could deliver such a punishment—but then, betrayal was betrayal. And immortals had such long lives and such an intense ability to heal that punishment had to be vicious for it to count.
“What does it mean that the Contract transfer wasn’t run by the Tower first?” she asked past the ice in her blood.
“Likely venal politics.” The lights of the Bugatti cut through the storm gray heaviness, but the rain against the windshield made it feel as if they were cocooned in a world apart from the life and chaos of New York.
“The reason for the rule,” he continued, “is so that utter incompetents like Kenasha don’t ruin intelligent vampires who could become long-term assets.” His hands guided the car with an ease that made it look effortless. “It also wouldn’t do for a low-ranked angel to build himself a harem of young vampires—quite aside from issues of control, there is a hierarchy.”
“Here I thought it was to protect the vulnerable.”
“Daisy would’ve torn out your throat, then buried her face in the wound and fed on your blood until she was glutted.”
Holly put his sunglasses on the seat beside her before she broke them. “She was obviously starved. You’d act insane, too, if you weren’t fed for so long that you became emaciated.” Daisy’s ribs, her collar bones, had stuck out sharp as blades against her paper-thin skin.
“No. Her reactions were off.” Venom’s tone left no room for argument. “She’s young enough that the amount of blood I fed her originally should’ve shocked her back into full sentience. It’s possible there’s a drug in the mix.”
“A honey feed?” She frowned. “The effect usually wears off much faster. Maybe it hit her harder because she’s so thin.”
“It doesn’t have to be a honey feed.” Venom’s words were a surprise. “There are always chemists trying out new formulations. Every so often, they roll the dice and play with vampiric lives.” His voice turned grim. “Did Janvier and Ashwini tell you about the drug named Umber?”
Holly shook her head. “I probably don’t have the clearance.” It was weird, but when her bosses told her that, she accepted it, conscious she had to earn her way up the ladder. When Venom told her the same, she wanted to claw out his eyes. It was irrational, but then her reaction to him had never been a rational thing.
“You definitely don’t,” he said. “But you need to understand certain facts to protect yourself if you’re working in the shadows.”
Caught, Holly turned partially in her seat to listen.
14
“You reacted to Daisy as if she was simply another abused vampire—that could get you killed.” Granite in his expression. “You need to watch the reactions of any vampires you come into contact with, weigh those reactions against what you know to be normal.”
He swung the car to the left, heading in the direction of the bridge. “You have to be conscious a vampire might be high off a honey feed, or on some new designer drug. All of the latter eventually end in bloodshed. Umber caused a voracious blood hunger that led users to murder and brutalize the people closest to them.”
Holly released a quiet breath, her hands flexing. “Okay, you’re right,” she said, and the world didn’t end. “I’ll be more careful. I just . . . I felt sorry for her.” She wanted to kick herself as soon as the words were out—what the hell was she doing exposing her vulnerable underbelly to Venom of all people?
“I know.” No judgment in his tone. “Why do you think I gave her my jacket? My tailor will be appalled when I ask for a replacement and tell him why I need it.”
Holly rolled her eyes, but her lips wanted to tug up. “Why do drugs have such a dangerous effect on vampires?”
Venom’s shrug was liquid. “Vampire physiology is complex and it’s delicately balanced. Honey feeds work because our bodies are designed to filter the blood we intake—it just so happens that some of the drug isn’t filtered out and creates the high. But that high isn’t enough to upset the balance of the vampiric system.”
Holly thought of Zeph, of the emotional pain he tried to drown in blissed-out oblivion. “People try the designer stuff even knowing it could be deadly because they want a longer high.”
Venom gave a curt nod as his car prowled smoothly along the bridge, the lights of the other cars passing by in a rain-smudged blur. She had no idea what speed he was going except