Maybe it really was a courtesy. How should I know? I’d spent two weeks trying to acclimate to vampire customs, but I could only see the table with human eyes. Human eyes that had once prayed for scraps of rat soup to avoid starving to death.
“If it’s not to your taste, I’ll have it thrown out,” Julian continued grandly.
That was even worse. I let my opinion show on my face. Maybe it was wrong to criticize, even nonverbally, but the thought of this colossal amount of food going untouched when people were no doubt hungry was reprehensible.
Julian frowned. “You don’t approve.”
“No. I think you should take the food from here before it spoils and give it to those who would enjoy it.”
Julian cast me a skeptical look. “That’s really not how things are done. Your fledgling has much to learn, Raphael.”
“Or she has wisdom our centuries have dulled,” Raphael countered.
I sat a little straighter at that. Raphael could’ve backed me just to spite his brother, but there was genuine approval in his tone. And he’d saidourcenturies—meaning not just Julian’s. As if he felt he had things to learn from me as well. I reached out to slidemy palm into his, affection burrowing in my chest. It was such a small thing, but perhaps there would be a way forward for us, if Raphael was willing to listen to me about things changing. If I could be his partner instead of the adversary fate had cast me as.
“Very well.” Julian summoned the servants once more. “Take it all away. Find anyone who seems hungry and distribute it to those who agree not to quibble over it.”
The room was once again abuzz as the servants went through. To their credit, they showed nothing on their faces. Well trained, indeed.
The table sat bare again, with no barrier as Julian stared at me.
“You should stay longer,” Julian encouraged. “Another week, another month. Who knows what other wisdom you might remind me of?”
“We’ve been here two weeks already,” I pointed out.
“And I’ve only hardly met you. I insist.” He focused on Raphael. “Consider it restitution for throwing me into a wall.”
“Restitution would have been pulling the fangs out of your mouth and making you swallow them for touching her,”
Julian tutted. “Samara didn’t mind. Did you?”
“I did,” I said honestly. “Particularly since you used me as a pawn to irritate Raphael.”
“You make it sound trite. I assure you, dancing with a beautiful woman is its own reward. I recommend it.”
This was going to be a long evening indeed.
“Everything’s a game with you,” Raphael accused.
“What a brilliant suggestion,” Julian said, though I didn’t think Raphael had meant it as one. “Let’s play. Especially since the table’s now been cleared. Hmm, what do you favor? I’ve several strategy games. No better way to get to know each other than with a test of cunning.”
“Those matches can take several nights,” Raphael told me.
The only game I knew was Round Toss, but I wasn’t sure that was appropriate to pick. “Maybe something else.”
“A drinking game, then,” Julian said. “So we can get to know each other better. We take turns asking questions. If you answer my question, I drink. If you don’t answer, you drink instead.”
I exchanged a look with Raphael. I searched for disapproval, but all I saw was the slightest bit of concern etched around his eyes. As if he were speaking to me, I read his expression—did I feel okay with this?
I had little experience with alcohol, but since becoming a vampire, it didn’t seem as dangerous anymore. Raphael was here. He would keep me safe to a degree, and besides, I’d learned the silver-tongued games of vampires much better over the past few weeks.
“Fine.”
Julian called once more for the servants, this time ordering several tall bottles of blood mead. He uncorked one with his teeth, waving the servant away once they set the glasses down.
“Let’s begin. Tell me, Samara, do you think Raphael avoided inviting me to your debut because he knew I would have stolen you away? Or because you would have come to me willingly when you realized how much more charming my personality was?”
I snorted. “Is that how this game is to be played?”
