So, Zack languidly put his arm over the guy’s shoulder and kissed his cheek instead. He wouldn’t have to tell Roger what was said. Roger had already heard every word.
“Seems I have somewhere to be,” Roger said with a sigh. He rose with fluid grace. “Another time.”
“Until then,” the first vampire said.
Zack waited until Takashi stood. Kit joined him, and then three of them followed Roger out of the room. Candide’s pet walked in step with Zack until they reached the staircase to the third floor. He slid to the front and led them toward the end of a hall. He opened a door, then stepped out of their way.
Like everywhere else in the Chateau, the room breathed high-end luxury. However, there were plenty of pillows and low-to-the-floor seating. Everyone in the room had a collar, mostwith some shade of red but a few white and three black. There were three additional doors; one was a set of double doors.
But what Zack’s gaze settled on was a pale young man standing in the center of the room. He had a red collar on, but he wore a loose shirt and pants. His flame-red hair would probably have caught anyone’s attention. However, Zack was stuck on the shape of his nose. The color of his gray eyes. The general shape of him.
Because he’d seen that color, those shapes, in the mirror. He’d seen that gray in his mother’s eyes.
The young man had to be the vampire Ezra Gladwell. Zack sought the signs and saw the hint of fang when he moved his lips to greet Roger, even though he didn’t hear the words. The high-pitched whine in his ears was too distracting.
All his life, he’d believed that Ezra Gladwell had to be a larger-than-life monster. Family lore said he was the cause of everything. While Roger had revealed what had happened centuries ago, the meaning of it hadn’t sunk in. Ezra couldn’t have been any older than Zack when he became a vampire. And Roger could be incredibly persuasive.
You know that from personal experience, the Cal voice whispered.
Not the same. He’s been honest with me.
Has he?
Zack swallowed.
When Roger and Takashi started to head for the double doors, Zack took a step to follow. Kit grabbed his arm and guided him over toward a floor cushion instead. They whispered, “It’s just vamps in the next room.”
“Oh.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Zack sat down beside them and glanced over his shoulder. The double doors were already closing behind Rogerand Takashi. Ezra Gladwell was gone, too. He must have disappeared into the room with them.
“You look like you’re going to faint,” a young woman said as she sat on the low couch across from Kit and Zack. Her skin was a shade of medium brown with a healthy glow. She had her hair pulled back into a low puff. She wore a black collar with Candide’s crest tag and a flowy, sleeveless, green jumpsuit. “Do you need water? Or the caretaker?”
Zack’s brain had to catch up. A caretaker?Oh, right. That was the word for the on-staff doctor for the donor house. He swallowed, and his throat had too much in it. He cleared his throat and shook his head.
He’d seen the woman before. She’d been the one Candide had given the whip to. The fey boy who had led them up to the rooms sat down beside her like they were old friends, though she didn’t give him the slightest bit of attention.
“I’m fine,” Zack said. “Just shocked. I’m Zack, by the way.”
“Oh, I know.” She smiled. “I’m Mara. Pronouns she/her. The brat beside me is Dryden, using he/him. And you?”
“I’m Kit. They/them.” Kit nudged Zack. “He uses he/him, when his mouth’s working right.”
“It’s workingfine,” Zack said shortly. “I’ve had a long day.”
“Don’t tell me you’re letting that annoying pissant Vincent get to you,” Dryden said. The fey stretched out and nudged Zack’s knee with his foot. “He’s not worth the trouble, sweetie.”
“I appreciate the support, but?—”
“It’s not support. It’s facts.” Dryden waggled his foot.
Zack batted his foot away and rolled his eyes. “I get it. Vincent’s a pissant.”
“Vincent’s practicallydead.”
Kit frowned, and despite his best effort, Zack mirrored their confusion. He said, “What?”
