Page 84 of My Road Trip with a Vampire: Season One
“I can’t take Henry down for you, Dennis. I’d love to see him staked, but no. Have you asked Rune? He’s as old as I am and has almost as many connections.”
“No. Rune is a fucking traitor.”
“You could compel her and put her in hiding. Make her forget her power.”
The thought is terrifying. I glance up at the vampire standing next to me, and she bats her lashes. Watching me lose my memories would probably be prime entertainment.
Dennis’ shoulders tense visibly.
“I won’t do that,” he sighs and runs his hand through his hair. “Beatrice deserves better than that, and it would only leave her confused when ghosts start cropping up around her. It’s not an option.”
I let out a breath.
“Are you sure your heart is as shriveled as you say it is?” Marzanna questions. “If you’re willing to take such extreme measures to keep your little human alive, then there’s only one option left.”
“What’s that?”
“Claim her. Make her yours in the eyes of all vampires. That way if Henry comes for her, there’ll be hell to pay. Even a king has to obey the law.”
“I can’t—”
Marzanna sets her wine glass aside and steps down from her throne, her slinky black gown glittering as she moves toward Dennis. She’s about five feet tall, but there’s no doubt she’s lethal.
“You’re right in assuming that Henry has bigger plans for her. Henry never makes a move without planning two steps ahead. He wants her for something, or else he would have never sent you to fetch her.”
I feel nauseous. I’m just learning that my boss' name is Henry, and now I’m finding out that he might want to use me for more than ghost-hunting.
She stands on tip-toe to scrape a sharp fingernail beneath Dennis’ chin.
“You have to act, or he’ll take something else from you. If you have so much faith in your human’s power, then you need to tell her the truth about why you’re out ghost-hunting. And if she’s willing, you need to claim her.”
Claim me? I hate the way she makes it sound.
“There’s so much to explain to her,” Dennis says.
“Then start explaining,” Marzanna says, looking toward me. “You’ve been too distracted to notice your little human has been spying.”
26
CLAIMED
Dennis doesn’t speak when he sees me. He must lose his grasp on whatever mental block he’s holding between us because I feel a rush of surprise followed by a wave of worry. Deep hunger burns through my throat. I guess there's no quenching that anytime soon.
“Are you going to join us or stand there like a stalker?” Marzanna asks.
Dennis stares daggers at her.
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt your little doll.” She taps her finger against her chin and drops her eyes over me. “She looks like she wants to hurtyouthough.”
The muscles on Dennis’ forearms flex as he curls and uncurls his fingers. He doesn’t typically fidget like this. He's nervous.
“I was only trying to protect you,” he says. “I thought Marcel was spouting nonsense about the veil. I didn’t think he had a solid theory. But when you told me about Agnes, I realized there might be a grain of truth to what he was reaching for. You’re in danger if other vampires suspect what you’re capable of.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better.” I step onto the crimson aisle that runs the length of the marble floor. Deep red roses fill the black crystal vases decorating the room. The blooms have a strong, heady scent. “It’s not fair to keep that from me.”
“It was his safest bet though,” Marzanna says. “He wouldn’t want to risk someone compelling such a big secret from you.”
“And why would he trust you?” I ask her and remind myself that this woman might be a few inches shorter than me, but she can rip my heart out and drain me dry in seconds.
