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My powers were clamped down so in theory my pheromones weren’t affecting them, but pheromones were rarely necessary for manipulating humans. They were disgustingly weak to beauty, and those who weren’t were annoyingly friendly—like a certain neighbor of mine.

“Sure,” chirped one of the gigglers. “The lake is across the street behind the buildings. You can access it by…” She chattered away, pointing across the street.

I pantomimed listening, although I was keenly aware of the Drake First Knight leading her two underlings in my direction.

“The Eminence believes he is likely staying in theLuxe SejourHotel,” the First Knight said—her voice low and barely audible over the city noise.

“He wouldn’t stay with another Family?” That came from a petite blond, who casually tugged on the sleeves of her suitcoat as she looked around. “He’s old and powerful enough, no one would dare turn him away.”

Ahh, yes. Theyareindeed looking for me.

The First Knight shook her head as she led her underlings closer to me and my camouflage. “He hates everyone—vampires and supernaturals alike. He’d find any vampire Family annoying, overbearing, and stupid.”

Impressive. They know me better than I would have thought.

“Excuse me,” the First Knight murmured to one of the human women I was using as she edged past us.

The woman waved her off, and the First Knight and Drake vampires continued down the street completely oblivious to the fact that they’d just strolled past me.

“He sounds like a joy to interact with,” said the male vampire with black hair and medium brown skin.

“He’s charming,” the First Knight said. “He has to be, so you don’t notice the dagger he’s stabbed into your back until he’s gone.”

Now that’s insulting. I smiled and nodded as the humans kept chattering at me.I would never stab someone in the back. That’s too much effort. I’d stab them in the chest and be done with it.

I didn’t hear if the other Drake vampires said anything in response—they were too far down the sidewalk by that point.

“There’s a boardwalk that cuts across Fairy Lake,” the human woman continued. “It connects to a bike trail—”

I, judging she wasn’t going to take a breath for some time, interrupted. “I see, I think I know where I’m going now. Thank you so much for your help.”

I slipped off before she could come up with a reason to keep talking, heading for a crosswalk the first chance I had.

The crowds of humans were starting to grate on my nerves, so perhaps it was time to return to my apartment—taking a roundabout way, of course, just in case the First Knight’s obliviousness was an act and they were secretly following me.

Interestingly, the crowd hadn’t bothered me overly much at the fall market Jade dragged me to.

Nothing about the fall market would normally appeal to me. I disliked human food, saw no use for humans, and generally found supernaturals annoying with their constant quarrels and endless quest for power—something I personally knew was stupid and a waste of time.

That night had been interesting. Jade hadmadeit interesting. And as a vampire as old as I was, interesting was a rare commodity.

I glanced at the sky—I was going to look suspicious for wearing sunglasses soon, as the sun had almost given up and sunk behind the horizon.

Jade has likely already left for work.

Watching Jade stammer and fidget as she (poorly) attempted to make friends with other humans with the enthusiasm of a puppy and the terrified fright of a French noble facing the guillotine had become a hobby.

Apparently witnessing such events meant I would get roped into activities her targets turned her down over, but it wasn’t a terrible price.

It did strike me as slightly insulting that she blushed and was nervous when faced with humans, but didn’t even bat an eye at my presence except to scold me not to bite her. But it was likely a product of her workplace.

I swung up an alleyway—I was going to take the boardwalk just in case the Drakes had heard the conversation.

A werewolf—a male with muscles so thick his neck looked like a troll’s—stalked down the far end, heading in my direction.

“Move it,” he snarled at me.

Bemused, I tilted my sunglasses down so I could peer at him.