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Chapter 13

Julian

I lean back in my seat as the car pulls away from the curb and smile. Andi’s shocked and slightly aroused expression as I pulled away from our kiss is burned into my mind. My seduction is working. She is skittish, like a new foal. When taming a skittery creature like that, the key is patience. Knowing when to give them space and when to remove it. Little, flirtatious kisses like the kind I might have stolen as a youth are a good place to start. Then, after leaving her to ruminate on them and her attraction to me, I suspect I will not have to wait for long. Andi already longs for a strong protector in her bed, even if she does not know it yet, and I aim to be the vampire to fill that void.

I know she sees the specter of Colton in me. It would be impossible not to know, with the wary glances I catch her sending my way. And though it annoys me, I understand. If it were not me, it would be any other man who would have tried to get close to her. She has been hurt and hunted long enough to be wary of anyone, to see her abuser’s shadows everywhere. I think of my sister and grimace. I took care of my sister’s abuser long ago, though not soon enough. Jade’s words earlier today come back to me, her demand that I kill Colton Haynes. It would be no hardship to do so. It would be a pleasure, even. But it must be done right if we don’t want all the factions to begin warring.

As if in tune with my thoughts, my phone begins buzzing. I pull it out and glance at it. Gaspard. I told him to only call me today under very certain conditions, so I pick up.

“What?”

“Abernathy Cane has called, Commandant. Colton Haynes is requesting a meeting of our families to discuss the girl.”

Interesting. That’s a bigger move than I expected from him. More formal, with higher stakes. He would do this over a single human woman? Andi has her charms, it is true, but I would not risk everything I have built and own for her. Colton is showing his hand. The human is important to him for some reason. Mere obsession or something else?

“Accept the meeting,” I order Gaspard, “but schedule it for the end of this week. It will do that upstart warlock good to have to wait and know that I have what he wants.”

“It will be done, Commandant,” Gaspard replies faithfully, and I hang up. I settle into my seat and let my smile grow again. Everything is falling into place. Andi into my bed, enemies into my trap, and I feel more alive than I have in a century. For the first time in a long, long time, I’m not bored at all.

∆∆∆

THE NEXT DAY GOES MUCH the same as the first. Watching Andi, though, takes much of the monotony out of the routine. Whenever she doesn't think I'm looking, she steals glances at me, her cheeks blushing. She tenses in anticipation when I get close, as if expecting me to kiss her again. But, no, that would be too easy. I want her to be desperate for it the next time I touch her. Begging. Wanton.

So I don’t touch her, but I never let her out of my sight, and I take my bodyguarding duties seriously. Colton may have asked for a meeting, but I don’t trust him not to try something stupid, like taking Andi, before the actual gathering. But, for today at least, everything is quiet, and Sebastian shuttles us back and forth without incident.

The midnight show comes to an end to uproarious applause. I notice when Andi takes her bows, that the audience goes wilder than they do for everyone else. Her role in the show is the best part, the glue that holds the other acts together. Her performance is so flawless that even after hearing it for the fourth time, I am not tired of it. I want more. More songs. More stage time. Recordings of her voice. If I owned this theater, I would build the entire show around her. Bruno is a fool if he ever thought to replace her, no matter how late she was. She is the talent; everything else is naught but set dressing.

I meet her in the back hallway again after the show, and I am pleased to see that she is wearing a sundress with light makeup, instead of the street clothes and clean face she has been sporting the rest of the day. She obviously dressed for me, for the feeding, and it reveals more than she probably thinks. It means that she wanted to look her best. Maybe I’ll be able to get her in bed with me tonight.

The ride to my home is quiet. Andi seems tired, but doesn’t sleep this time, unfortunately. I enjoyed her resting against my arm. I can’t put my finger on why, precisely, but her presence is both calming and electrifying all at once. When we come together, our chemistry will be exquisite, I’m sure.

We pull up to the main gate, and Sebastian buzzes in, the huge wrought iron structure swinging open. He goes around the driveway and stops in front of the main door. When the car stops, I smile at Andi in the darkness.

“We’re here.”

I open the door and hear her gasp. “What is it?”

“You live here?” she asks breathlessly, putting her hand in mine as I help her out of the car. She is looking at my house in awe.

“It is home,” I say modestly, though I know why she is reacting the way that she is. My home is a huge mansion in the heart of the Garden District. It has four upper floors and a basement. I built it with master builders and artisans in 1867, and the architecture is a flawless example of the time period. Over the years, there have been improvements, of course, and modern amenities have been added, but it is much as it was when my architect first designed it. It is, in a word, palatial.

“I’m glad I dressed up,” Andi mutters, letting me lead her up the steps to the front door.

“I’m glad you did as well,” I murmur back, watching in delight as her cheeks pinken. I do so enjoy it when she does that. I wonder how flushed her body will be when she comes around my cock.

I lead her through the huge lobby, under the grand staircase, to the formal dining room. I almost never go in this room, unless we are entertaining mortal guests, which is not often. All is prepared for her, a feast of luscious human food laid out on the table. Andi takes one look and begins to laugh.

“What is it?” I ask, unable to understand her amusement.

She looks at me with a grin that makes my cock harden in my trousers. Her joy is beautiful to behold.

“I assume that you are not joining me for this meal?” she asks back.

“My meal will be later, ma souris,” I put a little growl into the words, knowing that the seductive tone of my voice will affect her.

“Well, you really need to learn how much humans eat. First the take out, now this. It’s like you’re trying to fatten me up.”

“Would that be such a bad thing?” I query. “You have lost weight from stress. I am merely trying to put your curves back where they belong.”