Page 196 of Vampire so Virtuous

“But it tasted like shit.”

“Do you need to feed?”

He shook his head. “No. And I wouldn’t here anyway, not surrounded by these… putrid abominations.” He stared at the mess in the room.

“What were those things?”

“Vampire spawn,” Antoine said in disgust, “but taken to the limit of what they could be.”

“Minh said he could control them. Like you control thralls.” She stared at them in horror. “He said it like he was proud of that.”

“I think it’s part of his bloodline, but not something I’ve ever heard of. Either it’s a closely guarded secret, or no one has ever tried it before now. It goes against our…” Antoine grimaced. “Code.”

“You mentioned a Code before. In the parking lot. Vampire rules?”

“They used to be,” Antoine said wearily, “but of late, I’m not so sure anymore.”

Cally nodded, then tentatively reached for his hand. “Shall we go? I’ve had enough of this place.”

He took her hand in his, threading his way through the mess on Minh’s carpet to the door. “Soon,ma chérie. We should wait for Gabe.”

“Gabe? Is he here?”

“Somewhere upstairs. He should be—” Antoine cut himself off as he heard a noise down the corridor, and shoved Cally behind him. “That’seither him or more spawns.”

“Better be him,” Cally said.

It was. Gabe came around the corner flanked by his thralls with weapons drawn, but they swiftly pointed them at the ceiling when they saw Antoine.

“There they are!” Gabe announced with a grin. “Antoine, you look like hell.”

“That’s because I did all the work.”

“Not so, my friend. Walking through that club, having to listen to that music?” Gabe gave a mock shudder. “Worse than any Curia meeting.”

“And his thralls?”

“Dead,” Gabe said offhandedly, then nodded the way he’d come. “Including the two by the doors back there, who had gone catatonic. Minh’s dead too, I surmise?”

“He is. His territory is yours.”

“Huh,” Gabe said. “You’re handing it over? Just like that?”

“I told you I had no plans to expand. Besides, his territory is intermingled with yours. It should all be one area.”

Gabe shook his head. “You know, I actually believe you’re giving it to me just so the lines on the map are tidy.” He looked past them into Minh’s study and winced. “Shouldn’t you clean it up before you pass it over?”

Antoine chuckled and reached back for Cally’s hand. He did it without thought, not really knowing why, but when her smaller hand slid into his, it felt like a part of him he hadn’t known was missing had slotted into place. He drew her alongside him and didn’t let go.

“At least the fishtank survived.” He set off down the hallway, Cally walking at his side.

“I’m going to gut the place anyway,” Gabe said. “Turn that nightclub into a restaurant.”

“Jazz and blues, with a cocktail bar,” Cally said, then gave a shrug as they looked at her. “No windows—it wouldn’t suit a restaurant.”

Gabe grinned. “The lady has spoken. A jazz lounge it is.”

Antoine gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Let’s go home.”