She balked.
He came.
And at the exactly right moment. Everyone was still milling about, drinking and gossiping. The true festivities had yet to begin. She wanted to let out a villainous laugh.
The absolute fool had fallen for her trap.
Her fingers inched toward her daggers. Her heart began to race. This was it. Time to show everyone how brilliant she was with a blade. Time to show them what Abuelo had trained her to do. Papá would get to see her in action. He wouldn’t be able to deny her skill.
She beamed with glee.
Papá swept to the side.
Carolina’s jaw dropped.
Fernanda stood smiling in an emerald gown. She bowed her head and dipped into a well-practiced curtsy. “Good evening.”
Carolina peered around her. The young man with the devilishly handsome face wasn’t with her.
“Where is your brother?” Carolina snapped. When everyone’s eyes flicked toward her, she splashed on her sweetest smile. “I mean, Fernanda, how wonderful of you to join us,” she said, trying to seem gracious rather than disappointed.
Where was the sediento?
“Thank you for inviting my brother and me to your beautiful casa,” Fernanda said. “We were both so flattered that you would personally request our company, Carolina.”
Something nibbled at the back of Carolina’s mind. The way Fernanda had framed her sentences gave her pause. Fernanda had made sure to mention the summons to the Fuentes home. She had made sure to add that Carolina, in particular, had been the one to invite them in. Vampiros could only cross the threshold of a person’s home if given permission. If anything went awry, was Fernanda letting everyone know Carolina would be to blame?
“A pleasure to see you again,” Nena all but purred. She was too busy trying to flirt with the vampiro’s sister to care about Carolina’s hands balling into fists at her sides.
“Again?” Papá questioned.
Carolina jolted. Papá could not know anything about last night. Or their journey back to the Alicante estate to bring the invitation this afternoon.
“We met in passing when Fernanda came into town the other day,” Nena said.
Fernanda’s smile did not waver. “Ah sí. And what a lovely meeting indeed.”
“Did you come to the fiesta by yourself?” Carolina blurted.
“I did. I hope that is not too improper, but my brother…he…he was rather tired after his trip yesterday.” Her gaze flicked from Carolina to Nena.
Carolina pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. Fernanda clearly knew it was them who had tried to kill her brother. So why exactly had she come?
Del Oro is un pueblo located in Monterey County, twenty-seven miles east of the Coast. Because of its great distance from Alta California’s main ports and economical hubs, el pueblo is unincorporated. The picturesque pueblo of Del Oro was founded on October 9, 1584, by Basilio Fuentes.
The name Del Oro derives from the gold found in the riverbeds by early settlers. The local soil is rich in minerals, and the valley is known for its cattle and agriculture. The town sits below the small mountain range of Basilio’s Point, which is best known for the controversial name given to its southernmost peak, Devil’s Spine. According to the 1820 census, the town population was 276.
Sanchez. 1825.Alta California, Abundancia: Pueblos, Cities, & Topography.First Edition.
CHAPTER 7
Lalo
The headache thumping through Lalo’sskull would not go away. Feeding on animals wasn’t enough to keep the thirst at bay. The migraines were coming more frequently. The peppermint oil Fernanda picked up from the town apothecary could only do so much. Still, he’d take suffering over ruining another person’s life any day.
Sighing, he turned on his back and stared up at the ceiling. His shoulder healed quick enough. Though, that had been an ordeal. It took his sister several attempts to yank the blade free. At least, that was what he had been told. He fainted after the first try.
Lalo pushed himself to a seated position. His brow furrowed. Everything was eerily quiet within the casa.
