I pour her some blood, and she drinks it hungrily. I take the glass, put it down, and guide her closer to me.
Then I lick the lines of her lips, lapping up the blood. “You make blood even better, Elliot. Who the fuck thought you’d do that?”
Elliot turns from me and walks out of the kitchen, right as my phone beeps. Vittoria has arrived at the party already, and knowing her, is skulking around the edges, watching everyone there like a hawk that’s been honed by starvation.
We need to go.
I follow Elliot into the great room and call the elevator, punching the code.
She’s still silent as it arrives. As the doors open, I motion for her to enter, but she pauses at the entrance.
“Give me time, Lucian,” she says.
“Time?”
“To…be okay with this.” She steps inside. “It’s not something I signed up for. I just… I need time.”
The doors shut.
“I understand.”
Her blue eyes swing to me. “Do you really? Because I don’t think?—”
“I wasn’t given a choice in my turning either.”
She blinks. “You…?”
“None of us are born this way,” I say, casting my gaze onto the silver doors. The night I awoke a vampire was a long, long time ago, but you never forget the day you’re reborn. “The only difference is that you have me to guide you through the transition. Some of us weren’t given that luxury.”
The elevator dings and the doors open. Two of my men greet us.
“This way sir…ma’am,” one says.
We’re driven to the glittering high rises of Tenebris City. It isn’t far from us, but entrances need to be made. As Andrew pulls in front of the old train station, the event’s venue, I begin to explain to Monty what tonight is.
“That’s it?” she asks, raising a brow.
“Keep watch,” I say, “and if you see anything odd, let me know.”
“It’s an engagement party,” she says, her hands clasped tight. “Right?”
“Yes, but I’m interested in what’s below the surface,” I say. “And I know you like to…gather information.”
“That’s a nice way to say nosey.”
I smirk but it’s quick to falter. “One more thing.”
“Don’t eat the humans. I got it.”
I lock gazes with her. “Stay away from a vampire named Santiago.”
“Santiago?” she asks, confused. “Why? Is he a friend of yours?”
The car door opens. “He was. Now, he’s nothing but trouble.”
On the surface, this is a regular party, a place for the rich, the famous and infamous, the criminal element, all to rub shoulders and exchange information. Of course, the most interesting interactions will end up on tomorrow’s blogs, sites, papers, and TV, courtesy of VMR Media.
But beneath the surface, another story breathes and seethes.
