Beth stared in fascination. She'd never seen the vampire twins show such deference to anyone, not even Antonio.
"Beth, this is Margot," Tyr said, his voice carefully formal. "She's in charge of the Residence."
"The majordomo," Tobi added, still standing at attention. "She keeps everything running smoothly."
Margot's piercing gaze catalogued every detail - from Beth's borrowed pajamas to the thermos of blood clutched in herhands. Though clearly human, she radiated an authority that had even these powerful vampires showing deference. Beth found herself both amused and intrigued, and had to bite back a smile.
"So this is our newest vampire," Margot said, her crisp tone carrying decades of authority. "Welcome to the family, dear. Once you're settled, we'll need to discuss your wardrobe and other requirements."
Beth watched in fascination as Margot's piercing gaze shifted to Tyr. Even with her newly enhanced vampire senses, she couldn't detect any supernatural power emanating from the elegant woman - yet both twins remained frozen in place like schoolboys caught misbehaving.
"I suppose you two will be handling her training?" Margot's tone, tinged with faint disapproval, carried the weight of someone accustomed to managing supernatural beings far more powerful than herself. Her diamond-studded glasses glinted in the dim light as she studied Tyr. "The basics of vampire etiquette, feeding protocols, proper behavior in clan gatherings?"
"Yes, Ma'am." Tyr's response came out slightly strangled, as if his throat had suddenly gone dry.
Margot's perfectly shaped eyebrows rose a fraction of an inch as she considered his response. After what felt like an eternity, she gave a slight nod of approval. Without another word, she turned and swept from the room, her heels clicking precisely against the floor as she disappeared down the hallway.
Beth couldn't help noticing how both twins' shoulders slumped in relief once Margot's footsteps faded away.
Beth waited until Margot's footsteps faded completely before turning to the twins. "What was that about?" Her new vampire senses still tingled from the commanding presence the elegant woman had projected.
Tyr settled back on the bed beside her, though Beth noticed he kept glancing toward the doorway. "Margot volunteered to be majordomo of the Residence when she heard about the renovation project. She... has very definite ideas about how things should be run."
"Volunteered?" Beth raised an eyebrow. "She seems more like someone who'd be recruited."
Tobi sprawled across the foot of the bed, his usual mischievous grin returning now that Margot was gone. "Oh no, she marched right up to Antonio and informed him she'd be taking the position. Said the place clearly needed a proper manager if we were planning to house clan members here."
"Lord Damien won't let her take over the NYC Residence," Tobi added with a snicker. "You should see her butting heads with Charles? It'd be worth selling tickets just to watch those two try to out-organize each other. Lord Damien probably cheered when she said she was coming here."
"Charles?" Beth asked, taking another careful sip from the thermos.
"The NYC Majordomo," Tyr explained. "He's been running that household for decades. Very traditional, very proper. The unstoppable force meeting the immovable object."
Beth couldn't help giggling at the twins' reactions to Margot. "So is she one of the Blood Sworn?" The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Both brothers literally turned pale - a feat Beth wouldn't have thought possible. Tyr actually gulped, his usual confidence completely vanishing.
"I would not DARE!" His voice cracked on the last word.
Tobi sprawled more comfortably across the foot of the bed. "Her grandson Gabe is one of our Blood Sworn. And when Margot found out-"
"Wait," Beth interrupted, her brow furrowing in confusion. "How did she find out? I thought vampires were supposed to be kept secret from humans?"
The words had barely left her mouth when another sharp tap echoed from the doorway.
All three vampires froze, turning as a young man with tousled light brown hair popped his head around the frame, his face splitting into an enormous grin. "Hey everyone! How's our new vampire doing?"
Beth felt the twins relax on either side of her, their postures losing the rigid attention they'd shown with Margot.
"That's Gabe," Tyr explained, his voice warm with affection. "Margot's grandson."
"Welcome to your new life!" Gabe's enthusiasm bubbled over as he gave her an enthusiastic wave. "This is so exciting! We'll have to-"
"Out!" Tobi interrupted, rising from the bed with fluid grace. "She just woke up, you overgrown puppy."
Tyr joined his brother, both of them herding the still-grinning young man back toward the hallway. "She needs time to adjust before meeting everyone."
"Oh yeah, got it... c'ya around!" Gabe's cheerful voice echoed down the corridor as he disappeared from view.
