“I promise you.”
You lifted my hand and drew an X across my skin, dried blood sloughing under the path of my fingertip. It was an oath I held sacred. You’d made me cross my heart.
23
VINCENT
Ididn’t hear the knock on our door, but you were already leaping out of the chair to answer it.
“Henri, you’re naked,” I called. I wasn’t wearing much more than you.
You directed me to duck behind the couch as you approached from the side of the door. In your right hand, your dagger was prepared to strike. Where did that even come from?
There was another knock, impatient this time. You spied on our visitor through the peephole and groaned.
“Who is it?” I whisper-yelled from where I was still crouched.
“Lucian.”
I’d cut our first visit short, but I’d expected him to return with news about Mater. He must have followed you to our hotel last night. I went to the bedroom to tug on a pair of athletic pants. I found yours and brought them over to you.
“Maybe we couldnotgreet him with a knife?” I said.
“He’s not to be trusted.”
“I get it, Henri, but how about we take the aggression down a notch?”
You pulled on your pants, still gripping the blade, then told me to stand back. I didn’t believe Lucian had anything to gain in harming us, but I did as you asked. When you finally opened the door, he greeted us with a dazzling smile. His looks were disorienting and made it hard for me to tear my eyes away—probably part of his thrall. Mater had told me to keep the details of my powers to myself because the element of surprise was our greatest advantage.
Lucian’s attention went directly to the wooden chair, then back to our bare chests, still flaking with dried blood. “Did I miss lunch?” he asked with mock disappointment.
You grumbled and I retrieved a bottle of blood from the fridge along with three wine glasses, thinking we may as well do this on full stomachs; it might even improve your mood.
“Lucian.” His name rang like a warning as you gestured for him to sit on the sectional sofa. “What brings you to our secret lair?”
Lucian crossed one ankle over his knee. He looked like the centerfold for a fashion magazine, from his tailored suit to the hard part in his styled hair. Prince Charming, Mater had said, but I had my doubts.
“I take it you two have kissed and made up?” he said.
I felt your eyes assessing me. It wasn’t so simple, and we all knew it.
“What’s going on with Mater?” I asked. You shot me a questioning look while I poured the blood and offered a glass to Lucian. I sat close enough to attempt a seduction, but not so close that it would freak you out. You remained standing at my side with your arms loose and ready, a surly look on your face. Your blood sat on the coffee table, untouched.
“Not bad for the bottled stuff,” Lucian said after his first sip. “I need the number for your supplier. I feel like I’ve been eating fast food since I got here.”
“Get to the point, Lucian,” you growled.
Lucian drained his glass without spilling a drop and set it precisely on the coffee table.
“Our mother is being starved of blood.” He looked to me for a reaction. I knew it already, and I wanted to know what could be done about it.
Spooky chose that moment to make an appearance and threaded her body through Lucian’s legs. It was abnormally friendly behavior for her. It had taken months for Spooky to warm up to Valentina, and I’d never in my life seen her seek affection from anyone besides me.
“Hello there, precious.” Lucian pet along her back, and Spooky arched upward to meet his hand. “Your cat’s a familiar,” he said to me.
Something else I knew already.
“How do you know this?” you asked as you sat down beside me, hunched over with your forearms on your knees, dagger still in hand.
