Viktor shook his head. "That's probably a terrible idea."
"Probably." Simon headed for the door. "But I need to see who's really running this place."
Charlie followed him back to their room, his mind racing. This retreat had been too good to be true since he'd arrived. Blood that didn't make him sick, vampires who understood his struggles…
Of course it was a trap. His life didn't work any other way.
"We should leave," Charlie said as Simon changed into one of the fresh shirts the retreat had provided in his room. "Right now, before breakfast. Just grab Viktor and go."
Simon pulled the shirt over his head. "And go where? Back to my apartment where the Organization knows to find me? Your place that's in their files? We're already in their web, Charlie. Running won't change that."
"So what, we just walk into whatever this is?"
"We gather information." Simon checked his reflection in the mirror, adjusted his collar. "We figure out what's going on here." He turned to face Charlie. "And if I'm very lucky, I find someone who knows exactly what Reuben did to me."
The cold calculation in Simon's voice made Charlie shiver. This wasn't the Simon who'd held him a short while ago, who'd grieved for his mother. This was the hunter who'd killed four vampires in an alley without breaking a sweat.
Charlie grabbed Simon's hand before he could reach the door. "Promise me you won't do anything stupid."
"I can't promise that."
"Then promise you won't do it alone." Charlie squeezed his fingers. "Whatever happens at breakfast, we face it together."
Simon's expression softened slightly. He pulled Charlie close, pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Together," he agreed.
The walk to the dining room felt longer than it should have. Viktor joined them in the hallway, his usual easy demeanor replaced with a tense alertness. Other vampires drifted past them, chatting about their evening activities, completely oblivious to the tension.
Or pretending to be oblivious. Charlie couldn't tell anymore.
The dining room had been rearranged since last night. The long table now sat perpendicular to the windows, with additional seating added at the head. Maya waved at them from her spot near the middle.
"Come sit! Connor saved you seats."
They moved to join the familiar faces. Thomas nodded in greeting, his usual book abandoned for once. Connor barelylooked up from adjusting his napkin, folding and refolding it for no apparent reason.
"Is it always like this?" Charlie whispered to Maya.
"Elder breakfast? Yeah. They like to pretend we're one big happy family." Maya's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Just smile and nod. It'll be over in an hour."
The side door opened.
Five vampires entered, and Charlie immediately understood why Maya had called them elders. Not because of their apparent age—several looked younger than Simon—but because of the weight they carried. Centuries of existence settled on their shoulders like invisible cloaks.
The one in front was a tall woman with smooth skin and silver hair pulled back in an elegant twist. She smiled at the gathered vampires.
"Good morning, everyone. I hope you all had a restful evening."
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room.
"For those who are new this week, I'm Emerald. I founded Reconnect twenty years ago with a simple vision. I wanted to provide a place where our kind could exist peacefully, ethically, without the violence that defines so much of vampire culture."
Charlie felt Simon go rigid beside him.
"We're joined today by some of our community's founding members," Emerald continued, gesturing to the vampires behind her. "They've been instrumental in creating the sanctuary you all enjoy."
The other four vampires took their seats at the head of the table. Charlie didn't pay much attention to them, too focused on the way Simon had gone completely still.
Charlie leaned closer, keeping his voice barely a whisper. "What's wrong?"
