“Hold on,” Takashi said.
Roger held up a hand toward Takashi to quiet him, then said, “I don’t have aspecificplan. I need to reestablish my position in the coven before I do anything. Once I can get a lay of the land, we’ll be able to discuss a more thorough plan.”
“Yourposition?” Dmitri said.
“I wouldn’t have asked for your help in organizing my return so I could murder Seamus the first night,” Roger replied. “If I am to lead, then I need to ensure I won’t be stabbed in the back in the first ten minutes.”
Dmitri was typically an emotionless vampire and careful with his expressions. But he became still as stone. “You want to lead the coven?”
“I do,” Roger replied.
“What about Anton?”
“You want him in charge?” Roger asked incredulously.
“No. When do you plan on killing him?”
“Hopefully we’ll devise an attack that will remove them both at the same time, but Anton is not my primary threat. I’m certain he’ll come for me once Seamus is dead, but if I can rally thecoven to my side, we will have an army to fight him,” Roger said. “That’s why I have to spend time with the coven before I strike.”
“How long do you think it will take?” Dmitri asked.
“You’re the one who has been here. Do people even remember me? Would they follow me?” Roger replied.
“I haven’t been paying attention to whether or not theylikeyou,” Dmitri said, his tone cold as the grave. “But you’ve never been forgotten.”
“That’s something, then,” Takashi said quietly.
“It will take a few weeks to gauge the others. Once we’ve taken the temperature, we can establish a timetable,” Roger said. “We’re going to Candide’s new donor house in the suburbs tomorrow.”
“It’s popular,” Takashi said. “Zack and I should be able to get a read on a few people.”
“Where is the hunter?” Dmitri asked.
“Sleeping off a night of excessive alcohol,” Roger replied.
“Of course you’ve chosen a party boy over someone useful. Your collection is always better for fucking than thinking,” Dmitri snarled.
Using a burst of speed, Roger closed the distance between him and Dmitri. They were less than an inch from each other. Once upon a time, Roger would have pulled Dmitri to him, smiled, and kissed his neck until Dmitri relaxed. But they hadn’t been like that in over a century, and wishing would never melt Dmitri’s walls. “You will not insult Zackery or any of my people again if you know what is good for you. Do we have an understanding?”
“I suppose I should expect more of the same once you take over for Seamus,” Dmitri growled under his breath. “Another violent tyrant.”
The words were a blow, and Roger rocked onto his heels, taking a half step back.
“I believe we’ve had enough of a conference for the evening,” Takashi said. He put his hand on Dmitri’s chest and pushed him back toward the sliding glass door. “Do your part, Dmitri, and get Roger his money.”
Dmitri kept his heated gaze locked on Roger. “He hasn’t given me what I need to manipulate a few accounts in his favor. Otherwise, how do you explain this suite? The clothes? He dropped everything.”
“Me,” Takashi said fiercely. “Now that I’ve left Nell’s coven, I can feel comfortable in publicly declaring my relationship to the captain of another coven. Which means no one will bat a fucking eye at our lifestyle or that I’ve been helping my beloved build a new fortune far from the prying eyes of mortals and immortals alike. If your firm is any good, then they won’t gossip about not seeing his money. And if it isn’t, then I have to wonder why Roger or any other vampire is trustingyou.”
By the time Takashi had finished, they were at the glass door. He opened it for Dmitri, but Dmitri didn’t step through right away. Instead, he continued to glare at Roger with a heat that chilled Roger into his bones. How little did they know of each other that Dmitri thought Roger would be as cruel as Seamus? In a daze at the implication that he could be anything like his sire, Roger didn’t bother to watch Takashi march Dmitri out of the hotel suite. He went back to the edge of the balcony and leaned on the railing, staring out into the night.
Takashi returned a minute later. He had a casual grace in his stance that must have been with him as a mortal. After a moment of watching the darkness, he brought his gaze back to Roger, but Roger continued to stare out at the night. Silence could be a conversation in itself. Over the course of their limited time together, they had developed the sort of bond that didn’t need constant chatter to be understood.
Slowly, Roger glanced toward Takashi and took in his stance and expression. Now that the shock of Dmitri’s insults had worn off, Roger could appreciate how quickly Takashi had jumped to his defense. He straightened and kept one hand on the rail. Takashi stepped in closer and gently put his hand on Roger’s chest.
Kissing him would be a simple thing. He’d find reassurance there, and he’d provide some comfort for Takashi, too. Dmitri’s presence had rattled him, and he could see traces of tension in Takashi from the encounter as well. Takashi’s blue eyes had a low smolder in them, and he gently brushed his fingers down the line of Roger’s buttons.
As Takashi tilted his head up, signaling for a kiss, Roger stepped back and let the contact between them drift off into the chill breeze. “I haven’t spoken to Zack about our relationship.”
