* * *
Dalziel,Rosie, Eleanor, Luc — keeping several feet of space between us — and I met in the massive table room, as I’d come to think of it, at nine thirty. Three of us were ready an hour before that, but Dalziel told me I wasn’t to disturb Luc, so we’d had to wait for him to appear. I didn’t know what hours Eleanor kept, but she definitely pulled more than a regular nine to five. I hope Daddy dearest made it worth her while.
All of us except Luc sat down. He stood to the side at one of the short ends of the table, his arms crossed over his chest and his lips a tight line. He looked exhausted, and his tanned complexion was marred by a tinge of grey. My heart clenched; I’d done that to him. Unwittingly, of course, but it was still my fault. I tried to catch his eye but he steadfastly ignored me, his gaze fixed on the pristine notepad in front of Eleanor. Anger rose in me, dousing my compassion the longer he ignored me. I’d done nothing personally to him. Was this some kind of supernatural version of racism? Could all folk like them, us, be speciesist? I already knew vamps and wolves harboured a mutual dislike, but it certainly seemed anyone was fair game if they weren’t the same as you. It was really fucking disappointing.
Pavel brought in yet more drinks for everyone. Luc came near enough to snag a tea, but still managed to avoid meeting my eyes. I glared at the side of his head and hoped he could feel my hurt.
Dalziel’s eyes were kind as he made sure Rosie was comfortable. Then with a swift glance at us all, he began. “What do you know, or think you know, about the Fae? Or indeed any other being that you consider non-human, for that matter?” I could tell he was trying to appear as non-threatening as possible.
Rosie pulled in a huge breath then let it go slowly. “I dunno, to be honest. Obviously I know about vampires, like yourself, and the Fae. The Fae, well, everyone says they’re best avoided because they’re too gorgeous to be trusted. Don’t eat or drink anything they offer you, don’t give them your real name—” She broke off with a grimace in my direction, then shrugged. “Eh well, bit late for that now. I’m fairly sure there’s a bar down The Calton, that’s in Glasgow if you don’t know, that caters to folk who don’t want others asking too many questions, but I’ve not been, and it’s conjecture at this point. I’m fairly sure werewolves exist, cos I think he’s one,” She pointed at Luc, “but I canna tell you why I know. I just do.”
“Go on.” Dalziel totally ignored Luc’s subvocal growl of annoyance at being labelled a werewolf.
Rosie shrugged. “I canseewhat yous are. It’s as if half the world walks around blind and deaf to what’s under their noses. Everyone here missed Charley’s eyes. First thing I noticed about him.” She reddened a bit. “Apart from how handsome he is.”
Oh my god.Iblushed. She was pretty, I guess, but way too old for me, even if I hadn’t been gay. I mumbled something about being flattered but that I batted for the other team and thankfully Rosie laughed. “Oh, sweetie, I could see that too. You’re still a sight for sore eyes.”
Eleanor chuckled. “That he is. But, there must be something that you can tell us. You didn’t even seem particularly surprised when I approached you. It was as if you knew I was coming.”
“Ahh, that.” Rosie worried a violet-tipped nail with the fingers of the other hand. “I kind of did…know you were coming. I saw it in the leaves.”
I couldn’t help it; I snorted. And it was loud. Everyone except Rosie glared at me, but she just sighed and considered me as if I was a silly child — which was worse.
Dalziel’s frown at me was half-hearted, so I didn’t think he was really upset with my reaction. Seemed to me he also took an extra moment to school his features to a bland innocence before he asked, “You read the tea leaves?”
Rosie shrugged again. “Was something I got into years back. I do the tarot cards too, but not so much now, cos folk get feart when I’m right. They say I see too much.” She looked pained and somewhat exasperated. “Bampots to complain when they’re the ones asking for my help.” She gave a little smile, as if to say what she thought of those folk, then settled her gaze back on Eleanor. “Aye, I saw you coming. But not you, as in—” She waved her hand in an up and down fashion. “—you precisely. An idea of you. A stranger who’d ask something of me. Who’d want to take me away from home to do it.” She grinned, and I could suddenly see how anyone into women would find her captivating. “It’s no the first time I’ve donated a pint the organic way, but it’s the first time anyone’s been so polite about it.”
Eleanor’s eyes grew wide. “That’s disappointing. I’m sorry you’ve been badly treated. Dalziel here would never think of hauling you off down a dark alley without your consent.”
“Dalziel bloody well would!” he contradicted her sharply. “And what’s more, I think Rosie knows it. Thrall is our major weapon in remaining secret. What Iwouldn’tdo, however,” he now addressed Rosie, “is to leave you anywhere at risk of harm after donating. I’m a vampire, but I definitely have standards.”
Eleanor blushed, and stared at the floor. “Of course, sir,” she mumbled.
Luc cleared his throat, and we all swivelled to look at him as he addressed Rosie. “You can read the tea leaves, your friends are scared by the accuracy of your tarot readings, you know I’m awolf shifter—”His tone was clipped as he enunciated those two words. “—and you can see the Fae.” He was ticking them off on his fingers. “You don’t have a lasting reaction to thrall, and you’re aware of vampires. Anything else? Because right now, everything you’ve told us says you’re the biggest threat in this room. Why should we let you leave?”
Even though he voiced everything I’d thought, it seemed harsh to hear it so coldly spelled out. Eleanor’s eyes tracked between Luc and Daddio, her gaze calculating. “Sir, when Lucien puts it that way...”
“Silence! Let me think!” Dalziel thumped his palms on the table top, and stood up. Power seemed to roll off him in waves. Everyone in the room inhaled carefully, and either took a step back or leaned away from him. His eyes blazed with a quality I couldn’t put a name to.
Rosie swallowed, a gun shot in the extreme quiet that followed his outburst. “I won’t say a word,” she whispered. “Promise.”
I felt rather than heard Luc’s growl. But Dalziel surprised me. His fangs slid down, and, making no attempt to conceal them, he hissed at Rosie, his eyebrows a dark furrow. “You will leave if and when I say you can. Not a second before.”
The only one not shocked at this was Eleanor, who had presumably heard it all before. She quickly ushered a pale-faced Rosie to her feet, putting an arm around her shoulders. “We’ll find you a nice cup of tea and let the master think through the options.” To me she suggested, “Maybe a walk? Take Lucien to see the tower perhaps. It’s been here centuries.”
Luc sighed at Eleanor’s departing back. Then he exhaled a second longer sigh, before eyeing me — finally! — and gesturing at the door. “Come on then.”
We tiptoed out of the room, and I shut the door carefully behind us. Dalziel hadn’t moved, still poised over the table, his knuckles taut and his shoulders braced under the fine fabric of his shirt. I figured he might not need to sit to be comfortable, what with being an immortal being and all.
A dozen yards down the hallway, I tripped over my own feet at the thought.Immortal?“Oh fucking hell!”
Luc halted when I cursed. “What now?” he said irritably.
I leaned against the wall. “Do you…” I began. “Do you think I’m immortal? Now we know I’m Fae as well as vampire?” The concept, while something I’d vaguely considered in the past — okay, after binge watching Twilight, thank you and shut up about my viewing habits, because I find sleep difficult — was an entirely different matter if I tried to apply it to myself, especially as I didn’t know much about the Fae, let alone what impact having some of their blood might have on me. I felt nauseous. What did forever actually mean? Trying to imagine it made my brain ache.
Luc huffed. “Outside,” he commanded, so I peeled myself off the wall and dutifully followed him. Damn, he had a truly gorgeous arse. Shame it was attached to an anti-Fae bigot.
I mentally slapped myself. For all I knew, something disastrous had happened in Luc’s past that made him suspicious of the Fae. I had to shelve my disapproval if I stood any chance of repairing the rift between us. I halted again, to question if I wanted to. Oh god, did I ever! I wasn’t pleased with how he’d reacted, but maybe it was my turn to be the adult for once.
