Vampire Debt - Supernatural Battle (Vampire Towers #2) - Kelly St. Clare Page 0,62
you so much,” I replied, hand out for his shirt. “What about Prince Germ?”
Rory and Neelan strode in through the west archway.
Neelan blurred to me. “You need a shirt? I’d be happy to lend you mine.”
His hazel eyes gleamed with challenge, and then I was certain. He hadn’t just opened his mouth to blab about me and Kyros. This whole thing was his turn to fuck with me. The siblings were playing a game with their eldest brother, and they’d decided to toy with me to get to Kyros.
Neelan had endangered my life.
I met his blue gaze. “You’ve gone too far, Neelan.”
His almond-shaped eyes flickered.
“You knew that already,” I added softly. “Give me your shirt.”
His black brows snapped together, and I smiled sweetly at him.
Rory stepped around his brother, drawing me into his arms. “Darling, why cover up? You look absolutely ravishing. It drives the imagination wild. Why, I could just bend you over and slide back that little bit of white material. Imagine the view.”
“Imagine my fist down your throat, Rory,” I answered.
“I’ve thought of nothing but our clandestine night together. Our secret dance,” he purred in my ear.
I dodged under his arm. “You mean in the brief moments you’re not thinking about yourself?”
Gerome grinned.
“Darling, there’s only you. Rory Senrite and Basilia Le Spyre. I can see the headlines now.”
Oh, brother. He was fucking persistent. I couldn’t help laughing.
Neelan’s gym singlet smacked into my face.
I peeled it off, sniffing. “Yuck, did you work out in this thing?”
“It’s my natural musk.”
“Gross,” I muttered.
Beggars couldn’t be choosers. I shrugged it on and stared down. “Why do guys wear tops that show their nipples? I just don’t understand it—do you think females enjoy the peep show? Because we don’t. It’s the burlesque show no one wanted tickets to. I mean, sure, show some lat and pec, but keep the nipples under wraps unless your entire top is off or you’re capable of breastfeeding.”
Neelan glowered.
“Does my criticism of your fashion choices hurt your little ol’ feelings?”
“You talk too much. Too freely. My brother needs to take you in hand.”
Wish he would.
Damn… Potentially still hot and bothered by our car frenzy.
“Miss Le Spyre, might I escort you to my father?”
I spotted Lionel halfway up the stairs on the opposite end of the courtyard. I couldn’t see the top of the steps—which was pretty imposing. Really imposing. Was King Julius crushing a big-ass throne between his buttocks at the top?
“Lionel.” I greeted the only sane brother. “Of course you can.”
He smiled and held out an arm. I took it as though I wasn’t dressed in two scraps of material and a stinking gym singlet.
“How are you today?” he inquired.
My heart rocketed higher with each upward step. I cut him a wry glance. “It started off great and has steadily worsened.”
“I hope I’m not part of the problem?”
Oh, he was. And an absolute charmer. “I reserve judgement until you try to make my life a living hell as well.”
“Who said I was planning anything?”
Uh-huh.
We reached the top, and I drew in a long breath, trying to settle my heartbeat. I peered back the way we came, jolting at the sight of the other siblings standing in a row across the top stair behind us.
Safina spoke, “You haven’t judged Lionel yet. What’s your judgement of me?”
I replied without thinking. “Badass bitch.”
“Me?” Lalitta asked, cheeks pinkening.
“The sweetest person to ever live.”
“What about me?” Rory asked.
I lifted a shoulder. “Bit bland.”
The siblings broke into loud laughter.
“Bland? Take it back,” he demanded.
“Nope.”
Cocking an ear, Lionel directed me forward. I turned back to glimpse the rest of Kyros’s siblings falling into two lines behind me in order from eldest to youngest. Had they seen The Sound of Music because they were emulating it to perfection? Which meant King Julius was the scary-as-fuck Mr Von Trapp.
My grip on Lionel’s arm tightened, and he used his free hand to squeeze mine, thankfully not making an issue of my sweaty palms.
Heated voices rose from the closed room before us.
I cut Neelan a look over my shoulder. The worried crease of his brow cleared the moment he spotted my perusal. If his game screwed things for me and hurt the people I loved, I would end him.
The vampire’s gaze hardened. He didn’t look worried one bit.
Lionel took my hand as we stopped in front of black wood doors. Lalitta dodged forward to plant a kiss on my cheek.