“Tristan,” he muttered, easily able to identify one of the renegades. A vampire with considerable power, he was more crafty than intelligent, and always brutal. He was also notoriously impatient. Gideon would have to consider how best to use that weakness to his own advantage. “He now knows that I am here.”
“Beg pardon, sir, but he gave me a right queer feeling.”
Gideon snapped his attention back to the youth standing before him. “You did not approach him, did you?”
“No.” He gave a violent shake of his head. “I stayed right in the bushes as you said. Still ... I shouldn’t like to come up against him in a dark alley.”
“It would be even worse than you could ever imagine,” Gideon assured him in bleak tones. Were Tristan to discover that this boy was in his employ the vampire would take great delight in torturing him beyond all bearing. “You are to have nothing to do with him. Is that understood?”
The boy turned to spit upon the ground. “Couldn’t pay me enough to tangle with that bugger. Makes me feel like the night me da locked me in a crypt for spilling his gin. Nasty business.”
Gideon arched a brow at the youth’s perception. “You possess a rare insight for a mere mort ... boy,” he smoothly corrected.
That crooked grin returned. “I live on the streets, guv. I would have been dead long ago if I couldn’t smell trouble.”
“I suppose so.” Gideon straightened, knowing he still had a long night ahead of him searching for Tristan’s lair. “You know what is to be done?”
The boy heaved a breath at his question. He had been forced to repeat the command over and over until Gideon was certain that he had it memorized.
“Two of us on duty at all times. If the lady leaves we are to follow at a safe distance. If we notice anything a bit off we are to fetch you at yer home.”
“Anything,” Gideon stressed in tones that rippled through the air. “Even if it appears harmless.”
The lad gave a mocking salute. “Righto, guv.”
Gideon briefly considered the boy then; realizing he had done all that was possible to keep Simone safe, he gave a smooth nod of his head.
“I shall meet with you again tomorrow.”
Turning on his heel Gideon faded into the shadows. No one could see him halt one more time to glance toward the figure still outlined in front of the window before he was slipping through the mews and on the hunt for a silver-haired vampire.
Chapter 2
It had been a long, frustrating night for Gideon.
Upon more than one level, he reluctantly conceded as he moved up the steps to Simone��s town house.
Not only had he failed to find any trace of Tristan as he had searched through the streets of London, he had been unable to banish the thought of a golden-haired beauty with eyes of emeralds.
Even when he had at last accepted the limitations of his physical form and briefly lay upon his bed, he had been haunted by the vision of her graceful features and enticing curves. Curves that he did not doubt would fit perfectly beneath him.
The very fact he could not dismiss her from his thoughts had Gideon leaving his bed and attiring himself in black coat and breeches.
He disliked the sense of being controlled by the sudden passions that plagued him, he acknowledged sourly. The sooner he could track down Tristan and convince him of the futility of his cause, the sooner he could return behind the Veil.
But first he had to call upon Simone and somehow establish a means of forcing her to obey him.
His lips thinned. He would rather face the bloodthirsty Tristan.
Reaching the top step, Gideon patiently waited as the door was pulled open by the pug-faced butler who regarded him with a challenging stare. There was little doubt that the poor servant had been severely chastised for allowing him to pass last night, and that he fully intended to halt him today.
He was visibly bristling with aggression.
Stepping past the servant into the foyer, Gideon handed the man his hat and gloves.
“Mr. Ravel to see Lady Gilbert,” he stated smoothly.
The servant jutted out his chin. “Her ladyship is not at home.”