“See? Idiots. Now, do you understand what I want you to do?” I stared at Auberi, Amée, Margarida, and Baldwin, holding each of their individual gazes until they looked away.
“We understand,” Margarida said.
“Good.” I stood up and pushed my chair back. “That is all.”
Baldwin tilted his head in deference to me before he caught himself with a scowl. “If that’s so, I will take my leave.” Hestood up, narrowly avoiding knocking his chair into Auberi, then stomped off.
Amée and Auberi gave a more cautious farewell, with Auberi slightly bowing and Amée curtsying. The twins headed off, disappearing through the door.
Margarida rose to follow them, but when she stopped to pick up her mug, her eyes strayed to me. “Sire…do you really care for this slayer?”
“Yes,” I said. “I really do.”
Margarida gave a thoughtful nod, then curtsied deeper than Amée had. “Goodnight, Little Killi, Sire.” She slipped through the doorway, her expression still thoughtful.
“You told them,” Killian said after her footsteps faded down the hallway.
“You thought I was lying on the phone?”
“Yes.”
I strolled toward the door. “As I said earlier, I’m not sure how much time I have. I need to fortify power before Gisila gets back. Besides, as annoying as you brats are, you’re not human killers. None of you would harm Jade.”
Killian followed me, trailing me into the hallway. “You know, if you attended any of the parties, you wouldn’t have to send them out like stooges to do your dirty work.”
“I work nights, now,” I drawled. “No time for parties when I have shifts to cover. But you’re right—I’ll have to attend a party, eventually.”
Even that decision was calculated.
I’d make a darker impression if I sent the Dracos siblings—impressive in their own right given their power and lineage, despite their tendency to snivel—out to play, and then eventually showed up on my own.
Intimidation, combined with growing anticipation, was a powerful tool—one I’d have to be careful with. If I wasted too much time Gisila would return before I pulled it off.
“Good,” Killian said. “Then I’ll look forward to the day—and for my phone to stop blowing up with calls from other local vampire Families, anxious to meet you.”
I nodded as we strode down the hallway.
When we reached the front entryway with the grand double staircase, Killian waved to me as he started up the stairs.
“Killian,” I called.
“Yes?” Killian peered back at me, curious.
I paused, wondering just how much information I was about to give away.
It doesn’t matter. He saw me after I took Jade to the hospital. He already knows just how important she is.
“Your wife also serves as your blood donor,” I said.
“Yes,” Killian confirmed, as if it was no small matter.
Vampires had kept our feeding habits—or at least one specific part of it—from common knowledge: when vampires fed straight from a human, the euphoric properties of fresh blood turned vampires helpless for some time after feedings.
Even slayers didn’t know of this weakness—which had also been why, once blood extraction had been perfected by my kind, I’d stopped feeding directly from humans.
“Have you been able to…extend her life?” I asked.
This was another practice we’d kept secret—though I’m fairly certain the slayers knew of it and simply didn’t care.
