I hurriedly answered the call as I stood up and grabbed the dagger secured to the underside of my coffee table. “Hello?”
“Jade—good, I caught you. Are you home right now?” Considine’s rich voice sounded tight, and he’d called me Jade. He almost never did that.
Something was very wrong.
I turned in a circle, extending my senses as I searched for the threat. “Yes.”
“Right. Listen, I’m sorry to spring this on you, but it’s time for you to meet the Dracos children.”
I paused. “What?”
“Ambrose’s offspring—the ones I’ve been watching. They heard of you and wanted to meet you,” Considine’s voice suddenly muffled. “Yes, hello, you are a delightful pile of boards that should be admired at every opportunity.”
“Considine?” I said after a moment.
“Sorry. I’m attempting to gain some leverage. But the snake-brats. A couple of them are staying with Killian Drake. I can’t hold them back any longer, so we’re having dinner with them.”
“Dinner?” I dumbly repeated. “You want me, a vampire slayer, to havedinnerwith them?”
“Don’t worry, Killian serves human food.”
I fixed my grasp on my dagger so it was more suited for a throwing motion than a stabbing motion. “Food was the last worry on my list, Considine. Dracos offspring mean they’re high ranking. I’m a slayer with social anxiety. This won’t end well.”
“You have nothing to be concerned about. First, they’re vampires. You’re excellent at handling vampires. Secondly, they’re not nearly as glamorous as you think—it’ll be a miracle if Baldwin isn’t wearing those odious petticoat breeches of his tonight.”
“And just how murderous will they be?”
“Hardly at all. They’re rather useless.”
Useless. Right.
Killian Drake—the youngest of the Dracos offspring—was the most powerful of the siblings. I knew, however, from my research that all of them boasted impressive Families, great prestige, and were top players in cities they had set up their homes in. All of that was on top of the forgone assumption of money and beauty.
“Killian is coming to pick you up.I’ll meet you at Drake Hall.”
“Wait, I’m supposed to meet the powerful Dracos Family, and you aren’t even taking me to meet them yourself?”
“I would if I could, but Killian has me cornered right now…”
“Considine,” My fear colored my voice even though I’d meant to sound angry instead of upset.
This was my worst nightmare—new, powerful people, who were important to Considine?
“Jade, listen to me. I’m sorry—I should be with you during this, and it’s my fault I’m not. I didn’t prepare enough—or anticipate Killian’s moves like I should have. This won’t happenagain. But you can trust Killian, and I’ll try to arrive at Drake Hall as soon as possible.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and tapped my dagger against my thigh.
“If you really don’t like this, then leave through your windows and head down the fire escape. Even Killian’s goons won’t forcefully take you if you’re milling around downtown with all the humans.”
I opened my eyes and inhaled deep through my nose, then exhaled through my mouth, locking into work mode.
I can do this. They’re vampires—I’m trained in all things vampire.
“Killian is the one forcing this, I take it?”
“Yes.”
“Understood. What kind of threat are the rest of the Dracos offspring?”
