The Reluctant Vampire Page 0,13

root name,"

Harper said, sounding like a schoolteacher. "As each branch of the family spread out to different areas of the world, the name changed to fit the language of that area. Argenis in Spain, Argeneau in France, Argent in England, and so on."

Stephanie peered at Harper curiously. "So what's the root name?"

"I believe it was Argentum, which means silver in La n," Harper said solemnly. "It was because their eyes are silver-blue."

"They named people for their eye color?" Stephanie asked with disbelief.

Harper chuckled at her expression. "Back then they didn't really have last names. They were mostly first names and then descriptors, like John the barber, or Jack the butcher, or Harold the brave and so on."

"So it was Lucian the silver?" she asked dubiously.

"Something like that," Harper said with a shrug.

"Hmm." Stephanie swung around to peer at Drina. "And you're a rogue hunter in Spain?"

Drina nodded.

"Is it different than being a rogue hunter here?"

Drina raised her eyebrows. "I don't know. It doesn't appear to be so far."

"They have different laws in Europe," Harper put in quietly.

"Like what?" Stephanie asked, turning back to him.

"Bi ng mortals is not outlawed there," Drina answered s ffly when Harper hesitated. She knew that was the reason for the hesita on. It was a bit of an issue between the North American council and the European one.

"You can bite people over there?" Stephanie frowned. "So Leonius wouldn't be rogue in Europe?"

"I said bite, not kill or turn. Trust me, Leonius would be rogue anywhere," she said dryly, and then sighed.

"So long as they are discreet and don't unduly harm the mortal, immortals can bite mortals in Europe. Although," she added firmly, "while they haven't yet outlawed it, it is somewhat frowned upon by most, and the majority of immortals stick mainly to bagged blood."

"Have you bitten mortals?" Stephanie asked curiously.

"Of course," she said stiffly. "I was born long before there were blood banks."

"But since blood banks, have you bitten them?" Stephanie persisted.

Drina grimaced, but reluctantly admitted, "Only consenting adults."

Stephanie's eyes widened, and she squealed, "She means during sex."

Drina blinked. That hadn't been what she'd meant at all. She'd been thinking of the occasional formal dinners at the homes of council higher-ups, which some mes included willing bitees for the guests to feed on. It was something she wasn't very comfortable with anymore but was expected to par cipate in when forced to a end . . . and Stephanie should know that. She could read her mind. And she'd read it earlier, so knew it had been eons since she'd bothered with sex. Drina eyed Stephanie quizzically, wondering what the girl was up to.

"I don't know why everyone thinks it's so hot to get naked and sweaty and sink their teeth into each other," Stephanie was saying with disgust, and then she glanced at Harper, and said, "I mean, imagine you were alone with Drina ge ng busy. You're both naked and hot and she crawls onto your lap, her naked boobs jiggling in your face . . . Would you really want to plunge your fangs into them?"

"Er . . ."

Drina swung her gaze to the rearview mirror to see that Harper looked quite overset. His face was flushed, his eyes glazed, and then he suddenly swung the steering wheel and brought the car to a halt with a jerk.

"We're here," Harper choked out, prac cally throwing himself out of the vehicle and slamming the door with a resounding thud.

"You little devil," Drina muttered watching Harper stagger toward the store.

"Yeah, I'm good," Stephanie said with a grin. "Now he's thinking of having sex with you."

Drina turned her gaze to the girl, eyeing her thoughtfully. "You're kind of evil."

Stephanie took it as a compliment and grinned as she got out of the car.

Chapter Three

Harper stepped through Wal-Mart's sliding doors, and then paused as Stephanie sped past him to pull a cart from a small collec on of them wai ng directly ahead. Shi ing uncomfortably, he glanced around, his gaze barely touching on Drina before it slipped away. "I can probably find something to entertain myself with in the video department if you girls would rather shop without me trailing you around."

"Oh, no," Stephanie protested. "It won't be as much fun without you, Harper. Besides, a guy's opinion is always vital when it comes to fashion."

"Vital, huh?" he said with a faint smile.

"Very vital. My dad always said no woman can tell another woman what looks best on her, only a man can,"