Before Dominick could speak, Deborah stepped forward in a burst of courage I wasn’t expecting. “The Master of the City’s youngest yearling has a standing appointment with me. If anyone is guilty of poaching, it’s Chadwick.”
There was dead silence in the wake of her announcement.
I couldn’t help but be impressed at her bravado. Maybe Deborah had a little more in common with me than I’d expected.
We both liked to jump when it was better to play it safe.
She shot a glance at me, begging me to back her up.
I nodded. “She’s right.”
Though it wasn’t a formal appointment. I wouldn’t even go so far as to say it was an expectation. It was just if she happened to be free, I would choose her as my donor.
That’s it. That was the extent of our relationship.
Not really friends, but somehow good enough acquaintances to help the other out when we were in a bind.
Dominick watched me with unnerving focus. “Rumor has it you’ve refused live blood since your transition. Curious, since I see no evidence of devolution.”
That was supposed to be a secret. Someone had been talking out of turn.
Dominick looked me up and down, his head tilting. “But you’re perfect. What’s your secret?”
“Good genetics I guess.”
I felt, rather than saw, Liam’s arrival. The cold bite of his power preceded him.
It might have been my imagination, but I could practically feel his unhappiness radiating off him as he stopped on the edge of the crowd.
He’d told me to keep a low profile. To not draw attention to myself.
This wasn’t that.
Not only had I made a scene, I’d managed to capture the interest of the very vampire I was supposed to avoid.
“Still, it’s rude to steal another vampire’s prey,” Dominick drawled, giving no outward sign he was aware of Liam’s presence.
Unlikely. But I had no choice but to keep playing his game.
“You’re right,” I said with a genuine smile that made the corners of Dominick’s eyes crinkle in surprise. “Chadwick was here first. He’s welcome to exert his rights.”
A stricken looked entered Deborah’s face before she composed herself.
Good girl. Never let them see you falter.
“Of course, you’ll have to explain to the Master of the City why his orders were circumvented,” I continued, wiping the smug look off Chadwick’s face.
You forgot about that, didn’t you?
My smile turned even sweeter at Dominick’s suspicion.
“Thomas asked me to select a companion. I’d hoped Deborah would agree. I’ll have to inform him of my disappointment.” I released a sigh and shook my head in fake disappointment. “It’s too bad. I’m quite picky, so it might be a few more years before I choose another.”
Chadwick had gone rigid, dread beginning to form on his face.
Check mate.
Practically everyone in the city knew about Thomas’s orders by now. How could they not when he’d roared them at my back during a tiff a few months prior?
