the darkness, and several brawls filled her mind. She heard the crack of bone and the echo of gunfire. Shaking herself from the imagery, she shuddered. She had no desire to meet anything like the creatures she glimpsed from them.
Now she was doubly glad she had made food for the hunters. They had earned it. “Why is the world not overrun by such things, then? I assume vampires feed regularly.”
“They do. The simple reason we’re not swarmed by ghouls is that they’re careful about who they kill and how they do it. They have strict rules about their conduct.” Alfonzo sipped his glass.
“How thoughtful,” she replied dryly as she made herself a plate of food and sat to eat. “They can feed without killing, then?”
“That is how they prefer to exist. They either take quietly from their victims, or they convince others to live in their thrall as slaves. As…pets.” Alfonzo grimaced. “Some will even trick their mortals into thinking they are valued. It is all a lie.”
Maxine shook her head and looked down at her food, finding it all very hard to believe. But after her shared vision with the Vampire King, there was little she would not now take on word alone. “I talked with him last night in a vision.”
A clatter of silverware. Bella had dropped her fork onto the porcelain surface, scattering a few lettuce leaves and some tomatoes across the plate. The two men were looking at her in surprise. Bella was staring at her as though she had said she had spoken to God in person and now knew the meaning of life.
“I learned very little. Shockingly little, in fact. But these things must be done slowly. It was first introductions at the negotiating table, nothing more. We have agreed that neither of us is to lie to the other, as we are seemingly incapable of doing so.”
“Huh! Well, that’s progress.” Bella was smiling broadly. “What else?”
She recalled her conversation for them, leaving out his flirtatious comments and the kiss. It was too personal, and far too confusing, to try to explain. In truth, it was also exceedingly embarrassing. “He said he wishes to meet me in person, and that he would do it soon.”
“Interesting.” Alfonzo rubbed his hand along his stubble. He had clearly not shaved that morning. It honestly looked as though none of them had slept. “Very interesting.”
She watched him thoughtfully for a moment before speaking. “You are considering using me as bait.”
“I—no, I—” Alfonzo stammered and looked away. The poor bastard.
“Lies don’t work on me, remember.”
He sighed heavily and lowered his head. “Yes, fine. It was running through my mind.”
She paused and drank her glass of wine and poured herself a second. “It is a good plan.”
“What?” All three hunters said at once as they looked at her.
“I have sparked his curiosity. I do not think he is one to pass on things that amuse him. I think very little entertains him, indeed. Whatever—or whoever—finds themselves owning such a dubious distinction is a valuable commodity.” She looked down into her glass thoughtfully, watching the midday sun glimmer off the surface. “It must be terribly boring to be immortal. He will come for me, regardless of whether or not I am bait.” She remembered the ghost of a kiss against her lips. She shivered. The gesture was likely mistaken by the hunters as sheer horror. In truth, it was far more complicated than that. “I think he means to make me his prey. My conversation with him yesterday sealed my fate. My death is now inevitable. I would prefer that if I am to die, it be for a noble cause.”
Alfonzo nodded. The look on his face was one of a man sending a soldier out onto the field, knowing he is not to return, but knowing the line must be held. “You are a brave woman, Miss Parker.”
“No. I merely understand that death is what waits for us all. I have seen enough of it to know. I think you have as well, Alfonzo.” She sipped her wine and put it back down, opting to pick up some cheese and a cracker from her plate.
“Indeed, I have.”
Maxine shut her eyes and took a moment to steel herself. She took a breath and let it out slowly. “So.” She looked to Alfonzo. “You have the bait. What is the trap?”
Vlad stood on the roof of the building, looking out at the city beneath him. The sun had set, and his red