shake some sense into you. We both know that interbreeding never works between Vampires and other races. How long before you two have a heated argument and you crush her skull? And don’t say it can’t happen. Remember Fernando and his little Shifter companion? He was never the same after her accidental death. I heard he walked into a fire.”
Christian drummed his fingers on the table. “I’m glad to hear he finally acquired some common sense. I never did like that fanghole.”
“You could do so much better.” She lifted her glass of juice and sniffed the contents. “Her eyes are unnerving.”
That was Lenore’s indirect way of calling Raven a defect for having two different eye colors. In another time, Christian might have lost his temper. But what Lenore didn’t know was how strong Raven was, and most especially that she was also half Vampire.
He smiled obliquely at her crass remark, and that seemed to ruffle her prehistoric feathers.
Lenore set her glass back down. “Well, if I can’t talk some sense into you, the least I can do is offer you my unwavering support. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to call. The past is where it belongs, but now that we’re both in powerful positions, we can help each other.”
“Why don’t you help me understand what it is you’re doing here at the arse crack of dawn? And don’t be telling me fibs about booking an appointment with Claude. There’s an invention called a telephone.”
“I prefer face-to-face meetings. Besides, I’ve learned that early morning is the time of day that someone is least likely to be busy with work.”
Lenore’s skin looked so radiant—so flawless. The gentle blush on her cheeks drew attention to her pink lips. She was never a woman who needed makeup to enhance her beauty. Her delicate features bewitched men, from her stunning black eyes to her sylphlike body. Even in a floral dress, Lenore exuded sensuality. As Christian stared at her sharp chin and slender neck, he wondered how he could have ever been attracted to such an overly feminine woman. While naturally powerful, Lenore had no muscle tone. Her vanilla features were bereft of genuine emotion. And most of all, her eyes were unremarkable and hollow. Christian could spend hours searching Raven’s eyes, and he understood her better than she understood herself. She was direct, if not blunt, but he had grown to appreciate her unambiguous personality.
“What I wouldn’t do for a drop of your blood,” Lenore said quietly.
That was Vampire speak for “penny for your thoughts.”
Christian slowly rose from the table, his fingertips pressed against it. “If you don’t mind, I need a shower.”
Lenore got up and circled the table faster than he could track. When he turned to leave, she captured his wrist. “I want us to be friends again.”
“Friends? Is that what you thought of me? A fine thing you did for a friend.”
“How many times will we have this discussion? If you know what’s good for you, you’ll move on. Grudges are for the weak.”
“When you’ve spent a decade underground, you can tell me all about moving on.” He tried to break her grip, but it was iron.
“You and I are both in key positions,” she said quietly. “It would serve Keystone to have me as an ally. I can help you in ways that other higher authority members can’t. And why? Because I trust you. I know you would never betray me by telling anyone my secrets, now would you?”
Christian averted his eyes when her gaze intensified. She wanted to know if he’d told anyone about her, and the only two people he might have told were Viktor and Raven.
“And what if I have?”
She tilted her head to the side. “I know you’re smarter than that. Do you want to invite turmoil into your life? Do you want to be held accountable for all those senseless deaths?”
His fangs punched out. “Are you threatening me?”
“It’s a fact. If you seek to ruin me, you’ll only ruin yourself.” She cupped his cheek in her hand. “There’s no statute of limitations for high crimes against humans. Or Breed for that matter. As far as I’m concerned, you served your time in that coffin. I want to protect you. I taught you to lead with your mind and not with your heart. You cannot tell people about your past,” she said, putting pressure on his wrist. “You may think you love this woman now, but will it last a hundred years? Five hundred?