I’m to see Theophilus when I arrive tonight, and he will escort me upstairs.
I stare at Selene’s messages for a long moment. She’s barely a couple of years old in vampire years. She’s still easily able to remember what it felt like being a human.
I envy her that.
For the first time in as long as I can remember, I truly feel hopeful about something.
Thankyou so much for your help. You and Lucius both. I am indebted to you.
She responds a moment later.
Just don’t screwthis up! I’d love to see both of you happy.
I smileand set my phone aside.That makes two of us.
* * *
Eventually,I force myself to put my computer away, and I call in John and Mark to see if there’s anything I need to handle today. They’ve been in touch with the office and know when to kick ass for me, so I’m not forced to.
Because when I’m forced to, heads roll.
Eh, metaphorically speaking. Meaning people are fired. Jeez, what kind of monster do you think I am?
Wait, please don’t answer that.
Lucius has also talked to Garrett Green, and I have a personal meeting with him tomorrow night, which Green is arranging through Eilidh. Or, Connie, as the shifters apparently know her, another assumed name I’m not to reveal at the club.
I struggle against the urge to leave my room as soon as it’s safely dark outside. Now that I have a reason to want to live again, it’s like Eilidh’s soaked into every cell of my body and drawing me to her.
Or, maybe I’m a crazy, old fool. Obsessed.
Even if I could overpower her with my mind, I wouldn’t. I want enthusiastic consent. Here’s to hoping she wasn’t creeped out by my gesture.
Although, yes, it was sooo tempting to buy her a car and have the dealership drop the keys off with her.
That would be overkill.
Maybe on date number three I can upgrade her ride for her.
Or…not.
We’ll see how this one goes. I’m not guaranteed anything.
I drive to the club and park close to where I did the night before. It’s almost a quarter ’til ten, and there’s a line to get in. I head straight to the entrance, where one of Lucius’ men admits me.
“I’m supposed to see Theophilus,” I tell the bouncer.
He points, and I spot Theophilus near the lounge area, talking with a couple of humans. It takes every ounce of self-control I have not to blur over to him.
When he spots me, he wraps up his conversation with the humans and joins me. “Augustus just took everything upstairs.” He leads me to the back hallway and punches in his code to the stairwell door. Upstairs, he lets us into the office, and immediately, I scent her.
And food.
I hear her and a male’s throaty laugh. Territoriality rolls through me, and it’s all I can do not to race around my guide to find her.
Except that’d be bad form, and I’m trying to make a good impression.
He leads me to the conference room, where Eilidh and Augustus are unpacking the food. The aroma says chicken piccata, most likely. Vampires don’t have to eat or drink anything but blood, but we can and do enjoy it.
