She narrows her eyes. “If the Conclave finds out you’ve been giving humans apotioninstead of following the rules—”
“Don’t tell me that you care about following rules?” I grin.
“I don’t. I want to know what kind of drama I’m buying into.”
I swim in her gold-rimmed eyes. “I’m not going to blindly follow rules I think are stupid, and I’m not the only one. That’s why Sanctus has been so popular. We shouldn’t go around killing humans just because they see something they shouldn’t, especially when humans are so useful. Upyr have been lucky so far to avoid notice, but that won’t hold forever, especially not with everything caught on camera and posted on social media. The Conclave rules are cruel and outdated, and the vampire community is open to change. They simply need someone to show them a new way. Alaric and Winnie have proven that.”
Her eyes soften at the mention of her friends. “You almost sound serious, Gideon Blake.”
“Deadly serious. Especially when it comes to my friends.”
Arabella turns away without comment.
So Arabella Lestrangedoeshave a heart.
Interesting.
“What about Danny O’Hare?” Arabella whips back to me. “Was he a Thrall? And Patrick Stock?”
I tilt my head to the side. “Is this a tour, or is it a Nevermore Coven investigation? I thought we’d cleared up their deaths. Nine pieces of Baylor Godsven have been delivered to castles around Europe.”
I’m testing her. I know that we still have a husker in our midst, but I don’t know what Arabella and the Nevermore Coven know yet. Hopefully nothing. I love Winnie and her friends, but I don’t want them snooping around in vampire business, especially not when the future of Sanctus hangs in the balance.
Arabella isn’t giving anything away. “I’m merely curious. At the ball, Baylor said, ‘I’m not the only one among you brave enough to embrace my true nature.’ Which implies that he had an accomplice.”
“I presume the others told you about that, since you weren’t at the ball. And why was that?” I round on her. I’m not the only one with secrets, and this is a good chance to direct her away from dangerous vampire murderers. “The Arabella I used to know would never give up the chance to be the most beautiful woman in a room.”
Why didn’t I see you at the ball? If I’d seen you…
“I was in the kitchens, as per the Nevermore Coven plan.” She smooths a hand over her buzzed hair. “And even with tomato sauce stains on my chin, I was still the most beautiful woman at that ball. Can we continue this infernal tour so I can get my keys?”
“As you wish.” I lead her back through Brimstone, which has started to fill up with residents as they begin their evenings, and into the administrative wing of Sanctus House. My mouth moves a mile a minute as I elaborate on every lavish detail.
“We have the mail room and staff offices. The security suite is through here. My apartment is on the top floor of this building, so I’m onsite in case anything happens. And I’ll—”
“What’s in there?” Arabella’s talons scrape across the red surface of an elevator door.
“Oh, that.” I wave my hand as though it’s not a big deal. My heart thuds against my ribs. “That leads up to the top two floors of the building. It’s protected by the same high-tech security system we use on all the houses. You can’t go up there without being on the system.”
“And why would I want to get into that elevator?”
I brighten. “As I said, the top floor is my private apartment, so if you’d like, we can retire—”
“So forward, Gideon. You’re supposed to woo a woman first.”
“I thought we’d been through the foreplay. I stole from you. You tried to have me killed. Ours is a romance written in the stars.”
A flicker of something like frustration passes over her face, but it’s gone before I can figure out what it means. “And what of the third floor?”
I swallow. “That’s the Sanctus Club – a private club for certain select members. I have sole control over the guest list.”
“I see. So I should expect an invite.”
I long to take her behind that door, but I know I can’t do it now, while she has me off guard. I need her to understand first. I need her to not hate me, because once she sees what’s in there…
My testicles will never be safe.
I place my body between her and the elevator doors, flashing her my most devilish grin. “Perhaps. If you behave.”
