“One of us will,” Gideon answers for his daughter.
I close my eyes and lower my mouth to the throbbing vein. The moment his blood hits my palate, I fight not to lose control. I drink, pulling his arm even closerto my body. I drank straight from a human before, but Simon’s right. His blood, lycan blood, is something different. It’s the difference between filet mignon and ground beef. I drink, taking his blood into my body. The room, the people inside, and the train disappear from my mind. Simon’s blood is the only thing that matters.
“That’s enough,” a voice says from somewhere. I continue drinking, filling the need that my body is screaming for.
“Violet?” I hear my name from somewhere far away. “Violet,” it repeats. Something is pulling against my arm, pulling me away from my meal. I ignore it, filling my empty belly.
“Enough!” a loud voice booms, knocking me back several feet. The hunger subsides, allowing my brain to return to common sense mode. I open my eyes, realizing I’m lying on the floor, nowhere near my seat.
I’ve never felt more exposed in my life. If I were sitting here naked, I wouldn’t feel as vulnerable as I do at this moment. “Did I hurt you?” I ask.
“No,” Simon says, moving to my side. “I’m fine.” He shows me his arm and the now invisible holes I made. “Look, Violet. You didn’t hurt me.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, wiping a silent tear. “I’m sorry.”
Simon rolls his sleeve back in place and helps me to my feet. “You’re welcome.” He lifts my chin, looking me in the eyes. “Don’t apologize. You did great. It didn’t even hurt.”
The lycan take turns sleeping for the rest of the trip. I spend most of the time reviewing the plan. To be honest, the plan isn’t much of one. The only thing decided was meeting with my maker, the Alpha, and the vampires of New Orleans. None of us knows exactly what to expect.
The sun has risen, signifying a new day, by the time the train stops for good. The lycan have been unusually quiet since they awoke, which for some reason makes me more anxious than earlier.
“James and his son are meeting us at the Square,” Gideon says, grabbing a bag from underneath his seat. He pulls a watch from his waistcoat. “They should be there when we arrive.” He makes eye contact with each person. “If Lucien doesn’t show up, we’ve agreed to leave any mention of Terrin and his ability out of our talks. Understood?” Everyone nods in agreement.
The smell of sulfur and the river welcomes me back to my hometown. The four of us walk in silence toward the cathedral's steeple, looming in the distance. The energy grows stronger the closer we get.
“Something’s here,” I announce.
“Yeah, I feel it too,” Simon answers.
“Vampires.” Gideon fills in the blank.
I feel Harrison before I see him. Rounding the last corner in front of the church, I see the man who stole my life from me. Anger fills me at his sight. I’ve never really hated anyone before, but I have no doubt theemotion I’m feeling is pure hatred. He’s flanked by two other men and smiles a fake smile as we approach.
“Hello, my dear,” my maker greets me, taking my hand into his, and lifting it to his lips. I resist the temptation to pull away. I may not know much about vampire politics, but I’m smart enough to know better in front of present company. “You look well.” He turns toward one of the vampires next to him. “May I present, Violet Du Four?”
A dark-skinned man smiles, showing a mouth full of perfect teeth. “What a lovely creature you are,” he says, copying Harrison’s move with my hand. His accent is that of someone who was born to command a room. An accent that has no doubt charmed many people throughout history. “Erick Pembroke,” he says, bowing slightly. “I am forever at your service, Miss.”
I don’t know what to say or how to respond. “Hi.” I choose, feeling awkward.
The third vampire smiles without all the grandeur of Erick. “Bonjour, Mademoiselle. I am Phillipe Lumier.” His French accent is strong, giving him an air of nobility.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” I answer, unsure of vampire etiquette.
The overwhelming feeling of lycan energy flows from nowhere. “Here they come,” Gideon announces, pulling my attention toward two large men entering the courtyard. The older of the two wraps his armsaround Gideon, slapping him on the back with the embrace.
“It’s good to see you again, my friend.” The lycan pulls away. He appears to be in his late forties, early fifties, with a head full of salt-and-pepper hair. His eyes are bright green, and his features are sharp with angles. “This is my oldest son and future alpha, Remy St. James.”
Gideon copies the Alpha’s movements, wrapping his arm around Simon. “My son, and future alpha, Simon Ward.” The look on Simon’s face mirrors mine. Future alpha? What happened to his older brother? Gideon motions toward Stella. “My daughter, Stella Ward.”
Harrison claps his hands loudly. “Well, wasn’t that sweet. Shall we?” He motions toward the cathedral. “I’ve arranged a private room for our meeting.”
Several minutes later, we’re surrounding a large table with enough seats for all of us. “I’ll be the first to start,” Erick says, looking around the room. “What purpose have you called us together?”
“We have a situation, and we need it handled,” Gideon answers.
“I’m afraid we need a bit more information to go on,” Phillipe continues. He slides back in his seat, lacing his long fingers together. “Despite its reputation, the city of New Orleans is safe for both humans and paranormals.”
“I think I can speak for everyone when I say,changing that reputation is not our intention,” Gideon answers. He sighs. “We have reason to believe that Callum is in town.”
