Page 29 of Vampires of Eden

[I was thinking, I need some help with vineyard stuff in a couple weeks.]

[I’m going to Seze.]

[They have a weekend market there and I wanna sell some wine.]

[Would you come with me?]

Looking down at the phone, I frown. “This is random.”

Why is she asking me?

Well, a large portion of the population in Seze immigrated here from Spain. Maybe she wants another Spanish speaker? The dialect of Seze Spanish versus my natural diction is different, but I can mimic Spain’s style pretty easily.

I’m tempted to ask her if Daniel will be there, but the question feels cowardly. Or like I’m avoiding an ex after a nasty break-up… which is an utterly ridiculous analogy.

While I’m contemplating, another message pops up.

[Please? It’ll be fun!]

Buffy bumps her fluffy head into my side, cuing me to pet her and settle into bed already. I feel squeamish, but I send Leoni a simple response.

[Okay.]

I send a similar message to Kathryn, then cross myfingers that I won’t run into a certain asshole who seems to hate me for no apparent reason.

CHAPTER8

Alexander

Within the past two weeks, I’ve come to Kathryn and Roland’s house five times and it’s been exactly what I had originally envisioned—a peaceful and much needed departure from my routine.

This visit, though? Not so much.

Today feels like a storm is coming.

“I checked the tracking site and the boxes should be here within the next half hour,” Kathryn says, poking her head into the small bathroom where I’ve taken up residence for my last several visits. “And… Daniel texted, too. He’s almost here. I promise he’ll behave himself.”

“Sounds good,” I say indifferently, focused on measuring and aligning the tiles with the wooden gauge. When she’s gone, I sit upright and sigh.

It’s annoying that this needs to be a thing. I’m not some high-maintenance purebred. Yes, technically, I’m a prince and allegedly the next “King of Eden.” But those are empty titles and I don’t want or need vampires tip-toeing around me and making exceptions. Especially not here.

There’s a shipment of furniture arriving today for the bedrooms—new desks, bed frames, mattresses, bedside tables andsuch. Kathryn specifically requested that I come today to help carry and unload boxes, but she also asked, quote, “Is it okay if Daniel comes, too?”

I don’t fucking care if Daniel comes or not. He can be here, just… not in the same tiny space with me, ideally.

Why couldn’t he be normal? Most vampires like me. I mean, I’m not great by any means. Oliver didn’t like me. But I’m not the worst, either. There are definitely worse purebreds than me. I know some of them. I’m probably getting engaged to one of them.

Brushing off the agitation of Kathryn’s announcement, I continue with my measuring. It’s important that I get this right because the tiles will look sloppy if they aren’t distributed correctly—especially in the corners, according to Roland.

Within fifteen minutes of Kathryn’s announcement, I hear commotion coming from the direction of the front door. Welcoming voices and aging floorboards creaking beneath footsteps. I know it isn’t the delivery people because a distinct shrill of electric current prickles up my arms and to my neck and shoulders.

“Great,” I groan and straighten my back as I sit in the middle of the floor, still planning out the tiles.

I’m tucked away in the second smaller bathroom just off the kitchen. This has been my workspace for the past two weeks. Just as I’m hoping that I’ll be left alone until the delivery truck arrives, I sense Daniel’s presence moving in my direction.

Fuck. Why is he coming this way? Maybe he’ll go past the door and out to the back patio. Relax, Alexander. Breathe for God’s sake.

My attention on the tiles is totally broken. All I can focus on is the sensation of something like tiny electric spiders crawling up my body. The feeling intensifies as he draws nearer, as if the spiders are either getting larger or more potent in their voltage.