Page 29 of Secrets of the Eternal Flame

Nour laughed, ‘A vampire called Lestat?’

‘They pick cliché names on purpose,’ I explained. ‘Apparently. Anyway, Lestat is at a booth over there, and I think he’s got a thing for brunettes with pink tips because he can’t drag his eyes away from you.’

‘Really?’ Maddie brightened.

‘Erm…’ Nour started. ‘Just so I’m clear, are we talking about the deadly Nightshades, a group of murderous assassins?ThoseNightshades?’

‘Maybe he’s retired,’ Maddie said optimistically. ‘And even if he hasn’t, I could really do with getting laid.’

‘Maddie!’ Nour blushed.

‘If you think about it, I’m probably safer with him than with any other man. He only gets his diplomatic status if he kills sanctioned hits, so he won’t harm a hair on my head.’ She was looking over at him with increased interest.

‘Unless he’s been hired to kill you!’Nour hissed.

Maddie laughed. ‘No one who hates me has the money for that.’

I rolled my eyes. ‘No one hates you, full stop. You’re adorable and lovely and creative and kind. You’re even tattooing your clients for free.’

‘Exactly – so that means I’m totally safe with Mr Tall, Dark and Sexy over there!’ Maddie looked over her glass at the brooding vampire who was lingering alone in the large black leather booth. She gave him a sultry smile, raised her glass and saluted him.

In one smooth movement, he stood up and a beat later he was by our sides. Nour yelped.

‘Nice trick,’ I greeted him.

‘Miss Stonehaven,’ he nodded to me. ‘Do introduce me to your friends.’ It was less of a request than I’d have liked, but because he was a murderous assassin, former or otherwise, I didn’t argue – though I lowered my shields to scan his emotions.

Absolutely nothing: the man was either dead inside or he had some sort of mental shield. Given what I’d experienced when I’d tried to get into Candice’s head, I was betting on the latter. Damn.

Belatedly, I made the introductions. ‘These are my friends, Nour and Maddie.’

Lestat reached out and took Maddie’s hand, bowed low and kissed the back of it as if he were the hero in an historical romance. If a regular guy had done that it would have come across as creepy or weird, but with Lestat it seemed right. Possibly he’d been raised in a different era when people had actually done that shit.

‘Enchanté,’ he murmured to Maddie.

‘Are you French?’ she asked, eyes wide.

‘No, but I spent a long time there. And the French do some things … better.’

‘My drink’s nearly empty,’ Nour squeaked. ‘I’d better go to the bar. Bea?’

‘Right, yes. Me too. I’ll come with you.’

We abandoned our virtually full glasses and headed to the bar. By the time we’d been served and returned to the booth, Maddie and Lestat were wrapped around each other like a pretzel; it was hard to tell where one began and the other ended. Luckily the music had picked up volume, and the wooden dance floor was tantalisingly empty.

‘Dance floor?’ Nour suggested.

‘Abso-freaking-lutely,’ I replied.

An hourlater a flushed, happy-looking Maddie joined us on the dance floor. She had a hickey and a telephone number, and she was delighted by both. Cocktail hour had never been hit so hard – especially when we learned that Shady was only charging me half-price for saving his brother.

‘We really should be the White Wine Coven,’ Maddie slurred as we stumbled back towards the cottage. ‘You know, like the White Witch Coven, but the White Wine Coven because we’re good witches and we also drink wine. White wine. Bea hates red.’

Nour and I cheered and giggled as if she’d said the most hysterical thing ever. We may have been a touch inebriated. ‘That’s amazing,’ I pumped my fist. ‘Yes, the White Wine Coven!’

‘But I like red wine!’ Nour whined. ‘Does that mean I can’t be in it?’

‘I don’t know,’ Maddie said, mock-serious. ‘We should probably discuss it over some more alcohol.’

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