My pulse quickens, rushing in my ears. He dares to be here, where I’ve made my home, where I’ve worked so hard to be invisible.
I take another bite. I won’t allow him to see how he’s shaken me.
“Arabella Macquart,” he breathes.
I want to slap my name off his lips.
Winnie’s eyes fly between us, lighting up at the sound of my previous name. I hate Gideon even more for giving her that – a piece of my past, revealed without my permission.
“I see you’ve had a little change since last we met,” I smirk, piercing a piece of apple with the tip of my nail and feeding it to myself. “Immortality suits you.”
“As it does you.” His sparkling eyes bore into mine, blooming all sorts of depraved memories in my body. “I should have guessed you were a vampire. You never ate the treats I brought you, and you were always so cool to the touch. Cool, but never cold, especially not that night in the garden—”
“And as wise and beautiful as I am, I should have guessed you were a double-crossing thievingbastardout for his own gain,” I cut him off before he brings up the night I refuse to think of.
“I’m…” His voice falters. Gideon steps towards me, a hand raised as if in surrender. “I can’t believe it’s you. I would have looked for you, but I thought you died in the fire.”
“It takes more than flames or betrayal to get rid of me.”
He winces. “You tried to have me killed.”
I don’t bother to correct him. I never tried to have him killed. If Arabella Macquart wants revenge, she gets it done herself. My revenge on Gideon wassupposedto be outliving him, remaking myself into a ravishing, successful creature while he became ashes and dust. But now that I know he’s still breathingmyair, the murder idea is worth considering. “I see you haven’t changed a bit. Still selling lies for profit in a cheap suit.”
“This suit wasn’t cheap.” His eyes fizz with unexpected fire. “And nothing about Sanctus Estate is a lie.”
Intriguing.
I think of the text from Sinead, the member services manager at Sanctus who seems oddly familiar to me, inviting me to collect my keys and view my new home. I think of the Conclave’s disapproval of Sanctus, and the funds I’ve handed over for my property – a property I didn’t know until now was masterminded by my greatest enemy.
It’s too late to back out of the deal.
I don’twantto back out of the deal.
Which means I’m stuck living in Gideon’s vanity project.
What I wouldn’t give for a magical collar imbued with the powers of an ancient queen to grant me my desire for revenge. Oh, wait a second—
“Arabella, maybe we should leave— Ewwww!” Winnie winces as her foot goes through a watermelon. Red goo splashes up the front of her lilac jumpsuit and across her pretty features. She wipes fruity ooze from her cheek. “We should probably leave before the supermarket becomes a war zone.”
“Arabella’s motto was always ‘make love, not war’.” Gideon’s grin makes my blood boil – no mean feat for a vampire. “Isn’t that right?”
“Loveiswar.” I pluck a cracked watermelon from the floor and smash it down on Gideon’s head.
Red gloop splatters everywhere, dribbling down Gideon’s definitely-not-cheap suit. He blinks, watermelon seeds stuck to his long, dark eyelashes.
He looks like he’s covered in blood.
Do not think of Gideon covered in blood. Do not think of what it would be like to drink blood with Gideon, the two of you swapping coppery sweet nectar as you kiss—
I step back, careful not to get a single drop on my Zimmermann yoke dress.
“Ma’am, you’re going to have to pay for that apple.” The store manager appears behind Gideon, frowning at the scene. “And those watermelons.”
“Gideon will take care of it.” I toss the half-eaten apple at his head. It bounces off his cheek and smashes at his feet. “He’s used to leaving a mess behind him.”
2
Gideon
