all of that. He said nothing, and his inhuman gaze never wavered.
You were born to be this.
Gavin was the first to greet her and smooth over any rough edges. “Tenzin, we didn’t realize you’d arrived in town already.”
“I wasn’t expecting to be here until tomorrow night.” She glanced at Radu. “My apologies for confusing your human.”
The confusion was completely part of the plan. She hadn’t wanted to give Benjamin time to prepare. She needed to see his genuine reaction to being in proximity to her, and she’d been successful.
“No apology necessary.” Radu sat and motioned Chloe, Gavin, and Ben to the other side of the booth. “I was making the acquaintance of your notorious partner, Mr. Vecchio.” Radu glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “Such a fearsome reputation for such a delightful guest.”
Why Radu was acting like he and Tenzin had never met before, she didn’t know, but she decided not to challenge him in front of the others.
He was a disarming vampire, and that was the intention. Radu was a handsome man who’d been turned in the prime of his adult life. Not young enough to be a playboy and not old enough to be a mentor. He could be your friend, your partner, the one who had your best interests at heart. He was very good at his persona, mostly because Tenzin recognized that part of Radu actually believed it.
Ben finally spoke. “Tenzin likes to take people off guard.”
“Yes, I do.”
Radu laughed. “What do the Americans say, Mr. Vecchio? Mission accomplished?”
“Please call me Ben.” He leaned back in the booth, cool and smooth as ice water. “Mr. Vecchio is my uncle.”
Ben’s immortal grace was lethal, confident, and as natural for him as breathing.
You are so stunning.
She didn’t say it. He wouldn’t appreciate it—certainly not among vampires he didn’t know—but he was.
Tenzin felt her blood sing in his presence and wondered if Ben felt anything similar. Probably not. He was young and was likely flooded with far more sensation than she was. The sounds, scents, and sights of the club were meant to be overwhelming, and she could see that he was affected.
For Tenzin, the pulsing music and heavy scent of cedarwood and vetiver in Radu’s cologne barely registered. Their host’s power, carefully concealed as Gavin’s was, simmered beside her while Ben’s amnis was a roaring, incandescent flame. The fact that he did nothing to mute it marked him as a newborn, but one whom no one would confront rashly.
“Welcome to Bucharest, Ben.” Their host put his hand over his heart. “Thank you so much for coming from such a distance. I am honored that you and Tenzin would consider this little personal item of mine worthy of your notice. I know you are very busy.”
Flattery was Radu’s forte and his favorite tactic, but Tenzin wasn’t taken in. “Radu, this is our human assistant, Chloe.” She motioned in Chloe’s direction. “You cut your hair since the last time I saw you.”
She smiled. “So did you.”
Ben was sitting on the edge of the booth, staring at her openly. “New dress?”
Tenzin looked down at the dark red dress Arthur had made for her the previous month. It had nearly nowhere to put weapons, but her favorite tailor had managed to sneak at least one dagger in, which was difficult with the dress being very tight and very short.
“Yes. Do you like it?”
Ben stared at her. “Stunning.”
“I’ve ordered a bottle of ţuică,” Radu said. “It’s traditional here. My day manager’s mother makes it.” He turned to Chloe. “Don’t buy the bottles they sell at the market. They’re no good. The best ţuică must be made in the home.”
Chloe nodded. “I’ve heard that.”
The waitress brought a tray with a gold-trimmed decanter and five small glasses. She poured for the table and passed the drinks around.
“To our health.” Radu raised his glass. “Noroc!”
“Noroc,” they all repeated.
Chloe let out a hard breath, but Ben didn’t even flinch when he finished his shot of the overwhelmingly strong liquor.
Tenzin knew that with him being a newborn, Ben’s sense of taste would probably be blind for days after a drink that heavy, but Ben was savvy enough to know flinching wasn’t an option.
He stood and slid one hand in his pocket. “Radu, I hope you don’t mind, but can I steal Tenzin away for a dance?”
Radu grinned. “Of course!” He tapped his temple. “When partners have been separated, they must confer on strategy no doubt.”
Ben said nothing, but he smiled calmly as Radu slid out