was ravenous, and Maxine realized the hunters might not get a chance to eat regularly.
“And what of Eddie?” she asked as they took up their post by the window in the ballroom. It was out of the main path of the guests—which was fine for Maxine, since there were a lot of guests—and secluded enough that she could watch and not be watched.
“He’s sweet. He’ll stop the horses to help a turtle cross the road. He’s funny, silly, and compassionate.” Bella smiled faintly. But there was a kind of remorse to her expression. A fashion of regret.
Ah. The love Eddie felt for her was not requited. Poor boy. She opted not to bring up what she knew. It would only rub salt in the wound. “How long have you traveled together?”
“I’ve been with Alfonzo since I was ten. Nine years, then. Eddie joined us about four years back. Alfonso has practically raised me. We both owe everything to him.”
“I suppose it makes it easy to lay down your lives for a cause that has defined it.” Maxine sipped her wine again. It was good and clearly very expensive. Far more so than anything she would ever purchase. She tried to enjoy it as much as she could, all things considered.
“That is true. But what of you? You have taken this all remarkably in stride.”
“Everything I touch—every bauble, every knickknack, every building, I see all that has ever happened to it or within it. I see every proposal, every kiss, every moment of love. I see every tragedy, every betrayal…and every murder. I have witnessed a thousand deaths as if they were my own.” She looked down at her gloved palm. “I felt their emotions as they died, and because of that…I have died a thousand different ways. I suppose that is why I don’t fear it. That is why some people might even think I embrace it. I have felt the soul of this Count Dracula, and I know what is coming for me. I know I cannot fight a force of nature.”
“My God, Maxine, I am so sorry.” Bella reached out to touch her but changed her mind and dropped her hand. Either out of respect for Maxine’s discomfort of such things, or nervousness of her own. She wasn’t quite sure. “We will fight it together. We will prevail.”
I wish I had your faith. I wish I had your hope. She kept those words silent. Crushing the dreams of another was a needless cruelty. “Thank you.”
“Do you have your revolver?” Bella had asked her that question at least ten times so far.
Maxine smiled and nodded once. She knew it came out of a place of concern for bringing someone untrained and untested into a situation where a fight would likely occur. “It’s been many years since I had cause to use one, but the Roma were keen on all their children being trained for self-defense and hunting. I know which end to point at a thing I wish to die, though I am no marksman.”
“I hope it does not come to that.”
“I get the sensation that hope matters for little in moments like these.”
Bella chuckled in response.
Looking out at the crowd, Maxine wondered how many of the guests were human and how many of them were not. It was hard to separate out the emotions in large groups. It all just turned into noise. It was another reason she avoided events such as these. “Are vampires able to hide in a crowd?”
“Some can, yes. Vampires are quite like people in that their powers and gifts manifest differently. Some can blend in seamlessly with humanity, while others are grotesque things that would clear a room at the very sight of them.” Bella leaned back against the window frame, watching the crowd. “I do not see any I might suspect, though. Do you?”
“No. Although they all are muddled together, I admit.”
“Arthur said the Count was not yet here. Perhaps he and his prefer to be fashionably late.” Bella sighed. “How inconsiderate.”
Maxine laughed. “Of all things they could be, I would prefer them to remain only inconsiderate.”
Bella laughed as well, and they fell into companionable silence. It was a few minutes later that a young man approached them. Maxine blinked. The man was…beautiful. There was no way around it. He had sharp features that were both masculine and also a little delicate. His blond hair was swept back, although a few strands had fallen loose, giving him a rakish air.
Eyes that were