Page 277 of Dragon Slayer

Lily stood serene, hands folded in front of her, expression infuriatingly placid. “I could say the same of you.”

“Donotcompare Fulk to that bastard of yours. They’renothingalike.”

“Hmm.”

Disgusted, frustrated by her own short temper, Anna spun away with a snarl. She stalked all the way across the room and was nearly to the door when Lily spoke up behind her.

In an uncharacteristic, wavering voice, she said, “Did you meet her?”

Annabel started to turn around – but caught herself, one hand clenched tight on the crystal doorknob. “Who?” she asked, just to be contrary. She knew exactly, and that was why she couldn’t turn and look at her sister’s face, couldn’t see whatever emotion colored it.

“My…my daughter.”

I hope she never meets you, Anna thought, viciously.I hope she never knows how heartless her parents are. You don’t deserve her. She’s the only good thing that ever came of Liam Price.

But Anna said, “Her name is Ruby. Her boyfriend calls her Red.” Then she left the room.

~*~

Vlad didn’t so much walk asstalk, his gait that of a lion or tiger. Val, or at least his astral projection, had moved around Mia’s apartment with a natural grace, but Vlad was more overtly threatening – even when she didn’t actively feel threatened, like now.

She followed behind him as he made his way through the lab and back to the elevator, noting the way every staff member averted their eyes and hurried to get out of the way. Vlad didn’t acknowledge any of them, but they all ducked and bowed and fled, as if from royalty. From frightening royalty.

He didn’t speak to her in the first elevator, nor during the long walk to the second, and she sank down into her own thoughts.

Decide, Val had said. Decidewhat?

She still couldn’t believe that she’d touched him. Leaned against him and felt his body heat. Felt the press of bones too close to the skin, and smelled the soap on him. She touched her neck, absently, and recalled the warmth of his tears there.

Val was real.

She didn’t realize she’d closed her eyes until she bumped into Vlad’s back. It was an embarrassing collision; she ran her face into his shoulder blade, and tromped all over the heels of his boots.

“Sorry, sorry,” she said, stumbling back.

He sent her a flat look over one shoulder, but said nothing.

They’d arrived at the second elevator, and its doors slid open with a quiet chime. Mia hurried inside before she could do anything else as stupid asrun intoVlad the Impaler.

He followed at a normal pace and pressed the button for the third floor. Once the doors were shut, he finally spoke, and she flinched before she could catch herself.

He chuckled.

The sound surprised her so much that she turned to look at him, to make sure, and, yep, he was laughing. It was low, and dark, and sounded half a growl, but he wassmiling, dark eyes creased at the corners.

“What?” she asked, and felt her own disbelieving smile threaten.

He faced his own reflection in the elevator wall, smile still in place. “You’re a brave one, aren’t you?”

“Uh…I try to be.” But her heart pounded, and she didn’t want to turn her back to him.

“Hm. Trying is better than not, in most things.”

“O…kay.”

“My brother said that you are a talented horsewoman.”

The change of subject surprised her – but, maybe it shouldn’t have. Nothing about Vlad spoke of meandering segues and deft handoffs. “Well, that was nice of him.”

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