Page 272 of Dragon Slayer

“You’re right.” He kissed her, once, then pulled back. “We’ll be fine.”

“That’s what I keep telling you.” She rapped her knuckles lightly against his forehead.You idiot. Her smile was fond.

“Strange,” Vlad said, and Fulk glanced over.

The vampire’s face was doing something odd. It took Fulk a moment to realize that he wassmiling. Faint, but definitive, amused even.

“Leave this to me,” he said, a murmur too low for Talbot to make out. “Just stand there and try not to look terrified.”

“I’m not terrified,” he huffed.

“Mmhm.”

Make that intelligent and a smartass.

A tech in a lab coat came barreling into the room, wild-eyed and out of breath. “Dr. – Dr. Talbot – they sent – sent me to tell you–”

“That Mr. Price is on his way down?” Talbot seemed relieved to have a distraction from his immortal company. “Yes, I know. Have him brought here, please, and ask the kitchen to send in a plate of refreshments. Is his wife with him?”

The young man wheezed and nodded.

“Very good. Thank you, Brandon.”

The tech took a few furtive glances at Vlad, and then Fulk and Anna, and retreated with an air of gratitude.

“Humans were not so frightened all the time in my days,” Vlad said, and Fulk bit back a sudden, unexpected laugh.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but, uh, they’re kinda afraid of you, chief,” Anna said.

Vlad snorted. “Ridiculous. They haven’t seen me do anything.”

“Youdidalmost cut your brother in half.”

Fulk thought he looked vaguely pleased, the weirdo.

And then two nameless soldiers in black led Liam and Lily Price into the room, and all other thoughts flew out of Fulk’s head.

They were the sort of couple that even humans paused to notice, simply because they were striking. Tall, and slender, both redheads. Lily’s hair was a pale red, heavily threaded with orange, and her eyes were like Annabel’s: deep green, flecked with gold. Liam had blue eyes – cold eyes. And his hair was the russet of an Irish setter, just as his daughter’s had been. He’d worn it to his shoulders in the past, but now had trimmed it so it fell in a soft, curled tumble to just below his ears. His nose was still crooked, smile still sharper than the point of his chin.

Fulk nearly choked on the growl that tried to build in his throat. Annabel moved to stand beside him, and hooked their arms together; leaned into him, her temple pressed to his shoulder. A united front.

“Liam. Lily,” Dr. Talbot greeted warmly, “I’m so glad to see you both again.” Under his wide smile and reaching handshake, the man reeked of nerves. A scent just perceptible beneath the campfire stench of the two mages.

Liam had always been charming. He reached now to clasp the doctor’s hand between both of his, a friendly press to accompany his smile. “Doctor. A pleasure as always.” He released Talbot’s hand slowly, righting himself, smile slipping into a look of concern. “Though I do wish it was under better circumstances.”

“Yes, as do I.” Talbot bowed elaborately in Lily’s direction, and she acknowledged him with a nod. Her expression was calm, but she didn’t smile. The lifeless sister, Fulk had always thought; it was as if the fire she wielded sucked all the strong feeling out of her, until she could be nothing but serene. “We have much to discuss concerning–”

Talbot broke off suddenly, and Fulk realized too late – distracted, sinuses flooded with mage-stink – that there was a third newcomer to the room, one lingering beyond the magical couple, hanging back in the shadows of the threshold.

He smelled…

He smelled like a graveyard.

Fulk and Annabel growled together, and beside them, Vlad let out a low pulsing snarl of his own.

“Ah.” Liam’s gaze lifted over Talbot’s head and came straight to Fulk, eyes twinkling as he smiled. “You’ve noticed that we brought a friend.”

Fulk pushed Annabel back behind him, though she protested; felt her nails score his forearm as she tried to claw her way around him. He lowered his head, felt his wolf press up close beneath his skin, ready to shift. His voice was a growl. “That thing’s not alive.”

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