Page 124 of Hunters and Hydrangeas

I look back at him, nervous. “What about Gerald?”

“He’s already in custody.”

“And Larissa?”

“She’s still missing, but the Miami hunters are looking for her. They’ll catch her. It’s going to be difficult for her to disappear when all her contacts have been apprehended.”

I take a deep breath and step out of his arms, looking him over. “Are you okay?”

He studies me, his expression soft. “I’m good now.”

My eyes fill with relieved tears again, but I smile past them. “I’m so relieved this is over. It is over, right?”

“It’s over.”

“Can I take a nap now?”

Noah laughs. “Yes, you can take a nap.”

28

Gossip travels fastamongst vampire nobility. By the time the gala starts, it seems everyone knows about Jameson’s ploy to steal the throne.

It also appears that everyone believes Noah and I came in Cassian’s place to thwart an assassination attempt—which works out just fine. We still don’t know why Cassian is losing his immunity, and we have no plans to share the news here.

The ballroom is nothing short of glorious, with dozens of crystal chandeliers and massive windows dressed in sweeping ivory drapes. The tables are set with white linens, and there are candles tucked into the floral centerpieces.

“It’s so good to meet you,” Jorgen says when Noah and I join him and his wife at our shared table. The Danish prince reaches across the rose centerpiece and shakes my hand heartily. “I saw the video of you and Jameson—you did well.”

“You saw it?”

He puffs up a little. “Duncan chose me for the committee.”

I almost ask why he didn’t want a chance to be archduke, but then I remember what Cassian said about his gruesome past and decide to hold my tongue.

“It’s nice to meet you as well. I’m happy to put a face with a name.”

“Has Cassian mentioned me?” The large, blond vampire quirks a brow. “All good things, I imagine?”

“He said you were trying to convince him to accept his nomination,” I hedge. “It appears you were successful.”

Looking pleased, he returns to his seat and introduces us to his wife.

Soon, dinner is served. I’ve never seen so much meat in my life. There’s a whole roasted pig and prime rib for each table, along with chickens, geese, game hens, and quail. Along with the meat, blood flows freely in all varieties except human.

To be honest, it turns my stomach a little, but everyone else seems to enjoy it.

The dinner passes quickly, with Jorgen telling stories from his Viking days that seem impossible.

“You knew Leif Erikson?” I ask, astounded.

“I sailed with him. Christopher Columbus gets all the credit, butwediscovered the new world.”

“You didn’t discover it,” his wife corrects. “There were already people living there.”

He rolls his eyes. “For the purposes of the story, we discovered it.”

I share a smile with Noah and take a sip of my coffee. I think I’m finally getting used to drinking it without sugar. Maybe.

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