Gideon:And you think this grand gesture will work in real life as well as it does in romance books?
Mina:Arabella IS the only member of the Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven who reads the book every week without fail.
Komal:And I happen to know she has a thing for the morally grey heroes, so if you break the law or the rules of common decency as part of the grand gesture, so much the better.
Winnie:But just a small law. Don’t go crazy.
Maisie:We’ll send you a reading list.
Gideon:Not that it’s Arabella I’m trying to impress.
Winnie:Not at all.
14
Arabella
Sinead:All members are invited to attend the opening of the MIDNIGHT GARDEN AND SCULPTURE PARK – a jewel in the crown of Sanctus Estate. Our esteemed leader, Gideon Blake, will unveil the sculptures and introduce the artists. Entertainments provided. Thralls welcome. Open bar. The blood cocktails will be flowing all night.
Alyra:I’m at Sanctus Club, and someone has told me some utterly salacious stories about you and what you used to get up to. Naughty Arabella, the infamous Parisian courtesan. You are way too much fun to be hiding away. Come join us!
“SHOULDN’T YOU BE OVERSEEINGyour private kingdom at Sanctus Club?” I glare at Gideon as he greets me at the bar in Brimstone. The bar is packed, the music loud andaggressivelyvampiric – a haunted house soundtrack mixed with what sounds like a vending machine throwing up.
Cleo VII swings her head off my shoulder, opens one lazy eye, and flicks her tongue in excitement.
“Shouldn’t you have that on a leash?” Gideon leans back in hischair and smirks at me. I hate how beautiful he looks tonight, his hair a glittering golden halo beneath the club lights, his black pinstripe suit perfectly fitted to accentuate his broad shoulders and lend him a slightly dangerous air, and the watch peeking from his cuff sparkling with real diamonds. The king among his fawning subjects. “Which Cleo are we up to, now?”
“Cleo VII and I come as a team. She’s an excellent business partner. She weeds out the liars and time-wasters because she has no legs to pull.”
Gideon laughs, his aquamarine eyes sparkling. “She’s your business partner? Interesting. I had her pegged as a civil serpent.”
“Only I may say snake puns. Say another snake pun and I will turn around and walk out of here right now and leave you to your fate.”
“Woah. Don’t throw a hissy fit.” He grins. “Sorry, I couldn’t help it. Can I make it up to you with a drink?”
“That dependsentirelyon the quality of the drink.”
Gideon turns to the bar. He dismisses an Upyr who taps him on the shoulder and leans over to speak to Lilac, who is slinging her signature blood cocktails. Lilac’s slime-green mohawk glows under the lights as she pours a glass of vintage blood for Gideon and mixes me a cocktail. She grins at me as she hands me my glass – it’s a bloodsinthe, which is still my drink of choice. Some habits will never die. I’m shocked that Gideon remembers.
“Enjoy your evening. I hope to see you dance again soon.” Lilac winks at me as she leans across the bar to deal with another customer.
I take a sip. The absinthe is sharp and fragrant, perfectly harmonising with the tang of the blood, with just enough sugar to take the edge off. Exactly the way I like it.
“That Lilac is a magician,” I say. I don’t have to yell over the music. It’s one advantage of being a vampire with heightened hearing.
“I gave her the recipe.” Gideon regards me over the top of his glass as he takes a sip. His glass holds blood only – some kind of royal vintage, judging by the deep claret colour. “We import the absinthe from a boutique distillery in France. Only the best will do.”
“It is satisfactory.” I set the drink down. “You want to do thisnow,with this raucous party in full swing?”
“There’s always a raucous party at Sanctus. That’s why you love it here. But truthfully, the sooner we get started, the sooner I can get the development back on track.” Gideon glances around the room. Something like worry passes over his features. But I know Gideon Blake doesn’t care enough to fear anything. “I’ll take you to our vault.”
I expect him to lead me to the elevator that goes to his private apartments. I’ve worked with enough rich Upyr to know that they prefer to keep their treasure close. So I’m surprised when he opens a nondescript door to a narrow staircase that leads down into a gloomy basement.
“This way.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Hard pass.”
“Arabella, this is where I keep the goods.”
