Page 25 of Sweeter than Honey

Lexi snorts, then raises her eyebrow at Lilith conspiratorially. “Celine thinks living humans eat too much. She doesn’t understand it.”

“It just seems like a lot!” Celine replies defensively. “I don’t remember ever eating so much.”

“Well, yeah, back in medieval France, I’m sure the food was pretty terrible,” Lexi says, taking a gulp of her bloodwine.

“I was born in Quebec in the eighteenth century,” Celine snaps.

“Same difference,” Lexi shrugs.

“Resources were scarce back then,” Celine says, turning to me. “It was a very different time and food wasn’t the same as it is now.”

“Speak for yourself,” I reply dryly. “My cooking was delicious.”

“What did you used to make?” Hallie asks me. “Maybe you could show Lilith and I how to make it this summer.”

For the third time this evening, I feel a little pang of emotion in my chest that I don’t like.

“I don’t have any time for cooking,” I reply. “We have chefs for that purpose. I’m far too busy running the hotel.” I glare at Celine and Lexi. “I’m basically holding this place together myself. We have the highest number of weddings and conferences booked that weeverhave had over the course of one season…”

“Ooh! I was thinking about that.” Lexi leans over the table, a dangerous glint in her blue eyes. “Renata, I have thisgreat ideathat’s going to bring us a ton of business!”

“A ton of business is theoppositeof what we need, Lexi-”

“It’s an influencer program,” Lexi says, clasping her hands together in delight. “All of the big luxury brands have them nowadays!”

“Awhatprogram?”

“An influencer program! You know, content creators with large platforms on social media. We provide them with free hotel packages, and they create content in the hotels. They tag us and use a discount code to generate hype for our brand. I think it would beperfect! We need to move into a younger market.”

I scowl at her. “Lexi, I’m not entertaining one of your ridiculous schemes again. The last thing I need is a bunch of Gen Z’s running around my hotel with their phones…”

“It’s not a ridiculous scheme!” Lexi shrieks. “And I’ll have you know, I was turned a hundred years ago!”

“Then why are you dressed like a children’s television host?” I ask her, gesturing at her loud, bright green and pink jacket, which is (uncomprehendingly) paired with a burnt orange bodysuit and matching boots. “You’re a professional, for god’s sake.”

“I’mextremelyprofessional,” Lexi says, her voice rising now. Hallie and Lilith watch us like a tennis match, their eyes darting back and forth. “You and Celine are always bullying me. You think you’re bothsoimpressive because you’re old and grouchy! But maybe the reason why you’re so mad all the time is because you never let anyone else help you!”

“Maybe I would let you help,” I reply, matching her tone and volume. “If you would act a little bit more responsible from time to time!”

She stands abruptly, knocking her chair out behind her. “Responsible! I’ll show you responsible!”

I join her, my eyes flashing crimson. “I would love to see it!”

Lexi leaps into the air. But I know all of her moves. I don’t have time to duck out of her way, but I tuck myself so I head-butt her right in the stomach. We fall into a heap on the ground beside Celine’s end of the table. My older sister sighs and scooches her chair to the side, away from us. Lexi is on top of me, but not for long. She’s briefly winded, and I manage to roll on top of her, sitting on her chest, pinning her long arms down on the ground.

“Not fair!” she shrieks. “Celine!”

“Oh, can’t finish what you started?” I snarl, as my younger sister thrashes beneath me. She’s strong, and it’s hard to keep her down. She manages to get one hand free and she scratches my face with her long nails. I’m glad I drank recently, but the scratches still hurt. With a furious roar, I grab her fist, but I have to let go of her other hand. She takes advantage and pushes me off of her.

We both jump to our feet, but it’s not over. Not anywhere close. Lexi is stronger than me, but I’m older and more skilled. I know if I can get her down again, it’s an easy win for me. Without hesitating, I high-kick her, my stiletto making satisfying contact with her chest. She fumbles for a moment.

“Um…” Hallie says, from the table. She looks nervously at Celine. “Should we…stop them, maybe?”

Celine waves her hand. “Let them blow off some steam. Trust me,this is how they work shit out.”

Lexi recovers, and lunges at me, reaching for a fistful of my hair. She grabs it right at the root and yanks. My eyes water with bloody tears, and I roar in pain and fury. Her jacket rides up and there’s a patch of pale skin exposed at her abdomen. I reach out and pinch it as hard as I can.

“Ow!” she lets go of my hair, and I grab her by the shoulders.