Takashi was in the hall, overseeing some of Nell’s servants as they took the packed bags out of Zack and Roger’s bedroom. When he spotted Zack, he smiled smugly.
The arrogance in his grin made Zack long to shove his silver dagger into his gut and twist it around. Takashi clearly thought he was the smartest guy in the room. The problem was that, as far as Zack could tell, he wasthatgood. In every city he visited, he rubbed elbows with powerful vampires. Paris, Berlin, Atlanta, Dubai, Tokyo, Shanghai, Mumbai, New York City, Mexico City, London, Johannesburg, Toronto, Cairo—he’d traveled just about everywhere. To do that and survive, he had to be charming, talented, and intelligent.
Doesn’t hurt that he’s handsome. Zack dropped his gaze to the floor and made a small bow customary to greeting a vampire casually. “Master.”
“I don’t know why everyone complained about your manners. You seem better behaved than a bulk of the ones I’ve met recently,” Takashi said, not directly looking at Zack anymore. “Are you ready, boy?”
“Yes, master.”
“And the other two?”
“Downstairs waiting, master.”
“Excellent.” Takashi strode into the bedroom. “Lover, we are all waiting on you.”
Zack stayed where he was and said nothing. Because there were others around. Because this was how it was going to be in public and there was going to be a lot of public time.
He’d need to trim his fingernails before the night was over, or he was going to wind up accidentally drawing blood.
“Almost ready,” Roger purred.
“Are we eating on the flight?” Takashi asked lightly.
“Dmitri promised to send two donors along.”
“Fantastic.”
“Zack,” Roger called.
For a heartbeat, Zack had hope that Roger was going to call everything off and say they were going to sneak in, murderSeamus, and then live fabulous lives somewhere else. Or maybe they’d just run away. And he hated that he wanted that future for even a second. He swallowed, but his throat stayed dry. “Yes, master?”
“You can wait downstairs with the others. We’ll be along in a minute.”
“Thank you, master.” Zack gave a quick bow and then went down to the foyer.
Two SUVs came around, one for baggage and one meant for passengers. Kit and Zack climbed into the far back while Carver and Takashi took the center, and Roger rode up front while Josefina drove. The ride down the mountain was quiet, and Zack didn’t feel the urge to change anything about that.
They went to a private airport where a small jet was waiting for them. The marvel of rising into the air didn’t thrill him. He sat in his seat, tucked one leg up so he could wrap his arms around it, and put the fact that Carver was already shirtless out of his mind. The black collar around his own throat was a weight.
“Why do people always complain about airplane seats?” Kit asked as they shimmied against theirs. “This thing is roomy.”
“I don’t think regular planes have seats this big,” Zack said.
“You’ve never been on one?”
“Naw.”
“The last time I was off the mountain was my second cousin’s funeral,” Kit replied. “And then we only went to Gatlinburg. We were gone and back in a day.”
“Hm.”
Kit grabbed the arm of Zack’s chair and spun him so they faced one another. In a low voice that Zack struggled to hear over the plane’s engines, they whispered, “What’s up with you?”
“Nothing,” Zack replied. He glanced across the small cabin. Roger and Takashi had the two seats closest to the front of the plane, and Carver sat behind them, though his seat was rotatedso he faced away from the window. There was a row in between Zack and Carver, but the five feet felt like two inches and six hundred miles at the same time. Carver had a drink in his hand and a smile on his lips.
And he was everything Zack was supposed to be. Uncaring what was going on. Fang scars on his wrists and throat and here and there across his body. Sexy and ready for a good time.What everyone wants to see. Not moody, scrawny me.
“Yeah, he’s a surprise addition for me, too,” Kit said. “And Takashi?”
