but didn’t look happy. "Fine. Maybe it would be better if I let you guys work this out on your own. You’re obviously too busy.”
Outrage burned through my veins as I watched him walk away. He just spent a week ignoring me, and now that he was here, he expected me to drop everything and cater to him? Fuck that. Not to mention he was throwing a hissy fit in a room filled with creatures that had extra sensitive hearing. Jerk. And I hate surprises – he should’ve let me know he was coming. I huffed and crossed my arms, nitpicking every little thing Alex had done to find more reasons to be pissed at him. Stick in the mud, more like stick up my ass.
“He’s certainly…passionate,” said Khalil. “Are you going after him?”
“To do what?” I said, my tone as bitter as the taste in my mouth. “Grovel for his forgiveness even though I’ve done nothing wrong? No, let him cool off.”
“Perhaps I should apologize to him. I had no idea he’d be so sensitive.”
“He’s not–” Oh, who am I kidding? “He’s…intense. I think you should leave him alone for now, though. Then again, if he tries to hit you, it might start a huge fight. That way I could cut Franklin and get some blood without him noticing.”
“I love an innovative woman.”
“You’ve loved many, I’m sure.”
“Have you been speaking with Elise?”
I laughed. “Maybe. No. How could I?”
“She uses those magic mirror things. And a phone. She has that, too. Dorian is fond of answering it.”
“Does he say anything?”
“No.”
That was creepy. But also kind of funny. “Well, I don’t have her phone number. And I’ve never really gotten into crafting artifacts; I’m not very creative.”
“Says the woman who imagined starting a fist fight in the middle of this lovely gala.”
“Now you’re just stroking my ego.”
“Got to start stroking somewhere,” he said with another wink. “I think I’ll go occupy myself somewhere else for a while. Can’t have Sir Franklin thinking the lovely lady in the red dress isn’t available. Not that it’d stop him.”
“Any tips on how to get his attention?”
“Bleed,” he called over his shoulder as he swaggered away. “Good thing you’re wearing red!”
And then there was one. Dangling like a worm on a hook…A cute worm. Yeah, now I felt better.
Franklin was surrounded by a mixed group of preening socialite vamps and star struck humans. I didn’t understand what was so appealing to the humans. If these vampires were actively trying to lure them in, then it’d make sense, but otherwise… Maybe they smelled money or were just following the herd in sucking up to the important-looking people. I cracked my neck once to the left, then to the right. Showtime.
I took a glass of wine and one of blood, and hoping I wouldn’t confuse the two, made my way over to the boisterous group of people. A loud burst of laughter had me reeling back, but unlike high school me, I wasn’t about to let a bunch of harpy-like guffaws from the popular kids scare me away. With a fake smile that would make even Barbie shiver, I joined the herd.
“You’ve led a very interesting life, Mister Franklin,” I said, dead smile in place.
The large man’s pale green eyes looked me over, and I knew it would take a dozen showers before I ever felt clean again.
“I’m not sure ‘life’ is the right word for it.” He chuckled, a handful of groupies giggling along with him. Gesturing to the glass of blood in my hand, he asked, “Is that for your date?”
“I’m not sure ‘date’ is the right word for it,” I said, fluttering my eyelashes as I held the glass out to him. “You looked thirsty, and I’m sure you must loathe to abandon such an enraptured audience.”
“Thank you kindly,” he said, a Texan accent coloring his words. “I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced. You’re one of the…” he paused, glancing over at the humans around us, “detectives tasked with
Outrage burned through my veins as I watched him walk away. He just spent a week ignoring me, and now that he was here, he expected me to drop everything and cater to him? Fuck that. Not to mention he was throwing a hissy fit in a room filled with creatures that had extra sensitive hearing. Jerk. And I hate surprises – he should’ve let me know he was coming. I huffed and crossed my arms, nitpicking every little thing Alex had done to find more reasons to be pissed at him. Stick in the mud, more like stick up my ass.
“He’s certainly…passionate,” said Khalil. “Are you going after him?”
“To do what?” I said, my tone as bitter as the taste in my mouth. “Grovel for his forgiveness even though I’ve done nothing wrong? No, let him cool off.”
“Perhaps I should apologize to him. I had no idea he’d be so sensitive.”
“He’s not–” Oh, who am I kidding? “He’s…intense. I think you should leave him alone for now, though. Then again, if he tries to hit you, it might start a huge fight. That way I could cut Franklin and get some blood without him noticing.”
“I love an innovative woman.”
“You’ve loved many, I’m sure.”
“Have you been speaking with Elise?”
I laughed. “Maybe. No. How could I?”
“She uses those magic mirror things. And a phone. She has that, too. Dorian is fond of answering it.”
“Does he say anything?”
“No.”
That was creepy. But also kind of funny. “Well, I don’t have her phone number. And I’ve never really gotten into crafting artifacts; I’m not very creative.”
“Says the woman who imagined starting a fist fight in the middle of this lovely gala.”
“Now you’re just stroking my ego.”
“Got to start stroking somewhere,” he said with another wink. “I think I’ll go occupy myself somewhere else for a while. Can’t have Sir Franklin thinking the lovely lady in the red dress isn’t available. Not that it’d stop him.”
“Any tips on how to get his attention?”
“Bleed,” he called over his shoulder as he swaggered away. “Good thing you’re wearing red!”
And then there was one. Dangling like a worm on a hook…A cute worm. Yeah, now I felt better.
Franklin was surrounded by a mixed group of preening socialite vamps and star struck humans. I didn’t understand what was so appealing to the humans. If these vampires were actively trying to lure them in, then it’d make sense, but otherwise… Maybe they smelled money or were just following the herd in sucking up to the important-looking people. I cracked my neck once to the left, then to the right. Showtime.
I took a glass of wine and one of blood, and hoping I wouldn’t confuse the two, made my way over to the boisterous group of people. A loud burst of laughter had me reeling back, but unlike high school me, I wasn’t about to let a bunch of harpy-like guffaws from the popular kids scare me away. With a fake smile that would make even Barbie shiver, I joined the herd.
“You’ve led a very interesting life, Mister Franklin,” I said, dead smile in place.
The large man’s pale green eyes looked me over, and I knew it would take a dozen showers before I ever felt clean again.
“I’m not sure ‘life’ is the right word for it.” He chuckled, a handful of groupies giggling along with him. Gesturing to the glass of blood in my hand, he asked, “Is that for your date?”
“I’m not sure ‘date’ is the right word for it,” I said, fluttering my eyelashes as I held the glass out to him. “You looked thirsty, and I’m sure you must loathe to abandon such an enraptured audience.”
“Thank you kindly,” he said, a Texan accent coloring his words. “I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced. You’re one of the…” he paused, glancing over at the humans around us, “detectives tasked with
Similar Books
