But for now, the wolf is a problem. She’s tasted me. She has my scent. I won’t be able to hide in the woods any longer. I need a new tactic.
I think of the little studio in the village where Arabella and Gideon plan to dance. I think of their names scrawled on the practice schedule that my Thrall handed to me. I think of the three ways to kill a vampire, and which one will taste the sweetest.
My little gifts have set the stage. It’s time for Arabella to obey. I need to take back what’s mine.
34
Arabella
Celeste:ARABELLA, PICK UP YOUR PHONE. EMERGENCY!
MY EYES FLUTTER OPEN.It feels like an annoyingly cheerful capybara is doing a dance inside my skull. I tug the bamboo duvet over my head. Unlike other vampires, I do not go in for the traditional coffin aesthetic. I like being able to spread out in a real bed, to sleep without four walls feeling like they’re closing in on me.
Arabella Lestrange doesn’t follow old-fashioned Upyr traditions. Shesetstrends.
I reach over and look at the phone. 7.44 pm. I’ve slept in. I hardly ever sleep in.
I’m also late. Gideon and I are supposed to start rehearsing our act for the variety show at 7—
Gideon.
In a flash, it all comes back to me. Saving Gideon from Celeste, locking her in the dungeon beneath Sanctus. Finding out she’s awerewolf. Finding out Gideon drainedtwovampires. Playing Catan with Gideon. And…
I kissed Gideon.
Then, we took things further.
Itook things further.
And… wow.
I thought I’d misremembered how good he was back in Paris, that my memory was torturing me out of pure sadism. But no. The man is not without talent.
And the way his face changed when Celeste nearly spilled the beans on her absurd theory about the killer being after me… The golden boy looked positivelyferal.
If I didn’t hate him so much, it would be quite delicious.
But then, how did I end up back in my bed? I remember talking to Celeste and then… nothing. I must’ve passed out.
I lost our bet.
I cast my eyes around my room. A note is pinned to a bottle of blood on the nightstand. I pick it up and read:
If you’re wondering who tucked you into bed, it was me. Well, I carried you here in my arms, like a hero of legend, and then I collapsed from exhaustion and sun exposure, so Sinead had to do the actual undressing and tucking, lucky woman.
All appreciation gift baskets can be sent to me via Sanctus House.
Gideon
PS. I know we’re supposed to be rehearsing our routine this evening, but I propose we put it off until tomorrow so we can both have a lie-in. And also so I can talk you out of making me wear a meerkat costume.
PPS. I am eagerly awaiting cashing in my prize for winning our very legitimate, no-take-backsies bet. You wheat some, you lose some.
That’s an awfully long note. I touch the paper. It smells of him, all fruity and zesty.
I pick up my phone. There are a million messages from theNevermore Coven, but it’s probably Komal freaking out about Augustin Durant’s latest stunt.
The phone buzzes. Winnie’s calling.
