Page 7 of Forty Deaths Till Us Part
Dimitri approached us, and I forced a smile to my face. Cass didn’t bother.
He nodded to me. “The clan is excited about this new pool. We rarely get to bet on witch-related matters. But Ursula’s indiscretion raises certain issues. I am concerned about Raven’s safety.”
“Why?” I asked before I realized he was speaking to Rene.
Dimitri clasped his hands together and I could tell it was difficult for him to address me as an equal. He and the clan were just beginning to realize how important I was to Rene. “Ursula and her coven are trying to manipulate the clan. She wanted to use you. Her mistake will cost her, and I like having the advantage. Of course, she could simply try to kill you as she has in the past and that would alleviate this mistake. We should take extra precautions. Davon has returned, and I have asked him to personally watch out for Raven. He has always been good with the newest members of our clan.”
Cass frowned and Rene looked like he was frozen in place. “Who is Davon?”
Cass folded her arms. “He is Dimitri’s brother. Be wary of him.”
Dimitri sighed. “Davon would never hurt anyone.”
Cass grunted. “I’m not worrying about him hurting her. I’m worried he will try to get in her pants. Your brother is a notorious flirt and not super discreet in that area.”
Dimitri glanced away. “We all go through certain stages of development. Especially those of us who are immortal.”
Cass grunted. “He is almost as old as you are. He should have sowed his oats by now.”
Dimitri had an almost-defeated look, which was rare, and I had to think he wished his brother were more like him. That, of course, made me curious. “I’d like to meet him.”
Rene moved closer to me. The shift of position was subtle, and Dimitri smiled. He held up his hand and motioned to a group of men in the corner of the parlor.
I noticed the resemblance as soon as the young man in a pristine dark-blue suit approached us. His dark hair and eyes were identical to Dmitri’s, but he had a warm smile, and he held a crystal tumbler in his hand. His pink tie had a cartoon character on it, and I loved the mix of couture and whimsy.
He stopped beside his brother and looked Cass over suggestively. “You are looking as fine as ever, Cassara. When are you going to give a lowly vampire a chance?”
She grunted. “When pigs fly. I am not your type, Davon.”
He winked at me. “You can’t blame a man for trying.” He held his hand out to me. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Raven. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“None of it good, I’m sure.”
He kissed my hand gently and Rene pulled me against him. “I disagree. The clan gets a little too stagnant, if you ask me. You have made life a lot more interesting. I bet that Ursula will call Rene at six in the morning.”
Cass nodded. “That’s a good bet. Gives her time to have a bad night’s sleep over it and catch Rene before he retires for the day.”
I stared at Davon. “Are you a member of Shadow Bone?”
Dimitri nodded. “He was visiting another clan. It is the reason he was not at your introduction ball, Raven.”
Davon took a sip of his drink. “Had I known there would be so much strife as a result of your integration, I would have returned sooner.”
Dimitri smoothed his tie. “That is hardly seemly.”
Davon shrugged. “True though. This place has the frivolity of the Alaskan tundra at times.”
Cass bit her lip to stop from smiling. “How long have you been back, Davon?”
He raised his glass to his brother. “I have been back a week, but I have been... getting acquainted with my clan members.”
Dimitri huffed. “The female ones.”
Davon smiled. “Women make this world worth living in, Dimitri. If you could pull your head out of your ass once in a while, you might see that.”
I pursed my lips to stop from laughing. I never expected to like anything with the last name Galloway, but Davon was the complete opposite of his brother. I would take a harmless playboy over a vampire with political aspirations, any day. At least you knew what a ladies’ man was after.
Dimitri glanced away in irritation before turning to Rene. “May we have a word in private?”