“A community would require more sustenance. Tell me, what will the villagers do when multiple drained bodies show up weekly?”
Raven scowled. “There are birds. There are foxes and squirrels. We could make it work.”
“So, now you would have us condescend to chasing rats to survive?” I shook my head firmly. “No, Raven. You will make do. You have riches and can entertain yourself perfectly adequately.”
I noted a muscle twitch in her cheek, but ignored it, turning my attention back to the board. “Now, are you going to make a move that impresses me, or will you continue to bore me?”
She pouted, crossing her arms. “You chose this game. Next time, let me choose, and I promise it won’t be nearly as dull.”
I considered. “If it involves the sound of bones breaking, I might be open to a reprieve.”
“Oh, thank God,” Raven sighed, standing as if she couldn’t get away from the chessboard fast enough. “Just make it a pretty village girl this time. I do love how they go still once we catch them, stunned like deer. It’s so beautiful.”
I chuckled and lifted my glass to her. “I knew I chose you for a reason.”
“I swear he was just here,” Cecelia said, and I stiffened as her shoes approached the table I was hiding beneath. They stopped a few feet away before returning from whence they came.
I let out a sigh of relief. I would wait them out. After a few minutes, I could slip away, spend the night in the garden, where I could be one with the night once more.
After a moment, two people took seats at the table, their legs pushing the tablecloth in as they scooted their chairs into my space.
The longer I stayed, the more awkward this would get.
I sighed, crawling out from under the tablecloth and unfolding myself with a sheepish grin as two dark-haired girls stared at me with wide eyes.
“Apologies,” I said, bowing to them. “I dropped my ring.”
I turned on my heel and hastily retreated to the sound of the girls tittering. Flushed from embarrassment, I paused at the pillars to the main floor. My friends had moved to the other side of the room.
Relieved, I skulked behind a group of boys laughing around one of the high tables to assess the room.
My eyes found Thomas.
I should have drained the boy of blood when I’d had the chance. Now I was paying the price for my lust for the handsome young man.
The crowd around Ambrose had turned to regard a young redheaded girl who’d been chosen as the next performer, and I seized the moment to make for the hallway that would take me back into the house.
“Lucian!” Maxwell called.
I cursed under my breath, pretending not to have heard him as I pushed past a gaggle of guests walking in the opposite direction. I muttered my apologies as I stalked into the hallway beyond. I took a moment to glance back, to find Maxwell pausing in his pursuit to exchange a word with a boy who’d said something. Thomas was at his side.
I turned down a short corridor with a few rooms to choose from. I chose the second door on the right, the door ajar, the darkness beyond perfect to disappear into. With any luck, there would be a door to the garden, and I could find a suitable place to hide for the majority of the night, perhaps making an appearance here and there when I determined the coast was clear.
I opened the door and slipped inside, coming up short when I nearly ran into someone in the shadows.
“Oh,” a boy started, breathing hard as he pulled up his trousers with embarrassment.
I squinted at him, unable to sufficiently make out his features with so little light, but it was clear from his dress that he was a servant.
“Pardon, my lord,” the boy apologized, rushing out past me as he tucked his shirt in.
I watched him disappear before turning to find another figure fumbling with his clothes in the dark. I opened the door wide enough to allow some light in.
I scowled. “For the love of Christ.”
Melbourne smiled sheepishly at me as he straightened his cravat. “He was just helping me with my …” He shrugged, knowing any lie he came up with wouldn’t be sufficient to shield him from the truth.
“Your zipper?” I prodded.
