“It was the fledgling,” Bennie said, nodding at Aries. “The one you told us about? The one we couldn’t find, even though we’ve been looking for him for weeks. It was fucking stupid. I was already in the car and about to come here, but I forgot my goddamn phone.” Bennie rolled his eyes dramatically. “Seriously, it’s like the stupidest thing. I left the car at the curb with the motor still running and grabbed my phone. No big deal, right? I was gone for maybe half a minute. That damn fledgling must’ve been waiting for me. And by letting the motor run, I gave him the perfect opening because I didn’t scent him through the exhaust fumes. He grabbed me from behind when I opened the car door and tried ramming a knife into my chest, but I twisted.” He pointed to his chest. The red line was even more faint now. “And then I…” He stopped, averting his eyes. “I defended myself.”
“So he’s dead?” Aries asked, his arms crossed in front of his chest.
“I didn’t have a choice,” Bennie said, his eyes trained on the ground.
Personally, I didn’t know why Bennie looked as though he felt bad. That vampire had tried to kill him. We had visual proof. But it was obvious that Bennie was deeply uncomfortable.
Aries snorted.
“Youngling, I’m not implying your actions weren’t justified. I’m merely inquiring to assess the threat level for my club,” Aries said, waving a hand at the glass wall.Huh. His fingernails were painted red. Like blood.
He definitely knew how to put on a show.
“Bennie doesn’t like killing people,” Eric said, rubbing his best friend’s back. Right. Hadn’t Eric said something about that asshat former clan leader of his punishing him by sending him out in the field?
Wait. That wasn’t important right now. There were far more pressing issues.
“Do you know why he attacked you? Because Eric made it seem like the guy might’ve been looking for you for help.”
Bennie snorted. “He definitely didn’t want help. He wanted to kill me. And Eric. Curtesy of Ambrose.”
“That fucker,” Eric seethed.
“Ambrose sent a feral fledgling your way?” Aries asked, raising a single eyebrow. The move was so flawless, he must’ve practiced it in front of a mirror. “I have to say, that’s a new low. Even for him.”
Bennie sighed. “Apparently he promised the guy he’d make him part of his clan if he succeeded in killing Eric and me.”
That was… horrible.
I shivered. I could swear it was getting colder in here.
“This behavior is unacceptable,” Aries said quietly, and I couldn’t help but flinch. His tone was icy, the fury palpable. “He formally exiled you. That should’ve been it. Especially since you have a contract in place.”
Bennie sighed, his smile tired, but he didn’t look surprised. “I was expecting revenge of some sort. But turning people and sending them after me so they can earn a spot in Ambrose’s clan? That’s low.”
“And against all common sense.” Aries’s eyes blazed over, leaving them a glowing red.
Yeah, it was definitely getting colder in here.
Aries turned, giving me a long, calculating look before his eyes zeroed in on Eric.
“Take your mate home, youngling. Make sure he’s safe. He might be brave, but he’s also human, and that makes him utterly vulnerable.” He winked at me. “Sorry, kid.”
I wanted to ask what a mate was, but refrained, keenly aware that this wasn’t the right time for questions.
“When you’re done, get back here. We need to make a plan. While you’re gone, Bennie will go downstairs and feed properly. I’ll make some calls. Using fledglings as cannon fodder is completely unacceptable—and not something I’ll allow to happen in my city.”
I swallowed.
Holy shit.
Eric wasn’t scary, but Aries?
Yeah, definitely in another league of vampire.
Or was it just the difference in age? Did vampires get creepier the older they got?
No matter what it was, his words sent an icy chill down my spine, and I knew for sure that crossing him would be a bad, bad idea.
