Page 76 of Thicker than Water
“Celine, I…”
She moves closer to me, so quick I don’t even catch her movement. Her bloodstained fangs graze my cheek as she whispers in my ear.
“Get out before I do something I regret.”
My heart breaks. I bite back the tears that threaten to erupt. I push everything back, push everything away, as I hastily retrieve my shirt and pants. She throws my purse to the ground and I take it, then I stumble out of the room and onto the elevator.
As the doors shut, my knees buckle beneath me. I clutch my purse like a life raft.
I catch a glimpse of myself in the elevator mirror. Eyes red-rimmed.
And bright gold.
A COMPLETE, ABSOLUTE FOOL
Celine
Fury envelopes me, a prison of red.
The line clicks and the curt voice of the concierge comes through.
“Yes, Ms. Côté?”
“I need a cleaning service for my suite.”
“Of course, Ms. Côté. How extensive?”
“Not very. Only the duvet needs changing, and the floors mopped.”
“I’ll send someone right away.”
“Thank you.”
I hang up the phone, and place the stake in the bottom drawer of my desk.
I wait five minutes.
What a complete,absolutefool I’ve been.
Three hundred years, and I’m still making the same mistakes.
Still falling for the same trap.
But never again.
Never,everagain.
I rise, and go to the elevator. I don’t want to be here when the cleaning service comes. I’m not sure what I would do.
The elevator chimes, and I enter.
Hmm. Not the club. Not the casino. Not the lounge. Certainly not the event room.
The office. I’ll look over some paperwork before dawn.
I try not topay attention to how incredible I feel. The magical power coursing through my veins. Vampires don’t often feed on witches. If I wasn’t so old, I might not have even recognized it as such.
Before realization set it, it was so delicious. Her blood like ambrosia. Rich, full of sunlight.
