“It’s more common at other vampire clubs. Here, Celine usually prevents vampires from draining humans. She says it’s because it’s bad for business, but I think it bothers her. That must have been why Tudor did it in front of her. He knew it would upset her,” Nova says, putting their glass out. I refill it quickly. “Ugh.Vampires. I don’t mind working for Celine and Renata, because they don’t do things like that. But Tudor Thornblade, he’s one of the oldest vampires on the continent. He plays by the old rules. It gives me the creeps.”
Nova sips their second glass of whiskey somberly. I pour myself some wine. I typically don’t drink so early in my shift, but I feel shaken up by this news.
We drink in silence until a customer appears. I mix her Long Island iced tea and then I have nothing to do again but polish the same spot on the counter. Nova goes to patrol the club.
I wish it was a bit busier. I wouldn’t mind some work right now to keep me occupied. Instead, anxious thoughts start to swirl in my head. I don’t like the tension between the vampire gangs, even though Lavinia thinks it’s below us to worry about things like that. And if Tudor and his prized progeny are also on the outs, that can’t be good for the Triple Council, or the thin peace that Lavinia is trying to keep.
And my brain keeps looping back to Celine.
That’s why when she shows up at the bar, I wonder if I’m imagining her.
“Hello, Amara,” she says, flatly. Her dark hair is piled on top of her head. It looks lanky and duller than usual. She has a haunted look in her eyes. She looks like she’s been to hell and back.
“Hi,” I reply, my tone a bit short. Despite everything Nova said, I’m still hurt from the other night. And I need to remember that Celine is the enemy. Just because she doesn’t like draining humans, it doesn’t mean she wouldn’t kill me if she had to. “Can I get you anything?”
“That tasteless bloodwine my sister makes? No, thank you.”
I match her cold stare with my own. “Then what are you doing here? I thought you didn’t want anything to do with me anymore. You’re a terrifying monster, remember?”
Her lip twitches. “Iama terrifying monster.”
There’s a heavy pause between us. I inhale deeply. I wish a customer would break the tension by ordering something, but they’re all giving Celine a wide berth.
I know that I have to be cautious around her, but I’m just not a cautious person. I can’t help myself. She’s like a black hole, pulling me in. I move to the edge of the bar, putting my elbows on it. We’re only a few feet apart. I can see the curve of her dark red lips and her collarbone.
And I see…something else. A deep, penetrating sadness behind her eyes.
It tugs at me.
“Is this you trying to apologize?” I ask, with a tilt of my head. “Because you’re very bad at it.”
She moves a little closer. Her voice softens.
“I was harsh with you before. I didn’t mean to be. I had…a bad night.”
“So you’re…” I wave my hand suggestively.
She presses her lips together in a thin line.
“I’msorry,” she concedes. “Do you accept my apology?”
I sigh. “Well, I wouldn’t mind if you groveled just abitmore.”
She puts her face close to mine, whispering in my ear. Her voice has a deep, silky rasp with an edge of vulnerability that knocks all my defenses down.
“Amara, I’m so sorry I said those things to you in the alley. I was angry. I had a bad evening. But that’s no excuse. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have pushed you away. It had nothing to do with you, or the way that I feel about you.”
My heart flutters slightly. The way she feels about me? How does she feel about me?
“I miss you, Amara. Will you forgive me? Please?”
There’s something desperate in her pale eyes, in the light tremor of her voice, which is usually so firm.
And…I melt. I’ve always been asucker, and I completely fall for it.
It’s embarrassing, how easy I am.
Iknowthis is a bad idea. Iknowshe’s a bad vampire. But! It’s my job to spy on Tudor and his progeny. What a better way to spy than to get close to his eldest progeny, the notorious vampire mafia boss?
