we get back?”
“Of course not. He is a dear soul. If he doesn’t know, he will certainly be aware of who does.”
Hellebore sighed in relief. “The band has taken the next six months off while our drummer finishes his PhD. I really want this sorted out by the holidays.”
“Do you like public singing?”
“It pays the bills.”
“It must be difficult.”
“Only when it comes to collecting the cheque. Despite the best performances of our lives, when it comes for those who hired us to pay out, they can come up with a thousand and one excuses why they didn’t get precisely what they asked for. That is when I have to persuade them, and then, I feel uncomfortable.”
“Sucks.”
“It does rather. If I didn’t love the music so, I would give it up in a heartbeat.”
Max nodded. “That, I understand.”
Hellebore rubbed the back of her neck. “I want to settle down and live happily ever after, but I don’t know which direction to lean in. Do I want security or do I want passion? It is doubtful that I will find both, but the scales are weighted in either direction.”
“You have a candidate in mind for security?”
“Oh, I do. He is strong, quiet and lives a life of the mind.” Hellebore got a wistful expression on her features.
“It seems he has physical attributes as well as mental ones.”
“He has some giant blood, shifter blood and a combination of other species in him. I would love to consider him, but he never makes a move.” She sighed in disgust.
Max laughed. “Have you considered making the first move?”
“It wouldn’t be suitable. My family has enough trouble with me without my breaking tradition to stalk a mate.”
Max nodded. “Families can be awkward. Mine doesn’t know what I do, what I am or how I have managed to snag a man, but they don’t bother asking. It means I have nothing to hide. If no one asks the question, there can never be an answer.”
Hellebore blinked and a slow smile crept across her face. “That is the best advice I have gotten to date.”
“Good. Eat your pie.”
It took them two hours to find their way back to the Guild Master’s home, and Anthony was nearly fuming when she described her meal to him in detail.
After she had been duly chastised, she sat in the living room with Hellebore. “You weren’t kidding. He really does watch what you eat.”
Max wrinkled her nose. “The actual reason for it is that Gregori can taste what I eat through my blood. He has certain preferences, and Anthony attempts to meet them, via my snacks.”
“That is—”
“Something you get used to.” Max shrugged as the Guild Master in question came in.
“I hear we have a guest.”
Max was sitting in a wingback chair, and he stood behind her, bending over and kissing her lower lip with both of his. His kiss extended her neck, and he caressed it slowly with both hands.
Hellebore’s heartbeat sped up, so Max broke the very erotic kiss. “Let’s not be rude. Yes, one of the trolls sat on her bike. Anthony says it will be ready tomorrow.”
Gregori sighed. “Rude is something else entirely, mate.”
She got a series of images that sent her own heart galloping. “Right, well, those would definitely be rude.”
He laughed and took one of the open wingback chairs.
The conversation turned into a discussion of the events of the previous day. For a vampire stronghold, it was decidedly normal.
At eleven, they wished Hellebore a good evening and Gregori let the visiting vampires out of the cellars. They were a little upset by their previous restriction, but the Guild Master didn’t explain and let those who wished to depart leave immediately.
The rest were given animal blood for a meal, and while they ate, Viceroy Max went to check the daily reports from her property.
Life went on in its own peculiar way, and once she was done with her paperwork, she spoke to Anthony about Hellebore’s desire for a holiday. Her pixie was enjoying riding on the elf’s
“Of course not. He is a dear soul. If he doesn’t know, he will certainly be aware of who does.”
Hellebore sighed in relief. “The band has taken the next six months off while our drummer finishes his PhD. I really want this sorted out by the holidays.”
“Do you like public singing?”
“It pays the bills.”
“It must be difficult.”
“Only when it comes to collecting the cheque. Despite the best performances of our lives, when it comes for those who hired us to pay out, they can come up with a thousand and one excuses why they didn’t get precisely what they asked for. That is when I have to persuade them, and then, I feel uncomfortable.”
“Sucks.”
“It does rather. If I didn’t love the music so, I would give it up in a heartbeat.”
Max nodded. “That, I understand.”
Hellebore rubbed the back of her neck. “I want to settle down and live happily ever after, but I don’t know which direction to lean in. Do I want security or do I want passion? It is doubtful that I will find both, but the scales are weighted in either direction.”
“You have a candidate in mind for security?”
“Oh, I do. He is strong, quiet and lives a life of the mind.” Hellebore got a wistful expression on her features.
“It seems he has physical attributes as well as mental ones.”
“He has some giant blood, shifter blood and a combination of other species in him. I would love to consider him, but he never makes a move.” She sighed in disgust.
Max laughed. “Have you considered making the first move?”
“It wouldn’t be suitable. My family has enough trouble with me without my breaking tradition to stalk a mate.”
Max nodded. “Families can be awkward. Mine doesn’t know what I do, what I am or how I have managed to snag a man, but they don’t bother asking. It means I have nothing to hide. If no one asks the question, there can never be an answer.”
Hellebore blinked and a slow smile crept across her face. “That is the best advice I have gotten to date.”
“Good. Eat your pie.”
It took them two hours to find their way back to the Guild Master’s home, and Anthony was nearly fuming when she described her meal to him in detail.
After she had been duly chastised, she sat in the living room with Hellebore. “You weren’t kidding. He really does watch what you eat.”
Max wrinkled her nose. “The actual reason for it is that Gregori can taste what I eat through my blood. He has certain preferences, and Anthony attempts to meet them, via my snacks.”
“That is—”
“Something you get used to.” Max shrugged as the Guild Master in question came in.
“I hear we have a guest.”
Max was sitting in a wingback chair, and he stood behind her, bending over and kissing her lower lip with both of his. His kiss extended her neck, and he caressed it slowly with both hands.
Hellebore’s heartbeat sped up, so Max broke the very erotic kiss. “Let’s not be rude. Yes, one of the trolls sat on her bike. Anthony says it will be ready tomorrow.”
Gregori sighed. “Rude is something else entirely, mate.”
She got a series of images that sent her own heart galloping. “Right, well, those would definitely be rude.”
He laughed and took one of the open wingback chairs.
The conversation turned into a discussion of the events of the previous day. For a vampire stronghold, it was decidedly normal.
At eleven, they wished Hellebore a good evening and Gregori let the visiting vampires out of the cellars. They were a little upset by their previous restriction, but the Guild Master didn’t explain and let those who wished to depart leave immediately.
The rest were given animal blood for a meal, and while they ate, Viceroy Max went to check the daily reports from her property.
Life went on in its own peculiar way, and once she was done with her paperwork, she spoke to Anthony about Hellebore’s desire for a holiday. Her pixie was enjoying riding on the elf’s
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