“Boaz?” I asked.
His gaze slowly met mine. “Hmmm?”
“We’re playing a game. Do you want to play?”
“Not if it involves magic. I don’t stand a chance of winning against you three.”
“Then you can watch,” Liane said. “The rules are simple. All you have to do is prank someone, and it’s got to be funny. Nothing as lame as making someone sneeze or something.” She looked pointedly at William.
William chuckled, a smile brightening his normally serious expression. “I can handle this. I’ll even go first.” He looked around the room, his gaze settling at the corner of the room. “See that man over there? The one in the black suit jacket?”
“The cute one with dark hair?” Liane asked.
“I guess,” he said. “Watch what he’s about to do.”
A few seconds later, the man raised his glass of wine and threw it into the face of the woman sitting across from him. The man’s eyes widened in horror while the woman shrieked.
I burst into laughter along with Liane. The corner of Boaz’s mouth turned up slightly.
“My turn,” I said just as the woman with the wine stained dress hurried by me. The man she was with was right behind her, apologizing profusely. I settled my gaze on an approaching waiter whose arm was up holding a full tray of food. Mentally, I pushed a paralyzing thought to the man. Literally. The man no longer believed he could walk. He fell face forward, food from the tray falling across the floor. Part of his cheek landed in a puddle of marinara sauce. I released my mental hold upon his mind, but it still took several seconds for the waiter to gather himself up.
Boaz chuckled at this one, making my heart swell.
“I can do better,” Liane said. “Be prepared to crown me queen.”
She glanced about the room. I wasn’t sure what she was going to do until a large woman sitting three tables over from us rose from her seat unexpectedly. I giggled when she attempted to climb onto the table, knocking over her glass and breaking her plate. The woman she was with attempted to stop her, but the large woman continued upward, awkwardly bending and moving until she was standing shakily upon the table. Two waiters rushed over, asking repeatedly for her to get down.
“It’s okay,” William said, but he was smiling.
“I’m not finished,” Liane replied. She kept her focus on the terrified woman whose eyes were darting about at all the people staring at her. A moment later, the overweight lady took off her light sweater jacket and proceeded to unbutton the top of her blouse.
“Oh no, Liane,” William said. “Please don’t.”
“You are so evil!” I said and tried hard to hide my laughter.
Then the unexpected happened. The table collapsed and the woman fell hard to the floor.
“Time to go,” Boaz said. He was up and pulling me with him before I had a chance to set down the glass in my hand. William and Liane followed us out, arm in arm, and laughing hard.
I sipped from my stolen glass, and then lowered it to ask Boaz, “Having a good time?”
“Of course.” He smiled. It looked genuine, so I leaned into him and inhaled deeply.
I was glad he wasn’t bothered by me and my friend’s abilities. Boaz couldn’t use magic like we could, being a vampire and all. He knew a few things, but nothing impressive, not real magic. But he made up for this shortcoming in other ways. He was extremely strong, fast as lightning, and I swore he could disappear and reappear at will, but he had yet to admit to it.
“I’m so proud of you, love,” he said and wrapped his arm around me.
“For what?”
“For becoming you.”
I tiptoed and kissed his mouth briefly. “Thanks to you.”
“Hold up, Eve!” Liane called.
I turned around.
“This is where we part,” she said, smiling mischievously. “William and I are going back to the hotel. I’ll call you soon.”
I said goodbye and watched them walk away, thinking how great it was to have good friends. I’d never been able to say that before. And all of this—my friends, my fun, my travels was all because of Boaz.
He squeezed my hand. “Let’s go.”
I was about to turn back when a tall man beneath a lamppost caught my eye. He wore a long dark coat with a black derby hat. He stared at me beneath thick eyebrows, and his thin lips were as straight as piano wire. Hands stuffed in pocket, he held still while people shuffled by him completely unaware of his powerful presence—the power of which I could feel even though he was standing across the street.
I tugged on Boaz, stopping him from going any further. “Who’s that man?”
“Where?”
I pointed across the street. Boaz’s hand tightened around mine. “He shouldn’t be here. It’s too soon.”
“Who is he?”