Page 25 of Vacation with the Vampire
“The ‘I’ve been thinking, and it’s probably bad news for me’ look,” she responded promptly. My eyebrow rose a little higher, and I almost smiled. She always had the oddest way of phrasing things.
“Perhaps not bad,” I said. “But… significant.” It was only going to be bad for the brazen shifters who had dared to threaten my mate. All of Paris would soon know that I was back, and they’d remember my reputation. My brethren had long memories, very long.
Her attention snapped fully into focus. “Okay. That sounds ominous. What is it?” Before I could answer, her phone, discarded somewhere amidst the chaos of the night, lit up again, buzzing insistently against the sleek, short carpet. She glanced at it, then groaned. “Oh my God, again?”
“It has done so repeatedly,” I noted. “Your former lover appears persistent.” All through the night, he’d tried to call her, but though I’d seen and scented him in the hotel lobby, he had not tried to come to her room. I had, of course, vehemently encouraged the staff that only Susie and I should be allowed access, and that the male named Logan should be banned.
“Obsessive,” she corrected dryly. She waved a hand dismissively at the still-buzzing phone. “Ignore him. I couldn’t care less what he wants. But I do want to know why everyone has been hell-bent on bothering me. I know it can’t be about you, right? This is all about the stupid bag.”
She flicked a hand toward the fabric satchel that the werewolf had shredded with his claws. Everything did indeed keep coming back to that, and I was glad I’d figured out the answer at last. I studied her for a moment, then reached for the object beside me. “This,” I said, holding it out to her.
She blinked as I held up the compact mirror. “My… makeup mirror?” she asked. Yes, cosmetics. I’d assumed that was what it was for, though she’d cleverly used it as a secret compartment to stash money on her body. It was resourceful, and not at all what her ex had counted on.
“Indeed,” I said. I shook the compact mirror, but it made no strange noise. To my ears, there was only the faintest rustle as the small bundle of bills inside shifted.
Her brows drew together in the most adorable fashion. A tiny crinkle, a twist of her lips. “You went through my pockets?” Ah, she valued her privacy, and well she should. Only yesterday, someone had broken into her room, after all.
“Only to ensure your safety,” I replied calmly. “Your room was searched thoroughly, yet nothing was taken. This suggests the object of interest remained with you.” Other than her phone, which was so flat and thin I was certain nothing could fit inside it, this was the only option.
Her suspicion flickered, then eased slowly. “Okay, fair. It’s just a mirror. I ran out of makeup ages ago. I’ve just been keeping some cash in there.”
“I am aware,” I said. She opened her mouth to respond, then paused as I turned the compact over in my hands. With careful precision, I pressed along the seam and removed the back.
Her eyes widened. “Wait… what are you…” A small object slipped into my palm, which I held out to her. Silence. She pushed herself up slightly, the sheets shifting around her as she stared at the tiny carved stone resting against my skin. “That was in there?” she said slowly.
I nodded, letting her take a moment to study it. She took it from me, turning it over between her fingers. “It’s jade, I think? But this isn’t… I mean, it’s not exactly...” She glanced up at me. “This is what people are losing their minds over?”
“It is not especially valuable,” I said. “Nor is it imbued with magic, as far as I can discern.” In fact, other than being sort of pretty, it was nothing of interest at all. At least, it shouldn’t have been interesting, yet somehow it mattered a great deal. To shifters, the very faction Thibault had spoken of that had been creating a mess all over Paris for the past century and a half.
“That’s comforting,” she muttered. I would agree with that; an object without magic was a great deal safer to hold onto. This could have been a weapon, a bomb, a magical memento, or something else. Instead, it was just a rock.
“Which makes it all the more interesting,” I drawled. A nothing, a piece of stone, it made absolutely no sense why anyone wasafter it. Possibly, it held slight archaeological value, but that was all. Then again, to a creature like myself, who lived forever, a piece of the past could be worth most of all.
She exhaled, running a hand through her hair. “Okay. So what now?” A fair question, and regrettably that seemed to mean getting out of bed. She pushed at the sheets, rolled, and rose on the other side of the bed, blessedly naked and beautiful in the early morning light.
I took my time, taking her in as she moved around the room collecting fresh clothes. It was very refreshing how she wasn’t shy in her nakedness, but moved comfortably. I admired the curve of her spine as it transitioned into the sleekness of her derriere. The way her golden-brown locks tangled over her shoulders in soft, sleep-tousled curls. With a dry mouth and a bit too much lust pounding through my veins, I answered, “We seek answers.”
“Where?” she asked as she ducked into the bathroom. I heard the tap running, water splashing, but she’d left the door open. She listened, continuing the conversation even as she went through her morning ritual. I liked that; it showed a great level of intimacy, of trust. Just as it should be between us.
“A friend,” I said, rising from the bed myself and smoothing out any possible wrinkles from my brand-new suit with careful hands. I’d redressed to handle the hotel staff, but now regretted not being able to slip naked into the bathroom with her. To test that marvelous warm running water together.
Coming to the doorway, I discovered she’d done a quick wash-up by the sink, and now she was slipping into her clothes. In the mirror, our eyes met, hers narrowing. “Define ‘friend.’”
“Thibault,” I said. “He possesses knowledge of objects such as this.” Stone, as one might say, was his purview, after all. A Gargoyle knew all about rock. More importantly, Thibault might have lost power—his grip on the city—but he would not have let his knowledge slip.
She considered that for a moment, then nodded once. “Okay. I’m in.” I liked her warm, confident smile, the way her eyes invited me to be part of her world, on her team.
“Bien,” I said, nodding. Besides speaking with Thibault, I planned to get rid of her pesky former lover today and secure her safely in my home. “We will also be relocating.” I stepped out of the doorway to begin packing her things with quick efficiency, as well as gathering the meager pile of belongings I’d already managed to collect.
She made a gasping, shocked noise behind me. “Relocating? Where the fuck to?” Ah, so crude, so this century. I grinned because I could sense the way her hackles had risen, simply because I’d acted without consulting her. A lady from my time would have agreed without comment, but not Susie. In this new future, it was all different. A good different.
“It is no longer safe for you here,” I said, turning back to her. My gaze softened as I took in the narrow-eyed look on her face. “And I have no intention of allowing further threats to reach you.” She held my gaze, something warmer flickering beneath her usualboldness. “My home will offer greater protection,” I continued. Then, more quietly, “And I would have you there.”
I paused, gauging her expression and her mood, and felt certain she wasn’t as offended as she seemed. I stepped closer, brushing my fingers lightly along her cheek. “I want you safe, ma chérie.”
Chapter 14
Susie
