That was promising, for Roger at least. But he didn’t want to gloat or delight in her problems. Josefina was an old friend. She might value her loyalty to her friends over the love of her immortal life, and doing so was a sacrifice that Roger had to honor.
“She ordered you to kill him?” Roger asked.
“Yes. I told her she’s making a mistake, but she doesn’t seem to care.”
“Takashi thinks that she wants to kill him for revenge in addition to tactics. Seems Zack upset her scheme.”
Josefina frowned. “What scheme?”
“The one where I come back to the GLC and cause a civil war that destroys the coven.”
“No, you were supposed to become the master, and then we wouldn’t have to worry about Seamus’s expansions anymore.”
“Then why was she pushing a faster timetable on me? Why did she ask Takashi to come along?”
“She released Takashi from her coven,” Josefina pointed out.
“And if the GLC splits into pieces or falls apart entirely, she could adopt him right back,” Roger countered. “You were in charge of her security. Didn’t you ever wonder about the vampire sleeping in a coffin in a basement in the heart of your love’s territory?”
“I …” Josefina straightened in her seat, and her frown turned into a deeper scowl. “I did bring it up. A few times. She always told me not to worry. And so I didn’t. She … God, Roger, do you think she was messing with my desires? Making me want to accept her answers?”
Roger took Josefina’s hand in his own. “I hope that she didn’t, but I don’t know the answer.”
After a second, Josefina squeezed Roger’s hand. “My problem for another night. Know that Zack has nothing to worry about from me. I care about him. I’m actually looking forward to him being an annoying little know-it-all for centuries to come.”
Roger leaned forward, and Josefina met him, resting her forehead against his. He didn’t have to probe her emotions to feel the sincerity in her words. “Thank you.”
“How were they?”
“Distraught, but nothing time and love can’t mend,” Roger replied. “I was able to warn Takashi, but Zack says that he can speak telepathically to Seamus, that Seamus reads his mind when he doesn’t mean for him to. Have you heard of that?”
“I haven’t,” Josefina said. “I know you want to liberate him tonight, but if he is that bound to Seamus?—”
“We will find a solution. I will not leave him again.”
“I like this confident side of you. Optimism is a far better color than despair.”
“Don’t count despair out yet. We have to make it through the night.” Roger backed away, putting his hand on the door handle. “See you on the other side.”
“You better be there,” Josefina replied.
Roger managed a smile for her and a nod. Then he got back in his car and headed for his meeting place.
The crowd politely clapped as Katie pulled away from her victim. The mortal boy she’d fed from wavered where he stood, but he’d live. Katie curtsied like she was taking the final bow of a theater production.
Since leaving the bathroom, Zack had an urge to vomit. His hunger warred with his nausea, only intensifying the crawling inhis stomach. But he had to eat. Everyone was expecting him to before they could claim their blood for the night, and Seamus clearly wasn’t going to permit disappointment.
After Katie was done accepting her congratulations, Zack took her place in the middle of the room. Dryden, one of Candide’s pets, led a line of five mortals to stand before Zack. They wore only underwear, but they weren’t terrified of him like all the mortals Seamus had dragged in front of him. These humans—Zack could tell from their scents there wasn’t a shifter among them—all radiated lust at looking him over. They were giddy about the possibility of being chosen.
They had no idea he was going to kill one of them. That he couldn’t control himself. That he was a monster.
You’re not being fair to yourself, his rational voice declared. With a furtive glance, he checked to see if Seamus was clued in to his inner dialogue. No words came, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t hear him.
Choosing no one wasn’t an option, so Zack started to read each of the mortals as closely as he could. Maybe he could figure out which one was the worst human among the group, and that way, he wouldn’t have to feel guilty about not being able to control himself.
Or maybe the reason you can’t stop killing them is because you can’t let go of the fear that your loved ones will despise you, his rational voice continued.
The letter in his pocket said his real father didn’t hate him at all. Thomas was begging for forgiveness, not demanding it of Zack. He knew he was a vampire, and the only thing he was worried about was Zack giving up his humanity.
