Page 21 of You’re So Vein

“I’m helping Alaric with his appeal to the Conclave. Ostensibly, they’re here for talks about changing the vampiric laws on human copulation. But we all know that, given recent events, they’re really here to investigate Sanctus Estate. If we want to avoid an all-out vampire civil war, they need to see vampires in Argleton as a united front. A vampire as mayor will go a long way to assuaging them and bringing about the changes we all want.”

“Things can’t be that dire.”

“What Gideon and Arabella are doing has never been attempted before. The Conclave are afraid that if more vampires wish to leave their ranks to live at Sanctus, the courts will no longer have the safety and dominance they once enjoyed. In some ways, that’s a good thing. But when vampires are afraid of losing things that are important to them—”

“—they get bitey. I understand.” A line appears between Komal’s dark eyebrows. “But this has nothing to do with me running for mayor. On this rare occasion, you and I are on the same side. I want Winnie and Alaric to get married. Plus, I can manage a vampire truce just as well as you can. Probably better. You lack my people skills.”

“These aren’t humans. They won’t fall over because you flutter your eyelashes at them and offer sausage rolls.”

I know the words are a mistake the moment they leave my mouth. Why can’t I help myself around this woman?

“I do not flutter my eyelashes, and I’m not dropping out.” Komal’s topaz eyes are storm clouds. “On the contrary, you’ve made me even more certain that I’m the right person for the job. You can’t have important vampire business being conducted without humans present. If these talks are as delicate as you say, and all-out vampire war threatens our peaceful village, then the humans of Argleton need someone to represent their interests.”

“They will not listen to a human.”

“I can be very persuasive.” She smirks. “I managed to convince you to keep the Argleton Gazette open, didn’t I?”

“Only because you threatened to sic your friend’s pet duck on me if I refused. You’re putting your life in danger.”

“I can look after myself, Durant.”

And there it is. Her final answer. She doesn’t want my help.

A vine twitches at my wrist. I tug down my cuff, hoping she doesn’t notice.

“Very well. Then, on the slim chance that you beat me and are elected mayor, you need to be present at these talks so you understand what you’ll be dealing with. These are important people in our world, used to red carpet treatment. We want the Conclave to see a village where vampires are welcomed and thriving alongside humans, but obviously, we have to show that without revealing our existence.”

“This wouldn’t happen to be why you wrangled all the shops to stay open in the evenings? So you can pretend this village is ‘vampire-friendly’? There are no stormwater issues, are there?”

“Oh, no, the drains are a mess. But closing the shops during the day was Gideon’s idea. We need them to see Sanctus not as a threat, but an opportunity.”

And Hannah deserves a birthday treat. It’s been so long since I took her into the village.

“Sanctus is an opportunity to show that humans and vampires can live in harmony outside the courts, but don’t you think that rings hollow without human input? You can’t make decisions that could impact the human residents.”

That’s exactly what humans have done to vampires for centuries.

That’s precisely why we must remain in the shadows.

I want to scream at her, but I force myself to remain calm. “I’ve gone to a lot of effort to arrange this visit. You will ruin it.”

I can tell by her face I’ve said the wrong thing, and for that, she will make me suffer.

“I’ll ruin it? At least I know how to talk to dignitaries. You’ll scare them off with your robot voice and your resting tax collector face. What’s in it for you, anyway? You don’t live at Sanctus. You’re not friends with Winnie and Alaric. You don’t even have friends.”

I purse my lips to keep from yelling my secrets in her face. She always does this to me. I’m all at sea around her, especially when she’s too close, when her hand brushes my thigh, and I can hear her blood pulsing in her veins, and I am obviously very, very ill because all I want is to be closer still.

“Alaric and I are friends,” I say quietly.

“Fine, don’t tell me,” she huffs. “I promise I won’t ruin your vampire politics, but as your fellow mayoral candidate and the only human on the council who knows about vampires, I insist on being involved.” Her eyes flash in the gloom. “And as tourism board chair, it’s my job to welcome these high-profile visitors to our village and show them a good time.”

“I hardly think they’ll want a tour given by a human—”

“End of discussion.” She jiggles the handle. “How do I open this thing?”

“I’d have thought the great Councillor Ahuja would be familiar with the mechanics of door handles. You give it a sharp turn to the right.”

“I am turning it. It’s not moving.” Her voice rises an octave. “Why isn’t it opening? Is it your charm?”