Page 43 of Twice Bitten

Alric sighed and set his spoon down. “Miss Damona, you must understand the predicament we were in. Silas and I are on opposite sides politically. Being seen in that alley with you in your state at the time would have destabilized the entire country.”

“I don’t care.”

Alric blinked. “Excuse me?”

“I don’t care about your politics. What I do care about is that two men, two supposed protectors of this city, left a witch to die. I don’t want to be here, Mr. Methinas. I’d rather never see you again as long as I live. I assume I’m here for you to threaten me into submission, but you don’t have to worry. As I’ve told you before, I have no plans to reveal anything about either of you. All I want is to be left alone.”

Alric’s lips thinned. “You don’t like me.”

I snorted. “What was your first clue?”

I was saved from more conversation by the second course coming in, a salad with spring greens, pears, toasted pine nuts, and parmesan with a delicate olive oil-based dressing. We ate in silence.

“For what it’s worth,” Alric said when we finished, “I have not stopped thinking about what happened that night. I will live with the regret for the rest of my long existence.”

I stared at him for a long moment, unsure what to feel. His words seemed sincere, but this was the Prime. He was an expert at making people feel things. “Okay.”Eloquent as always, Alex.

“I would like to make it up to you.”

My mother’s words floated in my mind.Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing. Except this time a vampire and a wolf were involved. “You fed me. Let me keep the earrings and we’ll call it good.” Alric could surely afford a pair of prehnite earrings. In fact, he could probably have a truckload of them delivered and not even notice the transaction in his bank account.

“A meal and a pair of earrings is a paltry peace offering.”

“It’s the only one I want.”

Alric sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers over his flat stomach. “Let us say I believe you will not reveal what happened in that alley. Why should I trust you won’t blackmail me later?”

I groaned. “Because I was perfectly content until your vampire showed up at my coffee shop and attacked me after dinner. I want nothing to do with any of this. If you want to make amends, force Beckett to leave me alone.”

“Ah,” Alric said. “About that. Since I discovered your miraculous recovery, there is another matter we must discuss. That, more than anything, is the reason I invited you here tonight.”

I knew he hadn’t done this out of the kindness of his heart. “I’m listening.”

“The vampire’s attack wasn’t only physical. He left something behind.”

My stomach twisted. “Oh?”

“Do you know anything about vampiric abilities?”

Not that I would tell him. I shrugged. “I’ve read some things.” Lying to him was not wise. I had to tell the truth while keeping the bulk of my knowledge to myself. No supernatural wanted stories of their weaknesses revealed. While no one could hide everything, the vampires had tried their best to wipe every text with their history and anatomy off the map. Humans believed vampires were reanimated corpses. Not quite the truth. Vamps weren’t dead, not exactly. Humans could technically die and be brought back to life still possessing all their faculties. They woke up the same person they were when they died.

Vamps were similar, except their DNA came back fundamentally altered. They were neither dead nor alive. Vampires were something in between and driven by hunger. Some regained their former self, though none could live with their human families again—at least not until they gained control oftheir bloodlust. None chose to do so once they had, electing instead to live in Hives.

A faint smile tipped Alric’s lips up. “We all possess different abilities, but when we share blood with a human, we maintain a measure of control over them. As long as the link exists, a vampire has certain sway over their victim.”

“I’m a witch.”

“I’m aware.”

“Then you know what you’re implying is impossible.” As I said the words, a cold shiver walked down my spine. Those side effects I’d been experiencing, hearing the blood rush in a human’s veins, the craving to taste their blood…

“Becketthas an unusual gift, Ms. Damona. I’m afraid even a witch might not be immune.”

There was no way to know if Alric knew I’d tasted his Prime blood that night in the alley. If he did, he was being circumspect. Were my weird side effects a result of Beckett or the Prime?

“I think I’ll take my chances.”

He uncrossed his hands and leaned forward, his bright green gaze pinning me in place. “Have you had any odd symptoms over the last several days?”