Killian shrugged. “Of you personally? No. Of the chaos you might create from sheer boredom? Petrified. But we can do a deep dive into the semantics of language on a different night. Most of the guests have arrived for the gala.”
Killian motioned to a pair of double doors that shut off the small antechamber we were stationed in.
Since the Dracos vampires were the most powerful and respected vampires in the Magiford community at the moment, they would all make a grand entrance together.
I’d never attended a vampire party, even for undercover purposes. But this was pretty standard stuff as far as vampire society went.
Unlike werewolves—who were more about family ties and isolated Pack groups—vampires were more hierarchy based, with the elders being treated like royalty. The most powerful vampires—like Considine and the United States Ancient—were as close to kings as the vampires got.
“And your siblings?” Considine prompted.
“Should be here any moment,” Killian said. “They were ready, but Amée realized half of my staff are carrying guns and got jealous. She insisted on changing to wear a dress that allowed her to be armed, which meant Auberi had to change due to their weird twin-insistence on matching.”
“Unsurprising,” Considine said. “I’d complain, but their twinness has its uses for intimidation and inspiring fear in others.”
“Agreed,” Killian said.
Hazel let go of her husband’s arm and slithered away from him when he made a grab for her hand. “Jade, I was hoping we could talk for a few minutes while we wait. Why don’t we go sit down? We should take advantage of the chairs while we can—you have to standforeverat these kinds of events.”
“Of course.” I followed the petite woman over to an antique settee bench I estimated was from the 19thcentury and Victorian in style.
Hazel adjusted her skirts before sitting down. I gingerly joined her—my instinct was to remain standing as my senses were vibrating from all the vampires in the area, but there was no danger at the moment, and it was the polite thing to do particularly considering who the invitation was coming from.
“Are you feeling okay about the gala?” Hazel asked. “You’re not nervous, are you?”
“No,” I truthfully said. “Considering we’re allied with the strongest vampires in society, and the gala is being held in Drake Hall—giving the Drakes the home advantage—and considering Considine’s powers as well as those of the Dracos vampires. I don’t believe there is a need for alarm. Although one should always be prepared.”
Hazel peered up at me with surprise in her blue eyes.
Did I say something rude? I better apologize, just in case. Killian is too important to Considine for me to bungle this.
“I apologize if I said something insensitive, that was not my intention,” I said.
Hazel smiled, turning her pretty features downright beautiful. “Oh, no—you don’t need to apologize! I was just thinking that you really understand vampires, don’t you?”
“It’s what I trained for most of my life.”
Hazel nodded. “I’m glad. I don’t know much about Considine, but I think he needs someone who gets all of this.”
She glanced meaningfully over at Considine and Killian, who—judging by the irritation in their expressions—were most likely complaining to each other about the other Dracos family members, or vampires in general.
“Oh, but this is the perfect time!” Hazel beamed at me. “I’d like to invite you to a girl’s day!”
I reviewed her invitation in my mind, but was still confused. “I’m sorry, a what?”
“Girl’s day,” Hazel repeated. “Every few weeks Celestina—she’s Killian’s First Knight—and I go out and get pedicures or manicures, and sometimes stop at a café or restaurant for lunch. It’s an excuse to have some fun and relax with friends. Sometimes some of my wizards or other Drake vampires will join us, too. We’d love it if you wanted to come with us.”
Hazel thoughtfully frowned, scrunching her nose. “Although maybe we should wait. I know you have…what, is it a weekbefore Lady Gisila might make another attempt on Tutu’s? I can imagine you want to wait until that’s over.”
“You know about Gisila’s break ins?” I asked, then immediately felt stupid. As the wizard Elite’s protégé, it was natural she’d know.
“Yeah. I’ve gotten reports about it through the Midwest Regional Committee of Magic.” Hazel shivered. “It freaks me out that Tutu is being so chill about it. She is not the type to take any kind of failure of her security kindly.”
“Have you met her, then?” I asked.
“No,” Hazel said. “And I’d like to keep it that way. But I got to see a…test of her system, once. It took a few years off my life.”
A door—not the one that would lead into the party, but a door connected to a hallway—opened.
