I watched Baldwin turn red in the face with interest for a few moments until I realized he was just going to growl and postulate.
It’s unfortunate I promised Ambrose I’d watch his wretched family.
Ambrose—who had been my friend and brethren for millennium—had caught me in a moment of weak affection for him when he’d dragged the promise from me.
Now, having experienced this thankless task for centuries, if I had the chance to do it again, I’d tell my old friend to survive the death of his One and watch his offspring himself.
If I didn’t have to be responsible for this wretched Family, I could be amusing myself more with Jade, my na?ve neighbor, who was a slayer and hilariously unaware that I—one of the oldest vampires still conscious—lived next door to her.
Or even better. If I hadn’t been forced into the guardianship of a bunch of snot-nosed vampire brats, I’d be sleeping just like every other world-weary vampire.
But no. Instead, I’m stuck here. With them as my punishment.
Baldwin started walking in a circle, gesturing emphatically. I pivoted so I faced Killian. “It looks like Baldwin is about to lose it like a mad werewolf. Surely he’ll ruin something in this room. Why don’t you call one of your underlings to knock him out and put us out of his misery?”
Killian raised an imperious eyebrow at me. “I am not taking responsibility for Baldwin.”
“Why not?” I asked. “You’ve been relentlessly sending out your Drake vampires to look for me, when—as far as you know—I’m piously living in peace. Baldwin is annoying even when he’s merely breathing.”
Margarida scurried past me stretching her arms out and setting them on Baldwin’s shoulders. “Peace, Baldwin. Elder Maledictus is just concerned for you.”
I frowned. “What mistake did I make to lead you to that conclusion?”
Margarida ignored me and instead set about straightening Baldwin’s jacket for him when he quieted under her attention. “We need to focus. Don’t you remember why we’re here?”
Baldwin took a deep breath, then nodded.
“Ah, yes. That is the crux of the matter,” I said. “Why are you here?”
Margarida made a sweeping turn that flared her skirts out, then looked at me with red eyes that glittered with worry. “For you, of course.”
“Yes, I guessed as much,” I said. “But why?”
“We’re concerned, of course.” Margarida said.
I stared at her, dumbstruck.
I can’t have heard that correctly.
“You,” I said haltingly. “Are concerned for me?”
Margarida nodded.
I shook my head, unable to comprehend what I was hearing. “You lot,” I repeated. “And by you I mean Broke Baldwin, Professional Mourner Margarida, and the ice twins allergic to all fun and happiness, who I have so far pretended not to know are sleeping more and more these days, but allow me to assure you that pretense is evaporating as we speak—are concerned for me?”
Margarida’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Yes,” she said.
I turned to look at Killian.
He held his hands up. “As usual, I am not with them, just an unfortunate bystander as you’ve chosen my city to hole up in.”
Well. At least that’s something.
“Margarida is concerned for you.” Amée stood, tugging on her suitcoat, then turned to me. “She thinks you might be lonely, or something equally as stupid.”
“Because he must be—besides us he has no Family,” Margarida objected. She tried to hug me but centuries of experience had me sidestepping her before she could reach me.
Perhaps I was mistaken. Margarida isn’t almost my second favorite Dracos offspring,
“Then share, Amée,” I drawled. “What has brought you here? Illuminate me.”
Amée turned to Auberi, staring at him until he hastily stood and joined her so they were shoulder to shoulder. Amée then nodded and turned to me. “Concern for ourselves, that you are planning something.”
“Uh-huh.” I looked back and forth between the twins as I strolled closer to them. “And what if I am? Do you really think you can stop me?” I settled my gaze on Auberi first, then Amée as I let a little of my power loose.
Auberi swallowed sharply, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and Amée looked away.
I patted them on the cheeks, purposely making the motion gentle and light so it gave them goosebumps. “Stop wasting your time.” I ducked around them heading for the door. “Instead, I suggest you head home—before you annoy Killian and he forcibly expels you from his mansion.” I made it to the door and reached for the door handle.
“No.”
I slowly turned around to see Baldwin scowling at me, his shoulders hunched up, while Margarida patted his side in a show of comradery.
“What?” I asked, my voice low and dangerous.
Baldwin wilted, but he balled his hands into fists. “No,” he said. “We will be staying here.”
He must have been dimly aware that the statement not only challenged me but Killian, because he glanced at his younger brother.
Killian was unbothered—he’d tuned out a while ago and was texting someone with his cellphone. Without looking up from the screen, he waved a hand in the air signaling his indifference.
Baldwin stiffly nodded then returned my gaze, his mulish expression back.
I rolled my eyes. “Do whatever you want,” I said. “Just remember your responsibility to your own Family, who you chose to take on. The Dracos do not abandon their offspring.”
Unlike their foolish, idealist, and disappointing Sire.
I yanked the door open and swept out of the room, irritation settling on me like an old cloak.
It doesn’t matter, I thought as I prowled the hallways of Drake Hall—I needed to get far out of the range of the manor’s cameras before I used my powers to transform into a bat. There was no sense tipping my hand to Killian in how I’d been evading his Family’s notice. The Dracos offspring are annoying, but they’ll just sit around and mewl as they always have. Eventually, Killian will boot them out, and they’ll go home returning to their typical selfish ways.
In the end, it was always up to me to pick up after them and shake them awake whenever needed. It was a task I grew weary of, but it was unfortunately one I wouldn’t ever be able to escape.
Sometimes, I despise you, Ambrose.
CHAPTER
THREE
Jade
“We don’t mean you any harm, but you seem uncomfortable.” I tried to make my voice soothing but I sounded as warm as cardboard. “Can we escort you to a part of the city that you would enjoy more?”
The two werewolves I was addressing whined and licked their chops.
The larger one was almost all black with a brush of red and gray worked into his undercoat. The smaller one was wider through the chest, and her coat was white swirled with gray.
She glanced at the building next to us—a human club that blasted music so loudly I could feel it thrum in my feet.