never heard of vampires trying to feed on any pack members, but maybe that was why not many Goliaths went into the city.
That made her pause. Was she going to be a food source while she was here?
“I thought of a use for you, by the way.” Royce didn’t look back at her, still ambling down the tunnel as though nothing had happened.
Analie cringed. That sounded so very, very wrong, particularly considering her last train of thought. “What?”
“You, my dear, are going to be one of my chefs.”
Analie stopped in her tracks. “But I don’t know anything about cooking!”
Royce’s reply was grimly amused. “You’ll learn.”
Chapter 4
“No.”
“You’re supposed to do what I say, remember?”
“No!”
Royce sighed. Analie wasn’t being cooperative, though he could understand why. Still, he was getting annoyed. “Mouse is the only one of us in the building who has an empty bedroom available. Would you rather share a room with someone? Perhaps sleep in my quarters upstairs?”
Her reaction to that last was much as he expected. The girl cringed, her gaze sliding over faint outline of shadows revealing the mute vampire’s presence. Analie hadn’t dreamt that the moniker could be so accurate when she overheard Royce mention Mouse’s name at The Underground. The depressingly thick scent of vampire was all over her and drowning out every other odor in the building, making her incredibly nervous. Even the two humans they’d passed in the hall a few minutes ago were overlaid with the cloying, musty odor of vampire. For a werewolf that relied almost entirely upon scent to judge her surrounds and the moods of those she interacted with, it was like being blind. That she was expected to share an apartment with one of the leeches was about as appealing as skinning herself and making a throw-rug out of her own fur.
The mute vampire suddenly burst into motion, and Analie yelped, skittering back a few steps to put more distance between them. Royce watched Mouse’s hands flutter for a few moments before nodding, putting out a staying hand.
“Mouse says she’s willing to accommodate you until we come up with a better solution. Look, ladies, I realize this is an unusual situation, and I certainly don’t expect you to have to befriend each other. Mouse, I promise you this is temporary. Analie, you’re not sharing a room or apartment with any of the humans, so get used to the idea that you’ll be bunking with one of my people until you’re returned to your pack.”
Rubbing a hand over her face, Analie warily looked around, enormously creeped out by being stuck in a vampire’s den with God-alone knew how many of them wandering around. She wanted to go home. She wanted to hide in the protection of her own bed, under her own covers, with a nightlight and Gavin posted at the foot for good measure. She was still in a daze of shock and wished mightily that she’d never agreed to come to New York.
“I guess I don’t really have a choice, do I?” she asked bitterly.
“No.”
Rather than argue the point, she reluctantly acquiesced. She couldn’t see the expressions on the vampires’ faces as they glanced at each other, but she was sure that the looks they shared must be mocking. She flinched, but didn’t pull away as Royce set his hand on her shoulder, guiding her once more.
The three moved deeper down the hall, coming to a halt next to the stairwell leading up to the next floor. He’d already explained the layout of the building to her. The basement led to the tunnels. The first and second floors were a myriad of apartments. The first floor was mostly vampires, enough to be able to converge on anyone in the halls that might attempt attack and keep the way clear to escape routes for those incapable of defending themselves. The second floor had another scattering of vampires, but mostly humans—live-in donors—who called it home. The entire third floor was Royce’s living quarters, and was strictly out-of-bounds unless her presence was requested.
Mouse opened the door to the last apartment before the stairwell. She and Royce entered first, leaving Analie to trail miserably behind. Once inside, Analie came to an abrupt halt, eyes widening.
She barely noticed the tiny kitchen or the minimal, comfortable furniture scattered throughout the large, open living room. All she saw was the glint of light reflecting off hundreds of blades bolted to every available wall space that wasn’t taken up by bookshelves.
“Wow,” she breathed.
Royce exchanged another glance