I stare at him, trying to decide which one of us is delusional. “You…You cut your own throat, and you’re a werewolf?”
“I did.” He wipes a white dishcloth across his neck, cleaning the space that was pouring blood minutes ago. Nothing more than a faint white line remains. “As you can see, I’m healing quickly.”
“Am I the only one who understands how crazy that was?” I look between them. “Was that supposed toteachme a lesson?” Anger fills me.
“Yes, and yes,” Cyrus answers. “Lycan blood holds a strong appeal to vampires. If you can withstand the blood lust for Simon’s blood, you are stronger than I thought.”
I cross my arms in front of my chest, fighting the words that I want to say. “He could’ve died,” I say. My voice is softer than before. “What if I hadn’t been able to stop?”
“I can assure you, Ms. Violet, I was in no way, shape, or form in danger of dying.” He looks back at Cyrus. “We have an understanding, Cyrus and I.”
“I wouldn’t have allowed you to hurt him,” Cyrus says.
I rock back and forth on my heels. “Are you really the chauffeur?”
The lycanthrope shrugs. “When needed. I have many duties.” He moves toward the stairs. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to clean up.”
“Thank you, Simon,” Cyrus says, watching the wolf ascend the stairs. He turns back toward me. “You did well.”
“You said that already.”
Cyrus smirks at my attitude. “Let’s take a walk downtown, shall we?”
I stand in place. “Will there be more tests? Maybe a puppy thrown at me or, I know, a baby?”
He offers an elbow toward me. “Nothing quite so dramatic,” he says as we exit into the garden. His voice has a hint of amusement to it.
“Is this how you train all the vampire women you purchase from Harrison?”
Cyrus’s laugh echoes off the stone wall. “You do enjoy your questions. No, my dear. Most are not as…how do I say it without sounding rude? Most are not asadvancedas you.”
“Advanced?”
“You passed a test that most would not. I’ve seen vampires several centuries old fall at the scent of lycan blood. You did not.”
I stop walking, and Cyrus stops with me. “I lost my mind for a minute.”
“A minute, yes. But the important part is you gained control quickly.”
“What if I hadn’t?”
“I would’ve stopped you before that happened,” he repeats from earlier. “You have much more to learn, but I see a great future for you, Violet.”
I open my mouth to ask another question when Cyrus pulls me with him. “Inquiries later. Right now, there’s something I’d like to show you.”
We continue walking down the dusty roads of St. Augustine. We pass several couples out for an evening stroll. All of them ignore us, almost as if they don’t see us. “I have a question,” I announce, warning him in advance.
“Imagine that,” he says. His voice is filled with humor. “Ask away.”
“The people that we’ve passed act like they don’t see us. Are we visible?” That sounded much more intelligent in my mind than on my lips.
Cyrus smirks. “We are very much visible.” He pats my hand with his words. “Most humans are not sure what they feel, but they’re smart enough to trust it.”
“Hello, sir,” a man says, tilting his hat and startlingme. His ebony skin is covered in sweat beads, making him smell delightful to my grumbling stomach.
“Good evening,” Cyrus answers. “How may I help you?”
“I don’t know,” the man answers. The look in his eyes reminds me of the woman on the train. Confusion mixed with desire. “I…I…” He takes a deep breath. “I think you’re beautiful,” he says to me.
