Fire Within - By Ally Shields Page 0,12

she couldn’t afford. Like the perfectly ordinary-looking granny vase with a starting bid of $3,000. Of course, she could just ogle at all the rich and famous of Riverdale. It was expected. Looking around at the crowd, Ari estimated there were more oglers than bidders, but the auction always met its goal.

The two couples dutifully filed past the tables and viewed the choices in the silent auction. Brando kept up a running commentary on the city officials and wealthy patrons he recognized. Steffan placed a bid on a case of wine but was immediately out-bid by the couple behind them in line. He grinned at Ari, shrugged, and they moved on.

Ari paused when she spied a champagne dinner for two from Club Dintero. She wouldn’t be bidding on that. Claris’s attempt to hurry them past, to skip that particular auction item, brought a frown to Ari’s face. Like she wouldn’t notice. Apparently, Claris wasn’t convinced the past was in the past.

Ari’s frown deepened. She knew she had been a little touchy on the subject of Andreas and his club. Unbidden, a series of scenes flashed through her head: strong arms holding a grief-stricken young witch; a dark figure singing on stage, the crowd captivated; the same sexy figure sipping Chianti; a forbidden kiss. Ari determinedly brushed aside such highly selective memories. Those were only the good things—and there were some not so good. She flashed a reassuring smile at Claris and turned her attention to the next item, a spa package.

As if Ari’s traitorous thoughts had conjured it, a surge of Otherworld power touched her. Vampire. And not just any vampire. Sensation raced across her skin, her witch magic singing in recognition as the air shimmered with his dark, slightly wicked energy. She whipped her head around, focused on the front entry, and there he was.

Andreas’s dark eyes captured hers from across the room. Her breath caught, and like always, that compelling swirl of power wrapped itself around her, beguiling, irresistible. She barely registered the presence of the other vampires with him. Seconds, perhaps hours or years, passed with her caught in his gaze. As suddenly as it came, the magic withdrew, leaving a void. Andreas turned away and said something to the woman at his side. His companion laid a possessive hand on his arm.

Shaken, Ari took a shallow breath. After eight months she’d thought her reaction to him would be diminished. She’d be the last one to deny Andreas De Luca was heartbreakingly attractive, despite being one of the undead. That still didn’t explain his almost paralyzing effect on her. Or her recent ho-hum attitude toward other men.

Ari’s companions turned to see what had drawn her attention. Upon catching sight of the new arrivals, Claris’s gaze darted to her friend’s face. Claris knew every detail of the shattered relationship, including the violent death that brought it to an abrupt end. Claris’s face registered instant dismay, and for some reason Ari found that irritating.

“Isn’t that Andreas? And Prince Daron?” Steffan asked, seemingly oblivious to the tension in their group. He’d met Andreas when they’d worked together on a case last fall. Steffan hadn’t known much about the stormy relationship between Ari and Andreas, and she’d never told him how badly things ended.

Ari pulled a smile from somewhere and nodded. “Yes. Everyone seems to be here tonight.” She made an effort to keep it casual and was relieved how steady her voice sounded. Nothing like how she felt. The butterflies in her stomach were beating against the walls.

“Who are the women?” Steffan’s open face was still unaware.

Up to that moment, Ari had ignored the female vamps. She’d been too busy noticing how Andreas’s Italian good looks were enhanced by his black Armani evening attire. A tempting package. She pulled her focus to the companions. “That’s Carmella with Prince Daron, but I’ve never seen the other vampiress.” Ari didn’t like her looks. Plunging neckline, skin-tight red silk. Even for a vampire, her dress was far too slinky and seductive for a charity event.

Ari could have explained that Carmella and Andreas were two of the top lieutenants in the vampire leader’s court, but she’d been sworn to secrecy. She didn’t want to find out what happened to people who broke their oath with the powerful vampire prince.

Ari had never seen Carmella and Prince Daron together in public. Was Carmella on duty? Or was she dating Prince Daron now? In Ari’s book, he was far too old for comfort, somewhere between 500 and