Page 5 of Guardians for the Vamp
Words, Thorne! Use them!
But I can’t so I answer the vampire with a nod. I’m… flustered, and I don’t understand why.
“Do you not… speak?”
Humor fills Layla’s voice as she regards Locheran and Xander who stare at me like I’ve grown an extra tail and a horn out of my ass.
Xander slaps his palm on my shoulder not-so-gently.
“He’s a gargoyle of few words.”
Great. He’s probably pissed. Or at least disappointed. I’m sure I’ve embarrassed him.
Layla purses her lips and glances at her friends, the former vampire queen Millie and her fledgling. The two are huddled together, palms over their mouths, clearly amused by what can only be explained as madness on my part.
“Okay then,” Layla says. Her smooth honey voice washes over me like a warm shower on a cold winter night. “The attendees will be arriving shortly for the ball. Shall we head to the war room to meet?”
“Lead the way,” Xander says.
Layla says goodbye to Millie and the blond man, telling them she’ll see them later at the party. Once she turns to leave, Locheran nudges me with his elbow.
“Hey, so you were super weird just now.”
“Was I?” I elbow him back.
“You definitely were,” Xander says, furrowing his brows.
He’s probably regretting bringing me to this meeting. The vampire queen asked Xander to bring a few of his top soldiers. We’re not sure what she could possibly need help with, perhaps wrangling another rogue vampire, but it doesn’t matter. I was honored Xander chose me.
I’ve been beating myself up over the past three months after Xander’s brother betrayed him. His sister betrayed him, too, and I failed to notice. Elara was my partner on patrols more times than not. How did I not know she wasbeing manipulated by Magnus and forced to help him? If only I had caught on sooner…
I scrub a palm over my face and straighten my posture. That’s all water under the bridge. Xander made it clear that Elara had tricked everyone. He does not fault me.
“You’re right. Iwasweird. I just… wasn’t sure how to greet her.”
“If you say so, buddy,” Locheran snorts.
They know that’s not the reason. They know I’ve greeted many kings and queens in my lifetime. I simply can’t explain what’s happening. It’s as if my body is vibrating with… anxiety? Lust? Both?
I ignore Locheran and enter the war room behind him. Layla sits at the front of the table with a few of her bodyguards standing behind her against the wall. Xander takes a seat next to the vampire queen with Locheran on her other side. Layla inspects her manicured nails, as if doing whatever necessary to avoid eye contact with me, as I take my seat next to Locheran.
She clears her throat.
“Thank you for meeting with me before tonight’s celebration,” she begins.
There’s a slight quaver in her voice. She’s nervous. I fight the urge to stand and go to her... to hold her in my arms and ease whatever is causing this anxiety.
“I was informed a few weeks ago by the Council of Vampire Elites that they have been in discussions with other supernatural leaders about… um… revealing ourselves to the humans.”
Locheran leans in and Xander’s mouth drops open, but he snaps it shut, letting her continue.
“Right, I had the same reaction. It’s something that would need in-depth planning, which is why COVE wants to form a committee with representatives from all supernatural communities so we can work out the details of how to make this happen as smoothly as possible. I’m to meet with leaders this week to discuss their recommendations for that committee. COVE would also like for my security team to be somewhat of a test of this unification plan.”
Layla purses her lips and scrunches her nose like an adorable bunny. An adorable, but uncertain, bunny. Her hesitation tugs at my heart.
Layla’s eyes snap to me.
Shit.
