“Except, of course, your newest acquisition,” Baxter said pointedly, her expressive brown eyes focused as she stared at them through the laptop screen. “James, is it? Are you there, treacle?”
James, looking shocked to be directly addressed, stammered his way through a hello. Baxter was quiet for a moment, seemingly appraising him. Finally she nodded.
“You’re a bit on the scrawny side, but no doubt Eddie will feed you up if he’s intent on keeping you. Are you sure you want to hitch your wagon to this one though? You could probably do better if you’re set on becoming a shadow.”
“Oi! I’m supposed to be your best friend, you cow,” Edwin groused.
“You are, babe, which is why I want this to work for both of you. Stop interrupting and let your new pet speak. Is this truly what you want, James?”
James was scarlet as he nodded again. Gethin leaned into camera view. “I can’t read any negativity off him. He’s quite determined.”
James’s eyes widened further, but a whispered explanation from Marlowe settled his manic pulse rate down a little.
“Right, so it’s agreed, no James as he’d be a liability and at risk. Who’s going to babysit him, or are you thralling him into sleeping in the cellar while you’re out?”
“Absolutely not.” Edwin’s tone was icy. “He will not be left alone, especially not here. Cormack knows this address. Marlowe can stay with him. Right, Marlowe?”
Marlowe started. “Uh, yes, if that’s acceptable to James. I would rather go with you, but I doubt I would be of much use in the midst of a vampire battle. I can obviously protect you to the best of my abilities, but I’m not—”
“No protection spells,” Alec spoke over him, his voice tinged with regret. “We need to be seen as we are by this salaud. And do not take offence, Marlowe, but I suspect I would feel personally…” He searched for the words, then shrugged and said, “Ça me donne...It gives me goosebumps, to have something affecting me that I cannot see or taste. Please do not be upset, my friend.”
Marlowe seemed to take the rejection well. He suggested to James they should fix themselves a snack while the others prepared for the night.
* * *
It was a cloudy night,but humid, with a threat of rain. Sorley walked through the city centre at a medium pace towards the nightclub, deliberately tuning out the part of him that wanted to fixate on Gethin like a needle on a compass pointing north. They’d split up as soon as they’d left the flat, all approaching from different directions to wait in the places they’d agreed. He knew Gethin had his back, like the other three, and it was a waste of energy to worry about them when he needed to keep alert for Cormack.
Connor,his mind supplied. He still couldn’t say he recalled the man at all. So why was Sorley so firmly sighted in his crosshairs? After three centuries, he was used to finding people with whom he didn’t gel, or even those who outright disliked him, but knowing he was the object of such targeted hate was a bit hard to swallow.
There were a decent number of folk about, but it was a week night so the bars and pavements were only moderately busy. Delirium was situated on the corner of a small block a few hundred yards ahead of him, its brick exterior grimy from age as this block apparently hadn’t yet been deigned worthy of a makeover.
He paused to let a gaggle of young guys cross in front of him. They all had the glazed expressions and unsteady gait of people who’d been drinking since leaving work. Their crude banter teased his eardrums as he watched them weave off down a side street in search of more beer.
“Saul.” The voice came from the alley to his left, freezing Sorley in place. He inhaled, and caught the same strange scent they’d all noted outside the flat, the dual notes of not-quite-vampire mixed with a faint tang of the ocean. But there was clearly only one heartbeat apart from his own; they were the only two people here.Oh bloody, fucking hell.His body almost shut down with the sudden realisation they’d all been so very wrong.There is no Kippen Wade.Cormack’sthe mage.Hoping he could be seen by at least one of his friends — curse this wanker for not actually being in the club — he turned his head slowly.
“Cormack, I presume.”
Connor Cormack sauntered out of the shadows. A little taller than Sorley, this time he looked exactly how James had described him. He was very good-looking, even hot, and someone Sorley would have been tempted to fuck if he didn’t know what a snake the man was. So why hadn’t he? Sorley still had no clue how he was supposed to know him.
“Don’t be so stuffy. You know my name’s Connor.” The faintest hint of doubt clouded Cormack’s eyes before he gave Sorley a flash of his fangs. “Youdoknow that much about me, I presume? I worked very hard to get your attention.” He pouted, not a good look on him.
Sorley raised his brows. “I know. But it would’ve been simpler had you not thralled your juice box.” They had decided to appear not to care about James, in case Cormack tried to use their care as some kind of leverage against the boy.
“Oh, him.” Cormack shrugged. “Seemed a wise precaution in case he blabbed to any humans. Not that he’ll last much longer.” He sighed dramatically. “Shame really, his blood is positively ambrosial, and he’s got such a tight arse.” He tilted his head to one side. “Don’t you think?”
Sorley clenched his teeth so hard he felt a molar crack. It would mend, butfuck.He was going to end this lowlife piece of shit or die himself in the attempt.
Knowing Cormack would have heard the crack, there was little point in playing along. “No,” he snapped. “Unlike you, I prefer my sexual partners to be willing and fully able to consent.”
“Oh dear me, how terribly dull. Don’t tell me you have a human conscience? Perhaps I made a mistake in thinking you would be a fun companion.” His voice dropped an octave, taking on what he presumably thought was a sultry note. “You know you regret not joining me when we finally spoke. It was fate, you know. To have crossed paths three times in three centuries.”
What the hell?Feigning as much indifference as he could muster, Sorley hooked his thumbs in his trouser pockets.
“Refresh my memory?”
Cormack snarled, evidently upset Sorley wasn’t gushing about reciprocal memories. It twisted his handsome visage until he looked like the monster he undoubtedly was.
“Prague, 1798. That was the first time. You were so entranced, so still. I didn’t realise you were one of us until much later. But of course, it explained why you were able to slip away like smoke.”
