“Whose orders? And why would they be after me?” Gen asked.
A thought struck me, and I looked at Henrik. What about Celeste?
He frowned, thinking. “Celeste can never be discounted, and I wouldn’t put it past her to hire nagas.”
“Celeste — again,” Gen said bitterly. She hadn’t met the succubus in person, but obviously, her sister had filled her in. “Why does she hate you guys so much?”
“She hates Mina too,” Bene pointed out cheerily.
I frowned. What if Celeste hated Gen for the same reasons? Greed, resentment, jealousy…
Gen’s frown said she was wondering the same thing.
“If Mina or Marius calls, please don’t tell them about this. Not until they come home, I mean. I don’t want to ruin their honeymoon.”
“Three nagas are grounds enough to break off a honeymoon,” Bene countered.
“Maybe, but it’s just one more day. Please,” she tried.
Bene looked at Henrik, then me.
I was torn. Bene was right — this was serious. But recalling Mina or Marius suggested we couldn’t handle this on our own, and that didn’t sit well with me.
You two take turns patrolling tonight,I ordered.I’ll scour the grounds for any signs of naga — or anything else — in the morning.
Bene made a face, but neither he nor Henrik protested — a sign of how earnestly they took this.
“God, I could use a drink,” Gen muttered.
Henrik stepped to the drinks trolley and raised his hands expectantly. Old habits must die hard, because that was one of the few gentlemanly things he did.
“A little red wine, please,” she said. “Whatever is open.”
He poured a glass and brought it over.
“Thanks,” she said, taking it absently.
Henrik looked about to turn away, but something stopped him. Dangerous vibes filled the room, and pinpoints of red shone in his eyes, fixated on a speck of blood on Gen’s arm. My blood, probably, but it mixed with her rosy scent, making for a unique bouquet.
The vampire flared his nostrils greedily.
“Oh no, you don’t.” Bene yanked him back just as I was gathering myself to pounce.
Henrik stalked to his favorite corner of the room — something only a vampire would have — where he straightened his collar and muttered, as if Bene were the unreasonable one.
Painful as it was, I maneuvered myself into sphinx position to keep an eye on him.
Where is Claudette when you need her?Bene half joked in my mind.Henrik could quench his thirst with her.
My mouth went sour. I felt for Claudette — truly — but I was also wary. Why give an outsider free run of the château — especially a vulnerable human susceptible to manipulation by our enemies?
I really doubt Claudette is passing information to Clement,Bene said, reading my mind.
Well, I didn’t. The wolf shifter would give his right arm for information that incriminated us or Gordon. That would bump his furry ass up the career ladderandpotentially clear the way for him to have another chance at Mina.
Marius would fight to his last breath for Mina, but I had the feeling Clement would too.
A snarl built in my throat. Claudette meant trouble, and so did Officer Clement Dulaire.
