Page 41 of Sleepless Beauties

My reflexes kick up, recoiling at that last thought.

The list of things that keep me up at night are really growing out of control at this point. Prey being my undead boyfriend might just be the one that sends me over the edge.

Nicco helps Pavel down the stairs with his hand supporting the old vampire’s elbow, and they stop just before they hobble down.

“Goodnight, Miss Vega,” Pavel says with a perfectly rotten smile shining out through his dry, cracked lips.

“Goodnight, Pavel.” I bow my head to him, but lingers a bit longer.

“It’s nice to have you back. You do so much more for Rival’s health than you could possibly know.”

I pick apart his words and his demeanor, even as Nicco guides him back down the red-lit stairs.

Pavel has the appearance of a woman’s worst nightmare, but I don’t believe he has the strength to kill a high vampire like my sister or the others.

I flip open the first edition copy of Dracula I found and scribble a quick note about Pavel on the torn printer paper I have hidden inside it. It isn’t much, but it’s also only my very first day here. The real notes will get taken this afternoon, while everyone is sleeping.

But so far, it’s not a bad collection of information.

Acessa Milane

Polite. But is she hiding something?

Aston Cardence

Has the strength and the arrogance, but his drive isn’t there. The boy has all the aspirations of a browning banana.

Pavel

…physically unfit.

Rival Royale

A lover is the first suspect.

He threatened me, twice.

Has the motive. And the ability.

“Are you writing… in a first edition!?” a horrified voice asks, and I snap my book closed on my notes as well as my pen.

I fling my head up to find Acessa with her mouth agape and her eyes wide with terror.

Wow. I really am the monster in this fucking church of villains.

“Um, no. I— Sometimes I just like to imagine what it’s like to write a masterpiece.”

She blinks at me.

“You’re different from when you left for Milan.” A soft smile pulls at her lips. “You were so quiet before. I like this change in you.”

“Thank you. I’m trying,” I smile back at her. Secretly. I’m listening to the ticking of the clock and wondering when she’ll be tucking herself into her coffin for bed.

“I’m sneaking off to see Louis. Would you want to come along tonight?”

“Louis?” I ask with a pull of my brow.

If she could blush, it would be consuming the wide smile on her face right about now.