Vampire Debt - Supernatural Battle (Vampire Towers #2) - Kelly St. Clare Page 0,73
out restricted terms in a human crowd as long as a vampire was with me?
Somehow I strongly doubted it.
She cocked her head, sliding her dark gaze to me. “It’s a shame we’re on different sides. These parties would be far less dull.”
Studying the almond shape of her hazel eyes, I answered. “I promise to attend these things if you do.”
Gina smiled in a flash of teeth that transformed her face from maleficent to snow white. “I don’t like the vagueness of that. Pass your phone. I’ll put in my number.”
Uhm, that was a whole new level of seriousness that could get my butt kicked by King Julius.
Her attention was elsewhere. Following her glance to Rory, I scanned his furious expression.
That was a resounding don’t fucking do it, Basilia. Taking her number with Rory as a witness felt less secretive though.
I pulled out my phone from my dress pocket—a demand I made of my tailors so I didn’t have to carry a clutch. “You’re on.”
She rattled in her number and passed it back. “I sent myself a message so I have your number.”
I’d ask Daniel to do regular checks on my phone security.
“I need to speak to the boring humans now.” Gina circled her shoulders a few times.
I watched her warm-up routine. “Talk to them or fight them?”
“Depends. I’m talking to Harriet Gregorian first.”
Tossing back my champers, I set it on a passing tray. “I won’t complain if you rearrange her face. She stole my favourite Barbie when I was seven.”
Gina surveyed Harriet over the rim of her untouched drink. “Yes. She has a rampant petty theft problem. It makes her very easy to blackmail.”
Clan Fyrlia didn’t play by human law, but such a casual admission shocked me. Then again, with Harriet Gregorian, caring was hard.
“Go get ’em, tiger,” I said lamely.
Gina didn’t get far. She turned back to survey me in heavy silence.
I lifted my brows. “Something on my face?”
“Not a hair out of place,” she said breezily. “But if I were you, I’d ride to the tower with Rory after the ball. You may avoid three problems.”
Strong arms wrapped around me from behind.
A hand slipped into my pocket, drawing out my phone. I let Rory have it, not breaking in my conversation with the mid-fifties founder of NJB. She dragged her shocked gaze from the vampire and back to me.
Kyros’s brother wouldn’t find anything on there. Messages automatically scrubbed from the SIM and I had important contacts under bland names. I’d already changed Gina’s name to Stanley Yelnats.
He slipped my phone back into my pocket a moment later.
“Darling, you have my number now.” His breath was hot on my ear.
I extended my hand to Ms Cryt, a widow with a business mind. “A pleasure to meet you, Ms Cryt. I believe you’re one of the few I’ll actually like.”
Amusement tinged her soft grey eyes. “Thank you, Miss Le Spyre. I look forward to bettering our acquaintance.”
“My people will be in touch with your people.” I looked over my shoulder. “Rory, what do you want?”
One hand slid across my cinched waist, the other trailed over my shoulder left bare by the off-the-shoulder design. “To take you home.”
Ms Cryt’s frowned.
Knew I liked her.
“Darling,” I said in a low voice. “I hope your real pick-up lines are far better than that. But I could use a ride to your brother’s.”
His blue eyes danced.
“Now, my heart?” he murmured into my hair.
Laughter choked in my throat. “Yes, now.” I had a few things to do before my shift at Live Right.
“Your wish. My command.”
He was laying it on thick tonight.
I let him lead me through the crowd, waving at a pale Lady Treena. Gina had already left. Couldn’t blame her really. I wanted to cry at how many of these evenings I’d have to attend. Probably one a fortnight if I only went to a quarter of events. At least I had a reason to take on Bluff City’s elite bullshitery now. My efforts to buy more real estate weren’t enough to win the game. I had to stay connected in other industries and push forward where I could. Finance and entertainment were two of the largest industries and big on their little social gatherings.
“Miss Le Spyre, good evening.”
I looked around for the speaker, feeling Rory’s hand clamp around my forearm.
Horror slammed into me as I came face-to-face with Rhys’s aunt—the aunt who’d seen me leaving with her nephew the night he died.
“Ms Wannington,” Rory said smoothly as my heart pounded.