At the far end of the table, Amée—sophisticated and beautiful—spat out the blood she’d been sipping in a startled spray that ended with her choking.
Auberi slapped her back as she coughed. “You’re joking,” he declared. “He said that to mess with us!”
“No joke.” Killian took a step back from Margarida’s chair so he could extend a hand to me. “Here she is—Jade O’Neil of the O’Neil and Carter slayers. Considine’s love, in the flesh.”
“I don’t believe you! You’re just trying to get us into trouble,” Baldwin barked.
Killian put his back to his siblings and gave me a look of regret that was practiced but didn’t hide the glow of delight in his red eyes. “I apologize, Slayer O’Neil, for their lack of belief in you. Clearly, it’s because they’re blind in their old age and can’t see your many attractions. I hope their little display doesn’t offend you?”
I kept my hands where I’d be able to pull a weapon. “No, my reaction was similar to theirs when Considine told me.”
“How interesting! Am I to interpret your comment, then, to say that youdon’treturn our sire’s affection?” Margarida rose, her red eyes alight with interest as she scanned me from head to foot.
“Margarida,” Amée’s voice was harsh as she stood up so fast she knocked her chair over. “Considine Maledictus is notour sire!” She stalked in our direction, her heels clicking on the floor.
Auberi followed behind his twin, his expression hard as he considered me. “I have to wonder what youdidto get someone as unfeeling and hateful as Considine interested in you.”
“Careful, Auberi.” Killian’s voice turned as chilly as winter. “Do not insult my guest inmyhall.”
“As if you can pretend to take the high ground.” Baldwin laughed as he threw his cloth napkin on the table and joined us. “You brought her here. Obviously, you’re trying to get Considine to back off, or unearth whatever plot he’s building against you. You don’t care for her—you don’t care about humans!”
I would have taken Killian’s silence as evidence of Baldwin’s accusation—having a human wife didn’t automatically make him a protector of all humans. Except when his eyes flicked between Baldwin and the twins, they were too watchful.
Interesting. I guess Hazel Medeis has rubbed off on him.
“A little pressure to her neck, and I’m sure she’ll spill what Considine is planning,” Auberi said.
My fingers itched with the need to hold a weapon, but I didn’t want to risk pulling a dagger until I had no other option. I already had a dragon shifter after me. I didn’t need to earn the enmity of powerful vampires to top it off.
“Everyone needs to relax,” Margarida chirped. “There’s no need to get upset.”
“There’s plenty of reasons to get upset.” Amée took a step closer to me. “We finally have a chance to outsmart Considine, and Killian is planning to take advantage of it just for himself, or he’s colluding with Considine.”
Killian leaned toward me and kept his voice low. “This has not gone the way I thought it would.”
“I see,” I said, aiming to sound neutral.
Killian played with the cuffs of his suit coat. “When they attack, I’ll take the twins. You handle Baldwin.”
I blinked in surprise. “I don’t know that’s the best plan.”
Amée, Auberi, and Baldwin—all easily able to hear us—snarled and/or hissed in their anger, their beautiful faces twisting.
Killian ignored the display. “Fine, fine. You can have the twins if you’re that eager—but only if you promise to shoot Amée first.”
“I beg your pardon, your Eminence, but I don’t think I could handle one elder vampire, much less two,” I said.
“You’re just being humble,” Killian said. “Also, I’m tired of waiting for them to attack. We’re going to take the advantage. Ready?”
“Your first official meeting and you’re already trying to make my partner do your dirty work? For shame, Killian. I thought Ambrose raised you better than that.” Considine’s voice came from the doorway behind us.
I didn’t risk turning to look at him—not with three angry elder vampires in the room—but immediately the angry siblings backed away, the snarls falling from their faces.
“Elder Maledictus,” Amée stiffly greeted him.
“Considine,” Killian’s voice was sour and his eyes narrowed—was he upset Considine had arrived to ruin his game?
“Sire!” Margarida took a few steps toward him, then paused. “Who is your lovely companion?”
