Thomas glared back, cradling his hand. A small trickle of blood oozed from where his fingers were trying to stem the blood. It didn’t take long for the trickle to slow and then stop entirely.
He released his hand, opening and closing the smooth, puncture free fist.
It took everything in me not to punch him in his face or run screaming into the night.
“Was that really necessary?” he asked, holding up his hand.
Was that necessary? Was that necessary? The question got louder and louder in my mind until I was practically screaming it. Silently, of course, because I was too stunned for words.
“You shouldn’t bite other vampires unless they give their permission. It can be dangerous for you,” he said reproachfully.
My fangs lengthened as my temper awoke. Vampires, I’d learned, showed their fangs based on their mood swings. Hunger, anger or lust brought the pointy tips right out. Right now, an anger approaching rage coursed through my veins. I couldn’t have retracted the suckers even if I’d wanted to.
“You know what else vampires shouldn’t do,” I said, my voice hitting a pitch that would have made cats flee. “Yank other vampires into dark spaces with no notice or warning.”
“I needed to get you alone.”
“Did you now?” My hands found my hips as I paced in the tight space. It was either move or deck him. “This isn’t how you do it.”
“I don’t have time to listen to you complain.”
I stopped and stared at him. He didn’t have time.
“You don’t? Then I’ll just take myself back to the party.”
“You’re supposed to be helping me.”
I shook my head at him.
“Liam hired me for a job, which I’m doing. He didn’t hire me so you could yank me here and there at your convenience.”
“You’re obligated to help me become the selected applicant.”
“In point of fact, my contract stipulates that I attempt to locate the witch who placed the hex on you. As a secondary component, it states that I’m to help you in the attempt to locate your descendants in the event that I cannot find the witch.”
I gave him a sharp smile, flashing my fangs for added affect. He didn’t look too impressed by my fangs. He probably thought his were bigger. “Now notice where it says attempt. That means all I have to do is put in a good faith effort. You didn’t negotiate for guaranteed results. Also, nowhere does it say I’m to help you stage a coup or let you drag me off into the night.”
It did, in fact, say all that. I’d made sure to have Jerry email me the full contract Liam had signed so I could have an idea of just how much wiggle room I had.
It wasn’t our standard contract. Normally, Jerry put in a clause that came close to guaranteeing results. That clause was missing from this contract. My guess is Liam gave him the terms and Jerry hadn’t bothered to include the one about results. Thomas’s loss but my gain.
I whirled, pulling up the strap of my dress and flicking the skirt so I could walk without face planting.
“Bad things will happen if you ignore me,” Thomas warned.
“Perhaps you should have thought about that earlier,” I shot back over my shoulder.
My feet stuttered to a stop.
Robert, the vampire I’d danced with before going searching for Caroline, stood on the other side of the patio from us, his face mostly in shadows. I only knew it was him because of our dance and his taller than average height.
“Robert, I’ve been meaning to talk to you since I learned you had thrown your hat into the ring,” Thomas said smoothly, stepping around me.
Robert didn’t answer. He didn’t move.
Something struck me as off, but I couldn’t place my finger on it. I grabbed Thomas’s arm before he could step closer.
He shot my hand a scathing look. “What do you think you are doing?”
