an enigma—one who’s not only protected by Lucius and Selene, she’s now mated to Dexter Van Sussex, a vampire nearly as old as Lucius, and far more wealthy. Dexter recently opened a hotel and casino resort here in Tucson, the Sunwolf Valley Resort, because he aged out of Atlantic Beach. He works with us, though, giving vampires jobs and funneling tourists to Club Toxic, as well as providing shifters with jobs and even emergency housing, in some cases, when they’ve needed to be relocated due to some crisis. It’s become a sort of neutral ground.
Meaning Dexter also has an unusually close working relationship with the Tucson wolf shifters. I suppose if Lucius is comfortable with that alliance then I should be, as well. Yet it’s another unsettling development, in some ways.
I mean, certainly I’m happy we’re not killing each other and drawing the unwanted attention of law enforcement after uncounted centuries spent fighting with and running from shifters.
But shifters are dangerous, and not just because they’re day walkers who despise vampires. Most of them, especially the wolves, are natural hunters with noses to match. We are sitting ducks in the daytime.
Blue, however, has never had trouble moving among shifters.
I pull out my phone, tap in a reminder to follow up with Dexter, and show Blue the screen. “There. Better?”
From her sly smile, I know I’m forgiven. “Yes, better. Feel free to assume a plus-one is invited, too.” Her sing-song tone is unmistakable.
I slide my phone back into my pocket. “I would, if there were one in my life.”
“You’re still single?”
“My life is uncomplicated and I prefer it to remain so.”
Which is a lie, but she doesn’t need to know that.
She scowls, a deep furrow creasing her brow. “You’re lonely. There’s no shame in admitting it, Tiberius.”
Dammit. “I’ve been alive a long time, Blue. If I wasn’t used to living alone, I wouldn’t have made it this long.”
She gives me ‘the look.’ I shouldn’t have to explain that look to you if you’re paying attention. You know exactly what look I mean. One eyebrow arched, the other eye narrowed. A sort of half-smirk quirking her lips.
“If you say so,” she says.
Meaning, of course, that she doesn’t believe me.
Hell, I don’t even believe me. Why should she?
“Anything I need to know about tonight?” I ask. I wasn’t here last night.
“Not that I’m aware of. Like I said, I’m not hanging around long.” She smiles. “Nothing bad on the horizon that I’m aware of, if you meant the bigger picture.”
I smooth my tie. “I don’t like being caught unawares. With Lucius out of town, I don’t want anyone thinking they can try something.”
“With Theophilus and the rest of you keeping an eye on things, I doubt there will be any problems. And if there are, you can count on me and Dexter stepping in to help, too.”
“And the shifters?”
“You know they will. They honor the treaty with Lucius. Honoring that treaty makes everyone’s lives run more smoothly. And profitably.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “Look, they just want to live their lives.”
“They hate us.”
“Uh, vampires haven’t exactly been friendly to them over the years, but they’re trying.”
“I know. It galls me to admit that.”
She giggles. “I can tell.” She pats me on the arm. “It’ll be fine, big guy.” She gathers her purse. “It’s only a week until Samhain.” She says it in the proper way, sow-wen, not like most people say it these days.
“Eight days,” I correct. “And I didn’t know you observed the old holidays.”
“We all have our mysteries.” With that she departs, still moving eerily fast and silent for a supposed human.
I wonder what her true story is, even though I’d never dare ask Lucius, or anyone else.
Perhaps, one day, I’ll work up the courage to ask her myself.
I’m about to follow her downstairs when I hear someone else punch their code into the keypad at the base of the stairs. I sense the blur from the rush of air, and from his scent, I know it’s Theophilus before he even makes it upstairs.
“Tiberius. New ride, I take it?” He passes me and sets his laptop bag on the desk he frequently uses. He’s the club’s manager and handles day-to-day matters, whether or not Lucius is in town.
“Picked it up yesterday. Like it?”
“Is that how you spent your day off?”
“Yes. What do you think?”
He shrugs. “Interesting color. I thought you usually went for black or dark grey.” He gives me a pointed up-and-down glance.