Zack’s stiletto dagger was in a lovely new sheath that had his crest, the dagger with a snake wrapped around it, and it sat on the end table beside Seamus.
“Look at you! So devilishly handsome!” Seamus smiled at him. “Go on, do a spin. I want to see if the tailor managed perfection or only did the front correctly.”
“I’m not in the mood,” Zack replied. Though his immature approach had forced Seamus into this conversation, he sought the place of balance and control he’d first discovered in dominating Takashi. That was the part of himself that waspowerful and could see him through this, and the part he had to show at the debut party if he was going to display strength. “What happened last night?”
“I greeted several of the vampires you’ll be meeting tonight and welcomed them to my domain,” Seamus said lightly.
“Yeah, and what else?” Zack motioned back at the foyer. “Takashi slept in his own suite last night and won’t look at me.”
“Ah. I was afraid that might happen.” Seamus stepped closer to Zack and lowered his voice. “I had a small discussion with him.”
“Discussion,” Zack repeated. “What was the subject of this ‘discussion’?”
“I understand that you believe that you have found the true loves of your life, but those two are not worth your time, Zackery. You’ll come to see them for what they are, a puppet and a leech.”
Calm master vampires do not scream obscenities at the top of their lungs. Zack slid his hands into his pants pockets, where he could hold his fingertips against his leg. That way, he couldn’t reflexively form a fist and attempt to punch Seamus through his smug fucking face. “I thought you approved of Takashi.”
“I understand you have affection for him, and I won’t hurt him as long as you cling to that, but you must know that he isn’t partner material, not in the long run,” Seamus said smoothly. He leaned in closer to murmur in Zack’s ear. “How can you stomach him? He traded a girl’s life for a phone. Aphone, Zackery. One that he used to call his sire. How can you be certain that he won’t attempt to follow Nell’s order and kill you?”
“He would never.”
“I’m certain he said he wouldn’t. He is that smart,” Seamus continued. “But he is a known liar. I don’t blame him for that. We all tell falsehoods when needs must. But you can’t expect me to hold regard for someone who conspired against me, bartered with my lover, reached out to one of my enemies in anotherconspiracy attempt, and convinced my son that he could become a powerful coven leader within a few hours of rising! Either he isn’t as smart as we’ve been led to believe, or he is playing a deeper game than we know.”
“You said having a goal was a good thing for me,” Zack said under his breath.
“I have a new one for you. Find a worthier partner,” Seamus said. “Perhaps you’ll meet them at the party tonight.”
Words failed Zack. Nothing he said would change Seamus’s opinion of Takashi, and he was left wondering if Seamus’s constant assurances of support had anything to actually do with him. The errands, the killing of nest vampires—even the fucking debut party—were tests of his abilities. Seamus was only trying to see if Zack had become a monster like him. He’d only ever mold him further into a villain.
He’d been naïve to trust Seamus for even a moment.
“Why is my dagger out?” Zack said hollowly.
“I hope that I’ve eliminated the potential threat for the evening, but in case I haven’t, you should be armed.” Seamus handed over the blade.
Would Seamus kill him if he attacked right now?
“Don’t do something that would ruin this wonderful evening,” Seamus said seriously. Clearly, he had heard Zack’s thought.
After the party was a different beast. Zack slid the sheath onto his belt, putting it in place so the dagger was at his back. It wouldn’t be a quick draw, but it wouldn’t be out in plain sight either.I will get him out of this.
Seamus laughed and put his arm around Zack’s shoulders. He tugged him along as he headed for the foyer. Telepathically, he said,In time, you’ll forget about the leech.
The only one Zack hoped to forget was the one who’d promised to never throw him away. It stung that someone whoseemed to care so fucking deeply for him was the worst monster he’d ever met. But toxic obsession wasn’t love. He’d jeopardized real love because he’d thought he needed Seamus’s protection.
He would never make that mistake again.
CHAPTER 47
Ezra met Roger at the Chateau’s secret entrance. Nestled away near the staff parking lot, the door melted perfectly into the wall unless one knew which specific stone was a handle. That particular patch of wall was also in deep shadows, providing obscurity.
Ezra wore a gray leather collar with Candide’s crest tag and an impeccably tailored dark gray suit. His red hair was tamed in a loose style. “You’re not going to blend in looking like that.”
“Don’t worry, I have a disguise.” Roger pulled out the medallion that Noah had given him and put it around his neck.
He hadn’t had much time for magic lessons over the last week, but he’d run through many of the basics with Bastian. The internal seas that had been rising and falling were how his arcane abilities spoke to him. He imagined floating along them, not inside of a ship but as if he were on the waves himself. “Alius sui.”
The tangy scent of burning ozone itched his nose. When he lightly touched it, his hand gently tingled. The sensation was a faint buzz, but other vampires might be able to sense it. He’d have to be careful not to touch anyone else.
