“Ahh, yes. If only I could.” I briefly clenched my hands into fists, which made the gold band of Ambrose’s ring bite into my finger.
“Whatever.” Killian ran a hand through his dark brown hair, then glanced meaningfully at a couple of his vampires, who marched off, visibly armed to the teeth. “I’m more and more certain you only stick around us because of Ambrose.”
He was right—obviously because of my promise to Ambrose. But I’d had the recent, unpleasant realization that I no longer could remember what Ambrose’s laughter sounded like.
More of my memories of my best friend—the vampire who’d been my comrade for millennium—were bound to slip away. His Family—as pesky as they were—would soon be my strongest tie to him.
But it’ll take a lot more of age-imposed mental deterioration for me to admit that to the likes of Killian!
I planted a hand over my heart and widened my eyes. “You doubt that I do this out of sheer love and devotion to you and your delightful siblings, who are such joys to be around? I’m wounded.”
Killian ignored my play acting. “I’m starting to suspect that Ambrose asked something of you pertaining to us, his offspring. But as he’s long gone, that makes this entire endeavor foolish. However, that’s your business, not mine. So, I would appreciate it if you gathered my siblings and left.”
I wasn’t surprised Killian was starting to catch on. He knew Ambrose Dracos for the shortest time compared to his siblings, but he’d always been the sharpest and he’d already voiced suspicions that my ‘special ministrations’ were done to inspire his siblings to stay alive/awake. “That long dead vampire is your sire,” I reminded him.
“Yes,” Killian acknowledged. “And I respect him more now than I did a decade ago. But I do wonder if you’ve missed the point of whatever promise it was you made after all these years.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What are you talking about?”
“Ambrose cared a great deal about you.”
“Perhaps, but his Family was the apple of his eye.”
“He loved all of us, yes. And he treasured his One,” Killian said, with none of the scorn I’d heard in his voice in previous years when he’d mentioned his sire, back when he’d claimed he didn’t believe a vampire’s One was a real thing.
Killian met my eyes, and there was something intense in his gaze. “But I don’t think you understand just what your friendship meant to him and how far he’d go for you.”
“Oh, he’d go so very far,” I said, my voice flat. “So far, in fact, that he’d stick me with babysitting duty for the largest bunch of ungrateful, whiny, and spoiled vampire brats in the world.” I closed my eyes and threw my arms out wide. “I can just feel his affection, even now. So powerful. So selfless.”
Killian made a noise.
When I opened my eyes, he swiveled to peer up at the second floor of his mansion. “It’s not that I don’t understand your frustration, but, again, I personally better appreciate my sire’s actions.”
“Ahhh yes. I’m sure you can,” I said. “You’re the only one of the Dracos children who is daft enough to get yourself a One.” I couldn’t quite keep the taunt out of my voice, but I could hear recognizable voices echoing down the second-floor hallway, so I shoved my irritation back. “What have they been doing?”
“Mostly lounging around, drinking, eating, and acting like degenerates instead of the powerful vampires they should be.” Killian’s frown twisted into something closer to disgust.
“Start charging them,” I advised. “Baldwin will have to leave soon, then.”
“Not with the twins paying his way,” Killian sourly said. “They apparently took great pains to increase their fortune after you bankrupted him. I believe they’re keenly aware they are likely next on your list.”
“Good,” I said. “If they remain focused on their finances, they won’t be prepared for where I will actually strike.”
Killian raised both his eyebrows—his siblings had to almost be to the stairs. “And that is?”
The snake-brats were so loud and animated—not to mention self-centered—there was no way they could hear us, so I let my smile melt through. “They haven’t been nearly as careful as they should be in their hiring practices.”
Nearly every human on their staff—from their accountant and financial advisor to their blood donors—were on my payroll. A few discreet orders, and the twins would suddenly find themselves charged with tax fraud and their accountant strangely missing or maybe all their historical keepsakes—antique furniture, letters filled with particularly embarrassing personal content, clothes, etc.—would mysteriously appear in public museums. (Museums were the worst when it came to getting personal property back.)
So many possibilities—and I don’t even have to visit them to accomplish it!
Killian caught on to my very general statement, and he chuckled lowly as his siblings appeared on the second-floor landing.
“Considine! You’re here!” Margarida leaned over the banister and waved to me before she turned a disapproving pout on Killian. “I told you to call us when he got here, Little Killi. Why didn’t you?”
I turned to Killian. “Yes, Little Killi, why didn’t you call them?”
Killian gave me a murderous look as Margarida swept down the stairs, wearing a sundress that was covered with bright orange flowers that vaguely reminded me of 70’s fashion.
“Don’t waste your breath, Margarida. Where do you think Killian keeps disappearing off to randomly? They’re obviously in cahoots together.” Baldwin—wearing a suit that didn’t look brand new—which meant it was probably only a year or two old but would be fun to rub in his bankrupt face—grumbled as he followed after his sister, groaning like a teenager and his steps both gangly and pouty.
Killian’s disappearing? Interesting, that must be when he sneaks off to meet his One.
I knew he was protective of her, but I didn’t think he’d hide her so carefully from his siblings—none of them would ever lift a finger to do anything to his One. Not only were they inherently lazy, but they were nearly as scared of Killian as they were of me.
“You’ve caught out our scheme, Baldwin!” I cheerfully agreed, if only to throw the lot of them off. “This has all been one good prank. I lured you here to the USA so Killian could attack and secretly take over all your Families, to unite all the Dracos offspring under a single banner.”
Baldwin paused at the last step and hurriedly pulled out his cellphone—likely to start firing off frantic texts.
Margarida just shook her head. “Killian wouldn’t go for that,” she said. “He’d never be able to stand all the additional paperwork it would bring, and additional management over our vampire children,” she wisely—and accurately said. She turned in a dainty half circle, to call up to the landing. “Isn’t that right, you two?”