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“For now,” she answered in a hushed tone. “Please. Have a seat.”

Hugo hesitated.Is Sebastian going to sit?

Sebastian stepped to the side of the table—Hugo’s right—and pulled out the chair to sit down.

Perfect.

Sylvia motioned for Hugo to take his place. He placed his leather jacket on the back of the chair and sat down. He laid his left arm on the table, while keeping his right at his side.

“Nice jacket. Seems a little over the top, don’t you think?” Hugo asked.

“When I hold court, I expect everyone to be properly dressed. You’ll have to forgive my husband as the quickness of your meeting caught him off guard. I have my tailors standing by, ready to make an outfit for your witchy girlfriend when she finally agrees to join us. I could make one for you as well.” Sylvia picked up a wine bottle resting on the table. “I hope you don’t mind if we eat in front of you. You’re free to join in if you wish.”

Four wineglasses were set on the table, two in front of Sylvia and two in front of Hugo. The dark, blackish-red liquid poured out into her two glasses. Not as viscous as wine, it was thicker. He had poured enough glasses of wine in his lifetime; he knew it wasn’t wine they were drinking.

She presented Hugo with the bottle. “Care for some? It’s the mana of life.”

The Savinos laughed. They picked up their glasses, swirled their drinks around, smelled it, and held it up to their mouths. They tilted their heads back and drank.

Now. Do it. Now!

Hugo rubbed his arm against the chair leg. The tape peeled itself from Hugo’s skin. He kept pushing. The stake was freed from one side of the tape, but the other side remained. The stake was almost completely freed when Sylvia returned her half empty glass to the table. She let out an exhale of pleasure as she used her finger to lap up any trailing blood on her lips. She licked her finger, lockedeyes with Hugo, and smiled.

“I almost forgot.” Sylvia turned her attention to Sebastian. “Please, my dear, go get our gesture of goodwill.”

Sebastian set his glass down and rose from the table.

No!

He disappeared behind the swinging doors leading into the kitchen. Hugo stopped rubbing the stake against the chair leg.

“We wanted to give you something. Something we hope shows our good faith during the negotiations,” she continued.

Hugo’s eyes shifted back and forth between Sylvia and the kitchen door. There were no other entrances to the restaurant. Nothing Sebastian could use to sneak up on him. He glanced back at the entrance and then to Sylvia.

She once again picked up her glass and offered it to Hugo. Her steel-blue, malevolent eyes locked onto Hugo. “Are you sure you don’t want some? It’s a little stronger than we offer in Red-Hearted Queen.”

“I’m fine,” Hugo replied. “Should we get down to business?”

“All business and no talk with you.” She took a sip of her glass and moaned. “It’s so good. You don’t know what you’re missing.”

“Anyone I know?”

“An old friend.”

Hugo’s eyes narrowed. “Who?”

She placed her elbow on the table, rested her chin in her free hand, and smiled. She swirled the glass with her other hand. There was a moment of eerie silence which Hugo didn’t enjoy.

“We want you gone,” Hugo said. “Leave Newbury Grove and never return.”

Sylvia sat up. “You’re no fun.” Sylvia set her glass down and raised a finger to her mouth.

In the flickering candlelight, she displayed one of her fangs. She rubbed her finger against the point, no doubt wanting to intimidate Hugo further.

His heart raced. The beating traveled up his body. His breathquickened. He tapped the chair leg with his right hand. His left foot shook. He breathed deeply through his nose to help relax.

Calm down.