Page 118 of Blood as Sweet as Roses

“Balls too?” Celine asks, wiping a red tear from the corner of her eye.

“Everything,” Murad answers. “You should have seen Waylan’s face! It was priceless.”

“Classic Crimson,” Damien says, giving me a wink.

I lean over to refill his glass. “That’s nothing. You should have seenCedric’sface when I made him reveal he was working with Oana.”

“Nowthat’sa story I’d like to hear,” Celine says, cocking an eyebrow.

Murad leans forward, his eyes lit up. “Crimson summoned Cedric to see her in the mansion’s war room…”

But before he can say more, the door to Celine’s office swings open loudly. Renata steps in, a formidable expression across her face. She plants her hands firmly on her hips.

“What are you four doing?” she demands, eying our glasses of blood with derision. “It doesn’tlooklike you’re working on the trade agreement I asked you to ratify…”

“It’s the last Friday of the conference,” Celine sighs to her sister. “We’ve been working all week! We’re taking a break.”

Damien scoots to the end of the couch and pats the leather seat beside him. “Come on, Ren, join us for a glass.”

The other vampire’s lip twitches. “Well, I’mverybusy tonight, and Lily…”

“Will be fine without you for twenty minutes,” Celine says.

“Stay and chat with us,” Murad says, flashing Renata his most charming smile. “I’d love to hear about how things are going with the hotel, and with Lily.”

This seems to get through to her. With a twitch of her lips, she concedes.

“Well, all right,” she says. She perches daintily on the couch between Celine and Damien. “I suppose a few minutes won’t hurt.”

“Will you have a glass?” I ask, reaching for the distilled blood. “We can open another bottle.”

Renata wrinkles her nose. “No, thank you. Do you really enjoy drinking it?”

“We love it,” Murad says, taking another sip.

“It’s been extremely popular among the Night vampires,” I concur.

“Really?” Celine says, incredulously.

“Your sister’s quite the entrepreneur,” Murad says.

Renata sighs. “I wish she was a littlelessentrepreneurial. She’s got a new business idea every week. Yesterday she tried to pitch a reality TV show about our family.”

Celine shakes her head. “Our family is a dangerous clan of vampires who run an illegal speakeasy and casino. How does she think that’s going to go down?”

“It’s her age,” Damien says. “When newborns turn a hundred years old, the novelty of being a vampire starts to wear off. They get restless, want to do something more meaningful.”

I nod. “Alin’s about the same age. He’s been impossible lately, constantly trying to convince me that we should be in different businesses. Last week he suggested that we should start our own vampire cryptocurrency.”

“Interesting,” Celine replies thoughtfully.

Murad shrugs. “It’s a brave new world out there. Perhaps there’s value in exploring new avenues.” He turns to Renata. “I want to congratulate you and Lily, Renata. I haven’t heard of many vampires choosing to start families with their partners. I know it’s unconventional, but I think it’s wonderful.”

Renata smiles at him. It’s the first time I’ve seen her relaxed all week. “Thank you, Murad. That means a lot to us.”

Celine reaches out and touches her sister’s shoulder gently. “We’re all excited for you, Ren.”

“How did you decide to start a family?” Murad asks, curiously. I give him a surprised look. I wonder what’s intrigued him suddenly.