Page 61 of Visions in Blood
His smile widened.“Various things.But our largest bet is whether someone will start a fight.”
My brows rose.“In a library?”
He shrugged.“It’s happened before.I admit that was back in Norway.That raging Viking blood and all.”His fangs slipped a bit when he smiled again.
I was probably naïve, but he didn’t scare me.Devon and Sergi hadn’t mentioned they were dangerous, nor had they said they weren’t.They were vamps after all.
“I’m told you’re the Oslo twins.”
“You’ve heard of us?”He seemed rather pleased by that.
“Not enough, I’m sure.”
“Come, have a drink with us.”
I tagged along.My original direction had been to the bar where I could listen to conversations and get a feel for the crowd.But this would do.
“This is my brother, Ulrik.And my name is Erik.”He turned to his brother.“You remember this lovely.”
“From the tea party!Yes.Did your Father spank you when you got home?”His brows wiggled, and his eyes twinkled.
“That’s getting rather personal.”When Ulrik’s smile faded, I leaned toward him and added, “How do you know I wasn’t the one doing the spanking?”
He roared a laugh and poured me a shot.“We knew you were our kind of woman.And a Blood Ward, no?”
“And one who hadn’t heard of the Blood Poppy.”Erik chimed in.
“No?How long have you been a Blood Ward?”
“Slow down, boys.”I grinned and downed the first shot handed to me.“My name is Cressa, and I’ve been a Blood Ward for less than a month.”
“Ah, that explains it.”Erik shook his head.“There’s too much to learn, it’s a wonder anyone bothers anymore.So what are you doing so far away from home…” He glanced behind me and then around the room.“I don’t see your Father among us.”
“I’m here with one of his bodyguards.He had to travel for some business, and he’s allowed me a few days to vacation in the City of Angels.Funny that we should both meet here.”
“We haven’t been to the United Sates for several decades.We are getting reacquainted with your country.”
“They do say it’s a small world.”I finished off the second shot and held it out for another pour which Ulrik was happy to do.
I’d downed that one when I noticed Simone make her way toward us.She was halfway across the room when someone bumped into her.My blood ran cold.Simone’s cool gaze never missed a beat when she sneered at Lorenzo Venizi.What the hell were the odds of that?
I lowered my head and placed the glass on the table.“It’s been great to see you again, but I must be on my way.”
I didn’t dare turn around, not wanting to give Lorenzo the chance of glimpsing my face.Thank heavens I’d gone for the casual look with black wide-legged pants and a matching puffy-sleeved shirt belted at the waist.A somber vest completed the blend-into-the-background ensemble that wasn’t worth a second glance.
The twins glanced toward Simone, and by the time they turned back, I was scurrying behind groups of vamps, steering for the crowded bar.When I was in the thick of them, I took the chance to glance back.Lorenzo had moved past the twins, who ignored him as they huddled in deep conversation, glasses of vodka gripped in their hands.This was the second time I’d met them and made a rude exit.Someday I’d have to make it up to them.
Simone was nowhere to be seen and was probably on her way downstairs.Once my heart stopped pounding, which was bringing more attention than I wanted from the vamps that surrounded me, I continued to weave around the crowd as I made my way to the stairs on the east side the building.
Simone waited for me in the reading circle on the third sublevel.She prowled from one end of the dimly lit area to the other.
“What did Lorenzo say to you?”I scanned the area, focusing on the dark aisles.
“Get out of my way.”
“Excuse me?”I was ten feet away from her.
“You asked what Lorenzo said.”
