Killian smiled dangerously. “Ahh. You think I’m sentimental, like my sire and siblings?”
“No,” I said. “I think you’re dangerous, like your de facto leader, Considine Maledictus.”
I was fairly certain Considine was their leader, even if he didn’t want to admit it. If he really had spent the centuries since Ambrose had died shepherding the Dracos line, he had to be.
That’s also why this situation has the potential to go south faster than Considine realizes. The Dracos might not take well to their leader hanging around a slayer, particularly since they already lost their sire.
Killian’s eyebrows formed a V when he furrowed his brow. “There is something rattling in hearing a near perfect understanding of vampire politics recited by a human.”
I shrugged. “Slayer training.”
“Considine is right, your parents must be zealots. Most vampires even a hundred years old couldn’t grasp such things.”
The car rolled to a stop in front of a gorgeous mansion, which boasted three stories and perfectly manicured landscaping.
“As unsettling as it is, your background will serve you well.” Killian—sitting with me on the back bench seat—slipped out of the car and slammed the door shut behind him.
I followed his example and got out, then turned a circle to ground myself. My vampire senses were going crazy—hardly surprising, considering I was standing in Killian’s home. It made it a little difficult to focus on my surroundings as new vampires kept pinging my senses.
Killian started up the handful of stairs that led up to the front doorway. “My siblings won’t attack you, but your understanding of vampire psychology is going to give you an edge.”
I followed Killian past two vampire guards—both wearing suits—and into the gorgeous mansion. “Were your siblings aware you were bringing me here?” I asked as I did a quick inspection of the area.
The crystal chandelier that sent rainbows dancing on the walls and the double staircase that led upstairs was a small testimony to the opulence in this mansion, but there were a lot of art pieces—sculptures, vases, and the like—that could be used as a weapon if necessary.
“No.” The vampire Eminence’s smirk was back. “It’s more fun this way. Also, three out of four of them don’t believe you’re real, and the fourth one thinks of you as more of a Santa Claus-like figure.”
I’d been looking back over my shoulder—Celestina and Julianne had left the car and followed us inside, leaving a different vampire to park the car. But at Killian’s vague description, I turned back around and took an extra-long stride to catch up with him. “What?”
Killian waved a hand at me with the presence of a prince. “You’ll see. Celestina, where are my siblings?”
“I just received a text message from Josh. He’s gathered them in the dining room for the dinner service.” Celestina’s voice was melodic and warm, but it was her nails that caught my attention. Lines of blue and orange and similarly colored diamond shapes decorated her nails in patterns that were reminiscent of the beautiful designs I’d seen on Mexican sarapes—long, blanket-like cloaks.
“Excellent. This way, Slayer O’Neil.” Killian charged down a hallway that broke off from the massive entryway. Art and piecesof antique furniture that cost more than my personal net worth decorated the long hallway.
He stopped outside a wooden door and opened it, sauntering in without a care. “Hello,Family.”
I rolled my shoulders—making sure my handgun and daggers were easily accessible—then stepped into the dining room.
A banquet table so enormously long it filled the length of the room sat mostly unoccupied, except for the four spots taken by the vampires I assumed were Killian’s siblings.
“Slayer O’Neil, allow me to introduce my siblings. The two gargoyles sneering down at the far end of the table are Amée and Auberi.” Killian pointed to a brother-sister pair, who both possessed blond hair and identical frowns. They were sitting at the far end of the table. Auberi in a modern suit, and Amée in a black cocktail dress.
“The sourpuss who looks broke is Baldwin.” Killian gestured to a handsome vampire with blond-brown hair and narrowed eyes. Since his suit looked tailor made, I didn’t get what Killian meant about looking broke. It must be an inside joke.
“And this daydreamer is Margarida.” Killian rested his hands on the back of the chair of a gorgeous woman who had long, curly, dark brown hair, and a smile so warm I questioned if she was really a vampire until I saw her bright red eyes.
“Good evening.” Margarida was the only one to greet me. She seemed sincere, but her forehead wrinkled with confusion as she glanced at Killian. “Are you a friend of Little Killi’s?”
Little Killi?
I kept my expression blank and was thankful for all my slayer training. I knew if I so much as twitched, Killian would react. Negatively.
“No, Slayer O’Neil is a new acquaintance, but you should all be interested in her,” Killian said.
“Why?” Baldwin pursed his lips before he tugged at the silk tie he wore—I didn’t think a suit was his usual costume of choice. “Is she a part of some new game you’re playing?”
“No,” Killian said. “She’s Considine’s slayer.”
