Vampire Debt - Supernatural Battle (Vampire Towers #2) - Kelly St. Clare Page 0,98
sooner I can replace the memories of my night with yours.”
She tapped the back of my hand as I slipped into pointy-toed white heels. I usually hated matching heels to a dress. But if I didn’t rise to the unstated drama of this piece, it would crush me.
I looked at my friend, taking in her huge brown eyes.
She clutched my forearm, mouthing, “Will you be okay?”
King Julius said he wouldn’t kill me tonight. So no, I probably wouldn’t be okay. But I couldn’t get out of this.
If I didn’t live, Tommy was about to become a fucking rich woman. The condition of her inheritance hinged on her leaving Bluff City with her father without delay, however.
I winked. “Loves ya, babe. I’ll see you later tonight—or tomorrow.” I thought about the incredible sex she’d described at the spa. “Or Monday morning.”
We walked down to the lobby, and Tommy went off with Fred, and a carload of Indebted who left thirty seconds after. Tommy didn’t know she was being followed, and that’s how I wanted it to remain. They were under strict instructions to stay far enough away that she couldn’t see them.
I slid into the SUV with Laurel and the others, a second car ahead of me, and one behind.
“What’s in the bag?” Josie asked, gesturing to the black gift bag on my lap.
Something I’d planned to drop at the tower tonight while he was away at dinner. “Just a little gift for Kyros. It’s his birthday.”
Kelsea whistled. “Don’t we know it. One hundred and fifty years is a huge deal in our world. Like, you know how eighteen is considered adulthood for humans, but then there’s a bigger deal at twenty-one?”
I nodded, my gut twisting.
“This is Kyros’s twenty-first birthday.”
“So we’re the same age?” I said weakly. “Yay.”
My present was not a twenty-first level present. It was something I threw together on a whim. I clutched the top of the bag, wondering if I should ask Laurel to swing by Vie to get him something nicer.
Except that would give the wrong impression.
Shit.
Sighing, I passed Laurel my phone so she could read the address. Never knew if ears were lurking around.
She set off.
I was about to have dinner with Kyros’s entire family. What was my status there? I wasn’t his girlfriend, but apparently his mate. His father didn’t want us any closer than we already were.
Then there was that lingering bitter taste in my mouth from last night’s fight with Kyros.
Ugh.
Laurel pulled up to a set of black gates.
I lifted my head. “What? We’re there already?” That wasn’t nearly long enough to settle my nerves. For some reason, I assumed dinner was at the king’s mansion again.
“Yes, Miss Le Spyre. I believe this is Princess Safina’s family residence.”
On the estate side of Black.
I’d assumed Kyros’s siblings lived in towers too. But Fernando had said Safina had a child. “I see.”
We were buzzed in, and Laurel directed the vehicle down the driveway.
I frowned. “I expected Indebted to be everywhere.”
Fyrlia probably knew there was no point attacking all the royals at once. They were too powerful.
“This is a personal property, Miss Le Spyre,” Laurel answered. “A no man’s land. Fyrlia will not come here, but this evening does carry risk. Most of the Sundulus Indebted are guarding VIPs and other royal abodes during the celebration.”
No wonder, this was prime time for Fyrlia to cause a ruckus.
Laurel stopped nowhere near the house. She pointed right. “That way, Miss Le Spyre. Across the grass.”
Heels and grass. Perfect.
“Okay.”
“We’ll be close by,” she said, smiling at me in the rear-view mirror.
Laurel didn’t usually reassure me. I must look terrified. I took a deep breath and exhaled, trying to rearrange my face a bit so my topaz eyes weren’t huge and my lips weren’t parted. I circled my shoulders.
As ready as I’d ever be.
Josie helped me out, and Kelsea passed the gift bag to me.
I set off across the grass.
Rounding the corner, I spotted string lights in the middle of an otherwise open lawn. It looked like tables were set up. Spotting a bridge that spanned a small creek to get from this lawn to the other side, I adjusted course, trying not to fall on my face down the slope.
Lionel appeared suddenly, nearly losing the battle for me. I jolted, pressing a hand against my chest.
“Lionel, you brat,” I said crossly.
Gerome appeared, shoving his brother out of the way. His grin lasted half a second before he was shoved away by Rory.