see you harmed.” She grieved their time was over. “This has been wonderful. It truly has. But my business here this evening is dangerous—very dangerous. Heed my warning and go, please, before you are caught in the middle of it. The last thing I want is…” She sighed and shook her head at her useless attempts to explain herself. “You have been very kind to me. Very few people have paid me the attention that you have this night. Genuine or ingenuine as it may be, I thank you.”
About twenty expression fought across his face, each one vying for supremacy. It flickered between surprise, incredulousness, amusement, and several others she could not name. Where it landed was where she had not expected—a gentleness that could have been mistaken for affection. “Of course. I cannot argue with that.” He took a step back and bowed. “I hope to meet you again, Miss Parker. I hope you escape your danger safely.”
“Thank you.” She smiled sadly. It never would have worked between them. She was not fit for a normal life. She was not fit for companionship. He seemed intrigued by her unabashed nature and did not seem to find her too eerie or unsettling to be near. She had appreciated that he had been happy and ready to debate with her, an action seen by most as unseemly for women. But he had no place in her world. What kind of relationship could they have, where they could never touch?
He turned to walk down the stairs toward the entrance. That was enough of an indication to her that he was heeding her warning and leaving the party. The vampire would ignore him, she was certain. Mr. Harker was simply another guest to them. Knowing he was safe, she walked back into the ballroom to find Bella.
She found her by the wall, swooning in the presence of the beautiful, amethyst-eyed gentleman. “I hate to interrupt.”
Bella blinked, as though she was waking from a dream, and looked to her. “Hum?”
“They’re here. One of them is, at any rate.”
Bella sighed and looked more than a little disappointed. She looked up to the young man and smiled. “I am sorry, but I must go. You should leave. Things are about to get…uh…messy.”
The gentleman didn’t seem quite sure what to say to that. “Will I see you again?”
“I can only hope so.” Bella reached for his hand and took it. “This has been wonderful, Mordecai.”
“The feeling is mutual.” He smiled and picked up her hand to place a kiss on the back of her knuckles—a slow one.
Maxine looked away for the sake of propriety and cleared her throat.
“Goodbye for now, then.” The gentleman finally took his leave. Bella was smiling, and it was clear she was besotted with the man.
She was also watching the man’s rear as he walked away from them.
“Bella, please focus.”
“Oh. Yes. Sorry.” She shook her head and turned to face her. “So, you say a vampire has—” She broke off and her eyes went wide. “Oh.”
“Greetings, Miss Parker. Miss Corallo. I hope the evening finds you well.”
Maxine turned about to look at who had interrupted them. The tall, red-haired vampire, who was looking down at her with matching crimson eyes, the same hue as those Dracula owned. Good glory, if there were ever a creature on the face of the planet that might wear a sign about his neck that read “Hello, I am a vampire,” it truly was him. He was uncanny by his very nature. The room quieted at his passing. It was as though the others could sense something was awry. She hadn’t figured there were two men like Vlad Dracula, but here she was with proof.
She pulled the revolver from her purse and leveled it at his head, pulling back the hammer. The crowd nearby gasped and retreated quickly from them.
Good. She did not want anyone caught in the crossfire.
The vampire did not flinch.
“What has he sent you to do? This Vampire King of yours? Kill me?” She kept the defiance strong in her voice.
“Were it so simple.” The man’s expression was stoic and empty, but she felt an ounce of annoyance and regret in him all the same. “I am afraid not.” He bowed his head in greeting. “I am Walter Northway. I am to take you to my Master. Please come with me quietly.”
“I think not. And what of her?” She motioned her head at Bella without lowering her gun or taking her eyes off the vampire.
Walter