“I don’t know…”
Tudor gives me a withering glare. “You don’tneedto know. You only need to follow orders. This is how you can make up for your insubordination with Cedric.”
I stare back at him with a matching gaze, but I don’t push him. Even though I disagree with his plot to undermine the witches, he’s made up his mind, and I have no choice but to follow him. At least if I’m with him, I can keep Hallie safe, and try to minimize any unnecessary bloodshed that would provoke a response from the Hecate witches.
“I’m with you, father.”
Then I catch a glance of a figure on the outskirts of the party. She holds a tray of empty wine glasses, taking another from a vampire guest before heading back to the server’s exit.
If I wasn’t done with this party before, I definitely am now.
“I’m going to prepare our attack strategy, in my suite,” I lie, but Tudor isn’t paying attention. He’s simmering with resentment, glaring at Amrita from across the room. I can almost hear the gears turning in his mind.
I use his distraction as an opportunity to sneak away, toward the server’s exit.
I’d like to distract myself, too, before the fighting begins. And I know exactly who I want to see.
Over the past months, Amara and I have grown even closer. I know it’s dangerous to allow myself to become so intimate with a living human. I’m aware that she could be a target, for Cedric, or even Tudor,to take advantage of. If I care about her, another vampire could easily exploit that connection.
But it’s not only that…being with her has made me feel vulnerable. I’ve never been able to open myself up to anyone else in the same way I can with her. It’s almost like she understands me, although of course that’s impossible.
It’s terrifying, but also completely exhilarating.
I watch her from across the event hall. She wears her crimson silk uniform shirt over a tank top, tucked into a pair of black jeans. Holding her tray in one hand, she takes the empty glasses from the mingling vampires in the event hall. She looks nervously at them, especially Amrita, trying to avoid making any direct eye contact.
She’s always a bit wary around vampires. I suspect that she’s one of those humans who has difficulty becoming comfortable around us, which I suppose is understandable. Although itisa little odd, that she would choose this particular profession. And even odder that she would fall for me. That must be why she doesn’t want me to drink from her, which I respect, although it’s proving to be quite difficult. With every intimate moment, it becomes more of a struggle to restrain myself around her. And it’s even more trying because of the way she smells. She has an intoxicating, magical scent. All humans have a different one, like a different perfume. All delicious, but some more…unique than others.
Amara is unique. In so many ways.
BRIGHT GOLD
Amara
“Oh! Hello.”
I almost drop my tray when I see Celine. Even with all of these dressed-up vampires around, she stands out. She wears a well-fitting tuxedo suit, tailored in a modern cut, all sharp lines. Her hair is down around her shoulders in a loose wave and her lipstick is a bright blood red.
“Bonsoir.”
“Enjoying the party?” she asks.
“It’s been…interesting so far.”
I glance to our right, where a contortionist has wrapped herself into a ball, her glittery red leotard twinkling. Several vampires eye her hungrily.
Celine gives me a sympathetic look. “Want to get out of here?”
I take a look at my watch. “I’ve got another few hours on my shift…”
“Nonsense. Meet me in my crypt?”
“But Lexi…”
“I outrank Lexi.” She raises an eyebrow in my direction.
With a chuckle, I turn to the server’s exit. “All right, just give me a moment to drop these off.”
It only takes the length of the elevator ride before we’re both completely out of our clothes. Celine picks me up as the elevator doorschime open, my naked legs straddling her waist, my arms wrapped around her shoulders. She kisses my breasts as she carries me into her suite and toward the bedroom.
