That was true.
“You ask a lot of questions.”
He straightened. “I’m gathering information. Having the right information will give me a strategic advantage over my competition.”
Couldn’t’ argue with that.
“How many applicants are there?” My meeting with Robert meant I’d met four of them, if you count Thomas.
“Five. Why?”
I shrugged. “Just curious. If you get to ask me questions, then turnabout’s fair play.”
He thought about it and then gave a decisive nod, accepting my assertion.
“What does Thomas want from you?”
“He wants me to join a clan.”
“It would be safer.”
“Safe’s not always best.”
“Agreed.”
I was surprised the austere vampire agreed with me. I expected an argument. An assertion of how vampires needed to stick together.
Although he was a tad creepy, with his vibe of gloom and doom, he didn’t seem like such a bad guy. There were no threats, no coercion to join a clan or else. If this selection were a voting thing, he’d definitely have mine. He seemed like the most stable candidate I’d met so far.
The song ended and we broke apart.
He gave me a nod and then turned on his heel and walked away without another word. He wove through the other couples on the dance floor, which had filled up during the dance, leaving me standing in the center on my own.
A glance at Liam told me he was occupied with something Nathan was telling him. I couldn’t see Caroline. I stood on my toes trying to see above the crowd and caught a glimpse of a woman in a teal dress disappearing down one of the corridors leading off the atrium.
I shot another glance at Liam to make sure he was still occupied and then headed after Caroline. I needed to check on her, make sure she was ok.
The corridor was large and empty. The lights had been turned to dim. There was no bathroom, which was strange as I had assumed that was what Caroline was looking for.
I came to the end of the corridor and turned left, noting an open door leading to a stone patio surrounded by a wrought iron fence. The patio had two paths leading to a level below. Kind of like those old houses with their double staircases leading up to the door. These were framed by a well-groomed flower bed that was just beginning to show the first blooms of the season.
A hand wrapped around my mouth and I was hauled into the shadows next to the fence.
Chapter Thirteen
I grabbed the hand, pinching the thumb and wrenching it back even as I sent a sharp elbow into the stomach of my captor.
There was a soft grunt but the grip didn’t release.
I fought down my panic, continuing to struggle. Nothing I did budged the hold the person had on me.
A spook then.
I pretended to go lax, letting them support my weight.
The grip loosened slightly. It was what I’d been waiting for.
I sank my fangs into the hand over my mouth before ripping myself out of their hold and losing some hair in the process. I backed away, my hand reaching for a nonexistent weapon.
