Vampires keeping mortals as pets made sense in an economical way to Zack more and more lately. Nell, Josefina, Candide, and Roger all treated the mortals in their collections as special to them. There were ways of pleasing everyone.
Seamus didn’t. Zack had figured that out from Vincent’s health and behavior. Hell, everything about Seamus screamed that he was a piece of shit in all ways.
But to see Grimsby picking up the body of one poor girl who was still wearing Seamus’s crest and lay her next to a deadboy on a tarp just hit a switch in Zack’s mind. These teenagers were around his age—maybe. They were young. Full of life. And Seamus had ripped their vitality away.
Had he been mortal, he might have thrown up.
Instead, a cold rage embraced him. Screaming, flying off the handle, or yelling at Seamus wouldn’t change what happened here. Nothing could bring them back or erase their suffering. The best Zack could do was grow stronger and overcome Seamus.
The thought was little solace, and then near panic bubbled in him. What if Seamus heard that? How much could he hear?
Zack would not panic. Not anymore. Time to do what the other vampires he knew did. Pretend he was a badass hard enough that everyone else believed him. Emotional responses were the enemy. He had to keep a clear mind, a disaffected scowl, and a level chin.
Seamus was sitting in a chair on a patio just outside the mansion. He was sprawled, legs akimbo out in front of him, and had a wineglass in one hand. The bottle and a second glass sat on a small table beside him. From a distance, Zack’s heightened sense of smell picked up an earthy note to the wine and the buzz of magic against his nose.
Darkness hadn’t yet given way to the softer light of dawn, but a weariness was beginning in Zack’s bones. Rather than taking the chair on the other side of the small table, he leaned against the railing and faced Seamus. “Well, I’m here.”
“You are getting better at that,” Seamus said with a grin.
“At what?”
“Pretending the bloodshed doesn’t bother you.”
Of course, Seamus had set him up to walk past the room where he’d abused his pets. He’d known that as soon as he smelled the blood.Everything is a test. Josefina’s words were still accurate. Nonchalantly, Zack said, “Is there something youwanted? Or did you expect me to be impressed with how you and Anton carelessly chewed up your collection?”
Seamus laughed. “You have been growing your fangs, son.”
Zack longed to smack him for saying that. He didn’t bother trying to hide the disgust.
“Sit. Have a drink. We should talk.” Seamus poured him a glass of wine.
“About?”
“I suspect we could talk for ages on many things, but for now, I mean about the birds and bees.”
Slowly, Zack took the seat. “You’re not going to tell me the birds and the bees are in a conspiracy with dragons, are you?”
“Don’t be an ass, Zackery. Did Takashi tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
Seamus sipped his wine. “That he’s met a dragon. About Taliville’s ‘statue.’ Or did he feign ignorance? I wouldn’t put it past him. He’s a magnificent liar.”
Everyone is. Zack picked up the wineglass and sniffed at the liquid. It was definitely fey wine. Not in the mood for whatever the latent magic might bring out in him, Zack set the glass down. “He told me enough.”
“You’re very loyal to each other. That’s wonderful.”
“You mean, ‘that’s a fantastic thing for me to exploit.’” Zack slouched in his chair. His dagger was somewhere deeper in the mansion. The exact location was hard to pinpoint, but he’d be able to seek it out like he did Seamus.I wonder where he sleeps.
“I grow tired of hearing you plan to kill me,” Seamus said with a sigh. “I thought we were past that.”
“You nearly killed Anton tonight because you thought he betrayed you. Forgive me if I’m a little short on trust.”
“So you openly admit to thinking of betraying me?”
Zack folded his arms over his chest. “I’m prepared to safeguard my ass. Something I’d thought you’d appreciate,Father.”
“You mock the word, but I am doing my best with you,” Seamus replied. “That you continuously reject everything I have to teach only means you won’t be prepared for the world you are now walking in.”
