His eyes flick over me. “Marabella tells me you’re the best she has.”
Despite my desire to please this vampire and earn an enormous tip, I can’t help but take offense. “I’m not sure what that means. We’re women, not bottles of wine.”
He offers me a charming smile, seemingly entertained by my response. “You only say that because you’re human. If you were a vampire, you would understand that blood varies from human to human, usually based on their health or where they were raised. It’s hard to find pure blood anymore. Harder still to find something new. Marabella tells me you’re different.”
I lick my lips and swallow. “You’ll have judge for yourself. I wouldn’t know.” I brush my hair to the side. “What’s your name?”
He moves in closer, lowering his face toward my throat. He’s taller than Marcel but narrower. He has to bend his knees to be on my level. His breath brushes my skin as he inhales over my jugular. “Everald,” he finally answers.
My lips part to say something trite like it’s nice to meet him, but I don’t get a chance. He strikes. This time I’m more prepared. I stare at a spot on the wall, allowing my mind to drift as he drinks and drinks and drinks.
I’m about to command him to stop when he draws back and seals the wound of his own accord. He wipes under his full lower lip with his thumb.
“I’m not disappointed.” He sounds almost surprised.
“In that case, a tip would be greatly appreciated,” I say. “I’m trying to pay off a large debt?—”
“I’ll pay it off. Whatever it is.” He points at the door. “Let me negotiate with Marabella. I’ll have you out of here by morning. You can come home with me.”
I look down at my fingers, knotted in front of my hips. “She’ll never sell me, but with a tip, I can make sure there’s room for you on my schedule.” I press a hand to my heart. “Please. If you can give me anything… whatever you have on you.”
His eyes glaze as I speak, and he pulls his wallet from his pocket, handing me two thousand dollars from within its folds. I’ve never seen anyone carry that much cash. Not even Tony. “What exactly do you do for Night Haven, Everald?” I ask as I slide the significant wad into my pocket.
He sways on his feet like he’s buzzed, a goofy smile on his face. “I own the marketplace.”
“You… own it. Like a few of the shops or something?”
He shakes his head. “No. I own the entire thing. I rent the stalls to the shop owners. Nothing comes into Night Haven without going through me.” He leans forward and whispers in my ear. “I’m a very powerful vampire, Eloise. I can get you anything you want. Anything you ask for.”
I help steady him when he almost falls into me and find myself giving a genuine laugh at his confused expression. Everald is not a vampire used to tipping his hand, and right now he’s not only showing me his cards, he’s telling me how to play mine. He offers me a wild grin.
“Oh? Can you introduce me to the queen?” I say with a sassily raised chin.
His smile dissolves. “Don’t joke about that, Eloise. The last place for you is with the queen. If I have anything to do with it, you’ll never be within a mile of her.” He slides the key into the lock and then he’s gone.
“You did it again,” Ren says, leaning her back against the door while she watches me eat. “Marabella told me to wait in here and make sure you eat every bite and drink your entire shake to replenish your blood. Apparently it’s more valuable than gold. Everald absolutely begged her to sell you to him, and that vampire is not used to being told no.”
I return the book she lent me and smile when she pulls the sequel out like she had it at the ready. “Thanks, Ren. These are keeping me sane.”
“I’ll bring you more if you tell me how you do it. Marabella is charging $500 a slot for you already. You’re the highest-priced girl in the house, and you’ve served two vampires. Tell me the truth, are you taking it up the ass?”
I toss my spoon at her. “No! I only offer blood. That’s it.”
She looks at me skeptically and tips her head. “Seriously?”
I have to tell her something to appease her curiosity. She’s studying me like the mystery might keep her up at night. “I grew up in a little town in Virginia with superclean air and water and never went anywhere. I guess my blood has less pollutants or something.”
She snorts. “Damn it. So it’s nothing I can change about myself.”
I frown. “You don’t need to change anything about yourself, Ren. You’re beautiful and the kindest person I’ve met since I arrived.”
Her laugh lights up the room. “I’m the only person you’ve met since you’ve arrived.”
Our laughter dies slowly, and I toy with the fork on my plate. “How long do you think before I can leave this room?”
She scratches behind her ear. “I don’t know, El. Normally a couple of weeks, but the way Marabella talks about you… It’s like she’s found her golden goose. I think she’s going to be damned careful before she lets you out of your cage.”
27
