He coughed roughly, shoved me away and got to his feet. “We should be searching this library for any possible clues as to why you can hide yourself on camera. C’mon, you take one shelf, and I’ll start here.”
It seemed we were done talking about feelings. I stood, and drained the wine in my glass, placing it out of the way. As I picked a bookshelf at random and took out the first volume my hand touched, a tiny flame of wonder flickered in my chest. I was almost certain Luc had been about to tell me he loved me.
* * *
We were still methodically ploughingthrough Dalziel’s extensive library by the time he returned, looking rather windswept. He stuck his head into the library to inform us of his return, then promptly excused himself to take a shower.
When he reappeared, he was once again immaculate. He asked what we were doing.
I sidelined the thought that this man, my father, had sent out for a human for me to feed from — was that like ordering a takeaway via a food app for humans? — and explained Luc’s suggestion to do some research. “We didn’t know if it would help, but you’ve got so many books we figured it was worth a shot. Did we do wrong? We’ve been very careful.”
“Have you found anything?” He glanced at the volumes piled on a side table. “What are those?”
Luc replaced the book he’d been flicking through into its space on the shelf. “They’re the ones we thought might be worth digging a bit deeper into. Some of these are evidently the work of cranks or fantasists, but there’s enough truth in the books on the table to make them worth a second look.” He tapped the top one. “This one in particular.” It was ancient, the paper a similar feel to the fake parchment I’d made in primary school by dabbing coffee grounds onto sugar paper, although I suspected unlike them, this book was probably rare and priceless. “I grabbed an old notebook from my case and I’ve noted where each book came from, so they can be replaced in the right spots.”
Dalziel looked shocked but pleased. “That was thoughtful of you, Lucien. I appreciate it. Shall we take them over to the desk?”
I had to ask him. “Why d’you call Luc Lucien all the time?”
Dalziel quirked an eyebrow. “It’s his name. I wouldn’t presume to shorten it without his permission. It would be very rude of me.”
“Oh, right, okay.” Now I thought about it, Luc had introduced himself to everyone I’d heard him speak to as Lucien. Did that mean I was special? I tucked the thought away along with the aborted L word declaration from earlier, and the tiny flame in my chest flickered and swelled a little larger.
We worked for I don’t know how long, our endeavours interrupted only twice. Once was Pavel, who came to enquire if we needed any further refreshments, and when Dalziel said no, asked if he should retire to his quarters. The other was a text message for Dalziel. He glanced at it, then pocketed his phone and looked at me. “That was Eleanor. She’ll be back within half an hour or so with the human.”
I steeled my pulse to calm down when I felt it respond to his casual remark by jackrabbiting about like I’d shot myself full of pure caffeine. Luc caught my eye and raised his brows, asking if everything was all right. I gave him a shaky thumbs up, but shortly after made my excuses and fled upstairs to the bathroom in our suite.
I stared at my mouth in the mirror, twisting this way and that to examine my teeth. I’d been too startled, and too high from the rush, when I’d bitten into the blood bag, to pay much attention to which teeth had elongated into fangs, but now I wanted to know how my body worked.
I poked and prodded but they remained frustratingly, stubbornly still.
There was a knock on the bedroom door. Assuming Luc wouldn’t knock, I went to open it, and found Dalziel standing there, looking cool as fuck. “Nervous about feeding?” he said simply.
“That obvious eh? Yeah, a bit.” I stuck my hands in my pockets and eyeballed the carpet with an intensity its vintage pattern didn’t deserve.
“What’s worrying you the most?” He manoeuvred me back into the room, and I somehow found myself perched on the bed while he took up a faux casual position leaning against the fire surround.
“What isn’t?” I retorted. “I’m scared I’ll be too rough, or not rough enough, or I’ll cause someone to bleed out, or…” I blushed, “…or I’ll puke and be the most embarrassing vampire ever.”
He barked out a startled laugh. “And this year’s prize for overthinking goes to Charley Entwhistle.” Dalziel’s expression puckered as if he’d tasted something nasty. “How attached are you to the surname Entwhistle?”
I blinked at the sudden change of subject. “Umm, I dunno. It’s always been my name. Well, since I was adopted, obviously. Why?” Oh!Wow, he doesn’t mean what I think he means, does he?
Dalziel was back to his usual haughty self. “You are a Millar. It would be a simple matter to change your name to reflect that. A deed poll only requires a certain wording and two witnesses.”
I gaped like a proverbial goldfish. “You want me to change my name to yours?”
He brushed at what I suspected were imaginary pieces of fluff on the sleeves of his pale blue shirt. “You are my son. I intend to claim you publicly as such at the next Council meeting. It would be…encouraging…if it were known you intended to take my family name.” Jeez, he was such an imperious twat. It was kind of hot though, when he acted like a god.Urgh, hang on. I don’t find myfatherhot, do I?
To give myself a moment, I jumped up and made a sudden production of drawing the curtains, muttering about the morrow’s daylight. Truth be told, it wouldn’t affect me unless it was very sunny, and then I would only sleep much more deeply than if it were overcast or no direct light was to shine on me.
Deciding that thankfully Ididn’thave the hots for daddy dearest, merely his lordly behaviour, and I was able to meet his gaze without my face catching fire, I came back to sit on the bed. I leaned back, taking my weight on my arms, and looked up at him.
“I’ll think about it.” I wasn’t going to promise anything, but part of me was flattered that he’d asked.
“All right. When you wish to proceed, I’ll have Eleanor draw up the papers.” Spoken as if I’d acquiesce but it was merely a matter of timing. I bristled at his assumption.
“You can’t just assume I’m going to lose the identity I’ve had for nineteen years on your say-so,” I said hotly. “I know my parents weren’t as amazing as they could have been, but they still fucking chose me and wanted me. They gave me that name.” Honestly, why was I protesting so much? I’d been an exhausting thorn in my parents’ side since the day they’d brought me home, so you’d think I’d have been jumping at the chance to rid myself of their name. Except…maybe I was just enough of a saddo that I still wanted their approval, and their love, even after all the evidence pointed to the contrary re my chances of receiving it. I sighed, and stuck my head in my hands. “You’ve got some fucking nerve, Dalziel.”
