harp and a cel o, and the performers played lightly, providing pleasant background music.
Caitlin surveyed the group, and there were so many faces she didn’t recognize. But there were several that she did.
She spotted Sam, sitting way too close to Kendra, who leaned into his shoulder as he fed her chocolate-covered strawberries.
As she scanned further, she saw Blake sitting at the far end, and beside him, a beautiful, tal blonde girl. Caitlin could sense that she was human, and seeing Blake together with her, and seeing the two of them so happy, felt like a smal dagger in her heart.
She immediately looked away, trying to focus on anyone else. She saw the twins, Taylor and Tyler, and then, to her relief, she saw Lily. That was the only face that set her at ease. She was even happier to see that there was an empty seat beside her. Caitlin hurried over, Pol y at her side.
“Mind if we join you?” she asked Lily.
Lily looked up, and her eyes opened wide in delight.
“Who else do you think I saved it for?” Lily asked with a smile.
Caitlin sat beside Lily, and Pol y sat on Caitlin’s other side.
Caitlin tried not to look in Blake’s direction. She turned her head the other way, and saw Sam and Kendra. But seeing those two so enmeshed upset her, too, so she looked away from that end of the table. She fidgeted, not knowing where to look, already impatient to leave.
“Where is he?” Caitlin asked Pol y, as she scanned the table for Pol y’s new boyfriend. She was eager to meet him, to see what al the talk was about—and then, to leave. She had been surprised not to find him at the door, waiting to greet Pol y and bring her to her seat, as the other men did.
“He’s performing tonight,” Pol y said with great pride, “so he won’t be joining us at the feast.
He always needs to prepare before his performances. He needs time alone. Backstage. That’s because he’s a very great artist.”
Caitlin looked at Pol y, and wondered if she were serious.
She was. She had never seen her so smitten by a guy, and she worried for her once again. Everything she said about this guy gave Caitlin the creeps, made her feel as if something was off about him. He sounded so vain, so megalomaniacal. Caitlin could care less that he was performing—she stil thought that he should have greeted Pol y and escorted her to the table, and dined with her, especial y since Pol y was so enthusiastic about him.
Caitlin once again felt moved to tel Pol y exactly what she thought—but, reluctantly, she bit her tongue. She didn’t want to get involved and ruin her good time, especial y since she didn’t think it would do much good. At the very least, she’d wait until she met him first.
Several servants appeared, placing dish after dish on Caitlin’s plate, and fil ing her glass with a thick, red liquid.
Caitlin felt herself getting hungry as she saw what was in the glass: blood. She held it up, and realized that this blood was an even lighter shade of red than any she had seen.
“It’s refined,” Lily explained.
Caitlin looked at her.
“They take al the impurities out of it,” Lily continued. “It’s supposed to be healthier for your kind. Remember, this is Versail es: everything is extravagant here.”
Caitlin tasted it, and was surprised at how much lighter it was, and how it went down so much more smoothly. She was also surprised by the immediate kick she got, and by how she felt so rejuvenated so quickly. Whatever it was they did to it, this blood was definitely of a greater quality.
Caitlin took a piece of raw meat off of her plate, reached down, and slipped it to Ruth, who was hiding beneath her legs. Ruth jumped up and snatched it from her fingers, and happily gulped it down. She looked up at Caitlin, ready for more, and Caitlin slipped her another piece.
Caitlin looked around the table and could see that there was a large mix of vampires and humans here. There was a lot of interaction between the two, and the relationship felt very harmonious.
“Quite a scene, isn’t it?” Lily asked.
Caitlin nodded back. Everyone seemed happily engrossed in chatter, and light laughter spread throughout the table.
“I envy your life,” Lily said. “Our royal life is one of forced idleness. This. Al the time. I’d rather be out there, sparring, traveling,