“Came over,” I interrupted. I didn’t need my own story reiteratedto me. “While she was here, well I already told youthatpart.”
“You got calls from Serena and Robert. They said they were together now as a couple.”
“Exactly. But I don’t see?—”
“How did Robert sound on the phone?”
I frowned. “Like an asshole.”
Joseph shook his head. “That’s not what I mean. Did he sound different than usual—maybe in his tone or wording?”
My heartbeat quickened, though I was trying not to get excited. “Actually, yes. He sounded . . . cold, monotone. Like he was dead on the inside. He didn’t reactat allwhen I got upset, and that isn’t like him. He also ghosted me after his call, which was weird. Robert’s never been one to shy away from confrontation.”
Joseph went quiet for a moment, and it was maddening to no end. I wished he’d just spit it out.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “What does any of this have to do with Robert’s fangs? That’s what this is about, right, his fangs?”
Joseph paused, as if weighing his options. He must have decided that I was worthy of the truth because he said, “I’m going to tell you some things that are for your ears only. We—the VGO—don’t make a habit of discussing our business with humans, but since you’re already involved, I can’t see any way around it. I don’t need to tell you what the organization might do if you repeat anything.”
I gulped. “I understand.”
“As you know, part of the deal you struck with the VGO was that we wouldn’t hurt your treacherous ex, Nick—though, frankly, I could never understand why. Had it been me in your shoes, I would have had him executed.” I nodded as Joseph tooka sip of blood. “However, not hurting Nick doesn’t mean that we didn’t occasionally check in on him to ensure he was remaining silent about the existence of vampires.”
That didn’t surprise me whatsoever. Vampires were as cautious as they were paranoid. I was positive any information they had on Nick had been obtained through illegal means like phone tapping and email monitoring. Having lived for thousands of years, vampires knew a thing or two about surveillance.
He continued, “Serena was overseeing the observation of Nick. Nobody else wanted the job, and she’d volunteered, so we let her. I figured she was trying to get back in our good graces after offending so many of our members.”
“Did she report what she found to the VGO?”
Joseph’s face darkened. “She did, but I’m beginning to think there were things she kept from us, like Nick having Robert’s fangs. This is news to me.”
I scratched my head in confusion. “But why would she hide that from you?”
“I’m getting to that, Olivia,” he said, but not unkindly. I got the sense he was gearing up to tell me some news I didn’t want to hear.
“Were you aware Nick was murdered?”
Joseph shook his head. “Not until you told me. With Serena being gone, our surveillance of Nick has slackened. There’s been some recent changes at the VGO, so our efforts have been focused on other things.” He flapped a hand. “Anyway, it doesn’t matter.”
“And whatdoesmatter?” I asked, practically pleading with him to cut to the chase.
“How much do you know about vampire history?” he asked.
I gave him a wry look. “About as much as you’d think.”
He seemed surprised. “Robert didn’t tell you anything?”
“No. To be fair, I never asked. It wasn’t something that cameup in conversation, but I doubt he even knows much. He’s more of a modern kind of guy.”
Joseph mulled this over. “Robert is young by vampire standards, so it makes sense that he is ignorant of our legends. Still, his maker should have told him some of the more important ones, if only for his own protection.”
“Remember, Leopold Sorin was the one who made him,” I pointed out dryly. Meaning, if the history didn’t involve Leopold directly, he would have deemed it unworthy of telling.
“That explains it,” Joseph said in an equally dry tone. “Robert should have beena lotmore careful where he kept his fangs—and treated getting them back with urgency. Had I been in his position, I would have killed to get them back.” He was being literal about the killing part.
I had enough of his beating around the bush. “I don’t understand the significance of Robert’s fangs—why should he have been so careful? It’s not like they didn’t grow back. They fell out when he turned human, but then he sprouted a whole new pair once he became vampire again. The fangs Nick had weren’t the only ones Robert was ever going to get.”
“I’m going to tell you something very few—if any—humans know.” He paused a second, then amended, “Actually, if Robert’s anything to go by, perhaps younger vampires don’t know this, either.”
