Page 44

“Yeah,” I agreed. “We can go.”

Connor shook his head and prowled off, clearing a path for us.

I followed behind him deeply satisfied with the day.

It might not have been the practice I wanted, but at least it was fun. And this was the first time I got to experience another supernatural genuinely concerned for me.

It had been…unexpectedly touching.

Maybe Connor and I can be friends—real friends. That would be nice.

Either way, I could at least be sure by his reaction that he hadn’t figured out I was a vampire slayer. I was happy my cover was working but there was a dangerous whisper at the back of my mind that told me if we were really going to be friends, was it really okay not to tell him when my blood was a deadly poison to vampires?

CHAPTERELEVEN

Considine

Dusk painted the annoyingly bustling city of Magiford with shadows, giving some relief from the hot afternoon sun.

I stood in an alleyway keeping such a clamp on my powers that I shouldn’t even register to other supernaturals as a vampire—except, apparently, to bubbly neighbors who noticed eye colors.

I leaned against the wall of the alleyway, patiently watching the trio of vampires that strode down the public sidewalk with so much competence it made them stick out like sore thumbs. Well, the competence matched their crisp black suits, which marked them as Drake vampires to every supernatural in the city.

Does Killian really think he’ll find me with random searches? Does he think I’m so inept I’ve collapsed somewhere in a gutter?

The idea was insulting. I’d spent the last couple of centuries playing caretaker to the Dracos offspring—or as I had nicknamed them whenever they particularly irritated me, the snake-brats. Now he thought I couldn’t survive alone?

This was Killian I was dealing with.More likely he just doesn’t want me loose and playing around in his territory. He probably thinks I’m trying to scent out his plans so I can ruin them.

It was an accurate guess. If I found a hint that Killian’s obsession with his human had weakened him, I’d act.

When the trio was far enough up the street, I strolled out of the alleyway joining a cluster of humans stomping down the sidewalk like mindless herd animals for camouflage purposes.

So far, though, the underbelly of Magiford hadn’t reported any change in Killian. If anything, he is beheld with even more fear.

I didn’t understand it. Humans were useless for anything besides their blood, and they died easily. The long lived among them rarely made it to a mere century of age. What was the point in befriending them when they were gone before you could even get used to them?

Thinking of the amusing nights I’d had since arriving in Magiford, it did occur to me that perhaps there were some additional benefits.

Playing with the slayer on the task force is surprisingly amusing. Entertainment does have its uses.

I raised my right hand to adjust the sunglasses that hid my tell-tale blood-red eyes, and the red garnet on Ambrose’s ring caught the light—a reminder I needed in my moment of weakness.

Entertainment, no matter how rare, isn’t worth the cost of caring for a human.

I spotted a black SUV with tinted windows driving down the street—most likely one of Killian’s fleet.

I peered up at the signs that hung overhead. I was dressed to blend in with the human night crowd with a black Henley shirt and dark slim-fit jeans.

The SUV pulled into a parking space on the side of the street and three vampires piled out.

I recognized Killian’s First Knight—a tall, tawny brown skinned female vampire with a bright smile that hid her ruthless streak. She flicked the braid of her dark hair over her shoulder, her red eyes tracing the sidewalks.

The First Knight is more observant. I better solidify my camouflage.

I leaned forward, inserting myself into the herd of gossiping human females clomping down the sidewalk in front of me. “Please excuse my terrible manners,” I said, drawing their attention. “Could you tell me where the boardwalk is?”

Two of the four women giggled at me while the remaining two gave me friendly smiles.