"Wow. This Ian must be a genius with chemistry." Penny looked really interested.
"He is. You'd probably love him. I think I already mentioned that." I really didn't want her meeting the man. We needed to head Ian off at the pass.
"Have you tried it? Are you sure it works and isn't just an urban legend?" Penny was up now too, on my heels as I paced.
"Yes, I've tried it." I grabbed her. "Stop following me. The drug worked for a little while. It costs the earth. I can't afford it on what the shop makes so I put it out of my mind. Rich vamps can blow their money on a few minutes of daylight but I won't."
"So your boyfriend paid for it." Penny's eyes were shining, and I again got the feeling that her wheels were turning. That giant brain was trying to figure out what Ian had done to let vamps see daylight.
"Yes, one of them did. Think about it, Penny. After four hundred years, seeing the sun again can be a big deal, worth whatever the price if you've got it." I sighed. Might as well spill all the beans. "Ian's got a weight-loss drug too. I tried it. It worked. Actually got me down to a size six."
"No way." Penny was riveted, eyes wide, her hands on my arms.
"Oh, yes." I looked at her hands and she let me go. "But it was temporary. Also expensive and Ray picked up the tab for that one." I made a face. "Ian's a businessman, in it for the money. Which I get. But he's also a genius and dangerous as hell. He surrounds himself with bodyguards and he's a vampire with lots of weapons at his disposal. Not someone I'd like to see you mess with."
"Sounds fascinating." Penny grinned at Nathan.
I grabbed Penny by the shoulders and looked her dead in the eyes. "Stay the hell away from him."
"Make me." Penny jerked free, snatched up her cat, who'd finally come out from under the bed, and ran for her bedroom.
I flopped on the couch next to Nate. "You see what I'm up against?"
"Wait till you see what Ray's doing. Penny's just a kid acting out." Nate looked tired and worried. "Come tomorrow night. Last performance before the band breaks for vacation. A venue out at Zilker Park. General admission. I really didn't want them to do it but Ray insisted. He likes Austin. Plans to stay here to cut the album so he wanted to give back." Nate shook his head. "Ticket prices were ridiculously cheap. It'll be a mob scene."
"I'll be there, though I'm not sure what I can do to help." I leaned back and glanced toward where I could hear scratching at Penny's bedroom door. Obviously Boogie wasn't happy being shut in. "Sometimes people need to make their own mistakes."
"Thanks, Glory. If there's anything I can do for you, just let me know." Nate yawned, obviously exhausted.
I leaned against him and inhaled, telling myself I was never going to drink from this mortal no matter how delicious he smelled. I got up, grabbed my bottle of synthetic and chugged it.
"Just leave before you become my late-night snack." I pulled him up and walked him to the door.
Nate grinned and kissed my cheek. "You wouldn't. Though you're more than welcome. Have to tell you though." He lost his grin and shuddered. "The truth is, I knew Ray was losing it when he threw me down and drank from me last night." He winced when I gripped his hand and let my horror show. "Yep, his best bud. Luckily one of the shifters I'd hired to watch him ran in and wrestled him off me or I'd be dead, drained dry." Tears sheened his dark eyes. "I had to be driven to the hospital for a transfusion, Glory. I was that far gone. We had a hell of a time arranging that too. Fortunately, I know a doctor . . ." He shrugged, trying to go for casual, and failing. "I'm scared, Glory. For Ray, for our friendship. This time he went too far."
"Oh, Nate. I'm so sorry." I pulled him into my arms and just held him. Ray had crossed a line and I was wondering if he could be pulled back. If the council got wind of this, they'd take a hard look at Ray. Because he was an inch away from going rogue. I shuddered. And