought it was hilarious.

“What is your hair?” Astrid furrows her brow.

I automatically lift my hands to touch the wayward curls.

“Fix,” Astrid waves her hands to encompass me, “all of this.”

“That’s the newest trend,” Anthony comes to my defense. “You don’t like it? It’s been in all the magazines.”

Astrid frowns at him but, instead of answering, asks me, “Is Costin currently speaking to his sister, Elizabeth?”

I give a light shrug. Not that anyone would remember since the amulet’s magic had erased and reset that timeline, but Elizabeth had tried to kill me in that version of events. I can still feel her cold hands on my body and see the death in her gaze. She’s not like Costin. I felt an evil in her that I don’t feel with her brother. “I don’t think you need to invite her.”

“Find out for sure,” Astrid says. “There is a fine etiquette to these things. We must handle ourselves above reproach. Everyone is watching after that Freemont debacle. Francis and Mabel are spreading their venom to anyone who will listen.”

“What now?” Anthony asks.

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