Page 102 of Let Sleeping Vampires Lie

“Opening bid,” the host announced. “Two hundred thousand.”

“I will match and raise,” I said.

A murmur slid through the room.

“I see you, Position Five,” the host replied, looking directly toward me. “Three hundred thousand secured.”

The bidding system here favored direct speech rather than paddles. It kept everyone aware of who played.

Another buyer lifted a hand, his tone bored. “Three-fifty.”

His gaze landed on the box as if it were simply a piece of potential scrap.

I studied him. Smart suit, sharp jaw, eyes that never quite focused on anything with true interest. He wanted to mark himself as present, not actually win.

“Four hundred,” I said.

The host’s smile twitched. “Four hundred to Position Five.”

Marcus shifted in his seat, angle changing. His hand moved in the subtlest flick. Two fingers barely lifted, then smoothed his lapel.

Signaling.

Across the room, another buyer who had shown no interest all evening raised his glass slightly. “Four-twenty.”

They were pushing.

Not to win.

To climb.

To scare off anyone who did not understand the value.

“Five hundred,” I responded.

A few heads turned now, paying more attention. Someone laughed softly. It had that thin quality of the wealthy when they watched something they did not understand.

The host’s eyes gleamed. “Half a million.”

I felt, rather than saw, Marcus’ approval.

Someone else chimed in, a woman with a glittering necklace that radiated magic. “Five-fifty. For the novelty.”

Her tone carried no conviction. She wanted to test me.

My lips curved. “Seven hundred.”

Now the murmurs were not so soft.

The host inclined his head. “Seven hundred at Position Five. Any further interest?”

Beside me, I could sense Con measuring each voice, each movement, every small tell.

Marcus moved his hand again. A slight adjustment of his glass.

Another buyer played his part. “Seven-twenty,” he said, almost casually.

It was a game now.