I ate another strawberry. “What kind of dessert?”
Considine pulled a chocolate cake—arranged on a glass plate and covered with a glass dome—out of the fridge and set it on the counter. “To answer your earlier question, it doesn’t always go down like this. At first, local vampires usually trip over me in an attempt to impress me.”
He retrieved another plate and a fork. “It seems the Midwest vampires have opted to skip that step and head straight for awed fear, as if I were a natural disaster. It’s likely the outcome of putting out such a large command as I did when getting you to the hospital.” He cut a thick slice of chocolate cake and transferred it to the plate, then offered it to me.
There was something about the way he spoke—the forsaken conclusion that eventually he would be alone—that I could identify with.
My task force teammates didn’t trip over themselves the way the local vampires were, and they were finally starting to soften to me, but for so long they’d kept clear of me the same way a space was kept around Considine.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “That doesn’t sound fun.”
Considine shrugged. “It’s one of the more tedious aspects of being one of the oldest vampires still alive and awake, and has only gotten worse as time has passed and more vampires on my level sleep or die.” He glanced down at his hand, his eyes resting on the gold ring he’d worn even back when I thought he was Connor.
I took a forkful of cake, but I didn’t eat it. I stared at the fudgy frosting, debating whether I should poke one of Considine’s sore spots or not.
If we’re going to achieve the kind of relationship Considine wants… Now that I’m willing, I need to know.
“Something wrong, Midnight Snack?” Considine asked.
I took a deep breath in, then looked into Considine’s red eyes. “The pain of having to bear all of that alone…is that another reason why you’re so mad at Ambrose? Because he died and left you to face it by yourself?”
“Ah. We’re going there, are we?” Instead of looking bothered, Considine rested his forearms on the island counter and leaned over it, his expression contemplative.
“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” I offered.
“But if I don’t, that won’t exactly help my campaign for your heart, will it?” He asked.
I didn’t know how to respond, so I ate my forkful of cake. The back of my mind processed the amazing frosting and rich taste, but I was so nervous it was hard to swallow.
Considine touched a strand of my hair that had slipped free from the pins and tucked it behind my ear. “It’s fine, Jade. It’s natural you’d be curious. And in this case, I’d say you’re likely right.” He looked down at the counter, staring off into centuries past. “When I’m not mad at him for dumping his responsibilities on me before he died, I do get angry that he’s gone and left me to grapple with this, alone. But we’ve had plenty of friends who have died or fallen asleep, never to awaken again.”
“But those friends weren’t Ambrose,” I said.
“No,” Considine agreed.
We were silent for a moment.
“However, in considering the pain of being alive, the toadying and fear from other vampires isn’t so bad.” Considine’s expression turned thoughtful. “I run into the occasional vampire who understands, like the United States Ancient. And as much as my promise to Ambrose that I’d keep his brats alive drives mecrazy, not a single one of his offspring treats me with any great reverence. So I suppose his promise has some uses.”
“They respect you,” I countered. “And they listen to you.”
“On the rare occasion they aren’t being broody, stubborn, or melodramatic,” Considine dryly said.
I took another bite of my cake. It went down easier this time, and I was more aware of its amazing chocolaty flavor, but there was more I wanted to know. “Do you think, maybe, that’s one of the reasons why Ambrose asked you to help his Family?”
Considine shrugged. “Who can say? It’s possible—probable, even. As softhearted as he was, Ambrose wasn’t above manipulation if he thought it was for someone’s greater good.”
I stabbed my fork into the cake—I was desperate to keep my hands busy to relieve some of the awkwardness I was feeling from having such a deep but necessary discussion. “Maybe he thought asking you to watch his Family would give you purpose, and keep you alive, too.”
“Perhaps.” Considine slid my fork from my lax grasp and took his own bite of cake—it seemed like I wasn’t the only one trying to keep calm.
“That doesn’t make you feel any better about it?” I asked.
“Since you require honesty, no, it doesn’t.” Considine handed me back the fork. “I suppose you are right. His true betrayal is that he died. And it’s only a matter of time before I forget him entirely.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“The thing about vampires is…we were once human. Once turned, we get a slew of enhancements—near immortality, speed, some strength, healing…I don’t know why I’m telling you this. You probably know more about said abilities than most vampires.” Considine shook his head.
