Page 38 of Vampires of Eden

The woman grins sweetly at me before stepping toward the front table. “Gracias, joven.”

I wave, ignoring the weird tickle suddenly warming my gut and spine. Pausing, I stretch my back to assess the abnormal sensation. What the fuck is happening right now?

“Oi, cariño.” Leoni crouches beside me and I jump. I was so in my head and distracted that I didn’t notice her.

“Yeah?” I say, inhaling deep and blowing it out.

“I wanna go schmooze with the other wine seller we talked to. Pick their brain a little. We’re going to have dinner together. Is it okay if Alexander drops you off at home so I can take the van?”

“Ah, well, you should probably ask him first.”

“Ask me what?” Alexander returns, eying us both like we’re conspiring in a devious plot against him. It’s a complete change from the enchanting vampire I witnessed only moments ago.

“What was with that lady?” he goes on. “Why didn’t she come to the front of the table? There’s not even a line anymore.”

Needing to regain control of my senses, I set my shoulders back. “Because she was too scared to talk to the arrogant purebred.” I smirk, not really feeling the snark behind it like usual.

Alexander cuts his eyes at me, not missing a beat. “Funny. I’d rather talk to an arrogant purebred than a mean, first-genjackass.”

“Ouch, well then.” I blink, snickering because he’s successfully knocked the wind out of me.

Leoni reaches and pinches Alexander in the bend of his waist and he folds, cursing and wincing away. “No cat fights!” she scolds.

“Are you gonna let him talk to me like that?” I ask with false incredulity.

She looks me over, considering. “You can be pretty mean.”

“Wow.” Unbelievable.

She ignores me and looks up at Alexander, who’s standing straight again, but at a safe distance where she can’t easily reach him. He’s at least a foot taller than her. “Can you take him back to the cottage?” Leoni asks.

Alexander rubs his waist, grimacing. “Why the hell would I do that?”

“Because I want to have dinner with another vineyard owner and pick their brain.”

“Your cottage is a forty-minute drive in the opposite direction from my house.”

“That’s perfect,” she chirps. “You two can get to know each other better—but no cat fighting!” She hisses dramatically and makes cat claws at us with her hands before flipping and walking away.

Alexander’s face looks like he’s just been told that he needs to personally wrangle a bag full of poisonous snakes. His feelings about this circumstance are so obvious that I almost laugh out loud. Almost.

Instead, I flutter my eyelashes, grinning. “Thanks in advance for the ride.”

CHAPTER 10

Daniel

Prince Blondie is uncomfortable as we pull out of the parking lot and traverse the winding roads of Seze. His posture is rigid and he avoids eye contact.

Surprisingly, I’m not uncomfortable. The enclosed space of his car is warm and filled with an invigorating scent. Oranges? I couldn’t tell what it was out in the open. But in here, Alexander’s essence is clearer. Sharper. It’s… nice. Like something bubbly that you might want to guzzle on a hot summer day.

Despite the pleasant air of his aroma, there’s a bitter undertone. That unmistakable musk of another vampire’s essence entwined within his own. A biological and archaic warning signal that says, “Stay away! This vampire is taken.”

As far as I know, Alexander isn’t taken. Not anymore.

So, why am I getting that warning from his scent?

Not that it even matters. Why am I thinking about this?