by Amy Boyles
“You told me that he is Lord of the Vampires.”
Thorne smirked. “He’s not exactly lord, but he’s very powerful. Leo was turned during the yellow fever epidemic that hit Philadelphia in 1793. He’s very guarded with his history, so I don’t know many of the details, but I know that when he was turned, he was forced to abandon his family—a wife he loved and children he adored—because the lust for blood was too much for him.”
The agony Leo must’ve gone through. My heart hurt a little for this man I didn’t know.
“He was turned against his will, and that’s why my father is as strict about the rules as he is.”
“You mean why he sent you here.”
Thorne nodded. “I broke a law and Leo had to punish me, as I knew he would. There are few exceptions in our world—as vampires. Leopold Wharton does not make exception for much of anything. He is a complicated man who loves fiercely and is loyal to a fault. He only turned me because I was dying.”
My heart seized. Never had Thorne mentioned anything about how he was turned.
Not that we’d spent a lot of time together.
As soon as the words left his mouth, I realized the magic spell of his story faltered.
Thorne studied the fork in his hand. “But other than that, my father plays beautiful music and hired me to be his right-hand man once I was settled into my new life.”
“As a vampire?”
He nodded. “That’s right.” He inhaled deeply. “But now it’s your turn.”
I groaned. “Already?”
“So tell me—why’s a pretty girl like you not dating anyone?”
I dropped my fork. It clattered against the plate. People turned to look in our direction. I wanted to crawl under the table.
“Um. Well, I suppose because I’m so busy with work I don’t have time for dates.”
He cocked a brow. “Is that really the reason?”
“Um. Yes? Am I supposed to say something else?”
He shook his head. “I haven’t dated anyone since I became a vampire.”
I almost dropped my fork again. “You haven’t? Why haven’t you? I’m sure female vampires throw themselves at you all the time.”
He grinned and stared down at his plate. “I don’t like vampires as partners.”
“You don’t like witches, either.”
He hiked a shoulder. “I’d say they’re growing on me.”
My cheeks burned hotter.
His question had caught me off guard, but it was a decent one. I pushed food around on my plate. “Why aren’t I dating anyone? I guess because I haven’t met anyone who challenged me. A lot of men discover I have my own company and they run in the other direction. They think I’ll wear the pants in the relationship.”
“And you don’t?” he said, his voice mocking.
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I’ve never dated anyone long enough to find out.”
He winked. “Well, I can already tell that you want to wear the pants in a relationship.”
I shoved back the grin threatening to form on my lips. “And is there something wrong with that?”
“Something challenging, I’d say.”
I pointed to his plate that was still mostly full of food. “Why’d you agree to come if you’re not going to eat anything?”
“For the company.” Thorne glanced over his shoulder. “Has the reason we’re here arrived yet?”
I scanned the dining room and spotted Kimberly and Dash. I clicked my tongue. “Why yes, they have. And how’d you know I had to see someone?”
“You needed cover. Why else would you have invited me unless you were working?”
“To try to get you to look into Rots Smythe’s house, that’s why.”
Thorne scowled. “I’m not going in there.”
I leaned over the table. “My mother’s magic is gone. She touched that thing he’s working on, and now her power has vanished.”
Thorne scrubbed a hand down his cheek. “You know you’re not supposed to admit you broke into his house. This puts me in a bad position.”
“We didn’t break in. He left his door wide open.”
He rolled his eyes. “That doesn’t make a difference. Rots saw you come out. You’re lucky he hasn’t identified you.”
I clenched my fists. “If we’re just going to spend all night arguing, we might as well leave.”
Thorne winked. “You don’t enjoy our banter? I do.”
His words slammed into my chest. Enjoy our banter? I thought we hated each other. Like, seriously despised one another. Never for one minute did I think Thorne would enjoy talking to me.
But then fragmented memories of his behavior leeched into my brain.
The night he nursed my swollen hand when I first arrived in town, the roses he brought me the other night, and picking me up in a Jaguar—it all started to add up.
Holy cow.
The vampire wanted to drink my blood.
Kidding. But I didn’t exactly know what to do with this new information.
He hadn’t admitted it, but was Mama right? Did Thorne have some sort of vampire feelings for me?
To me, that was like a lizard loving its owner.
At least, that’s how I would’ve explained it a few months ago if you’d asked me if vampires had feelings.
But as I’d gotten to know Thorne and could somewhat read his expressions—or the variations of his scowl, as it were—I would have to say that it was entirely possible that the vampire did have something akin to feelings inside his heart.
I wasn’t sure if he was led by his longing to drink blood or if it could be shut down.
I cringed inwardly. Maybe I was being too hard on him. Perhaps I should just go with it and see what was truly happening between us, because otherwise I would never really know.
“Tell me about your father,” he said.
I blanched. “If you promise to investigate what Rots is doing—with a witch. You can’t just go in by yourself. You don’t have magic.”
He cocked a slightly crooked yet quite captivating brow. “Now how do you know I don’t have magic?”
I coughed into my hand. His words took me by surprise. A vampire with magic would be deadlier than deadly. A truly powerful creature.
Thorne’s hand darted out. He squeezed my shoulder gently. “I’m sorry. That joke was in poor taste. I don’t have magic. You don’t have to worry.”
I stopped coughing and returned to staring at my food. There was a way about the warm spread of the heat wafting from him, the way it washed down my arm and made my skin tingle.
Thorne’s touch electrified me.
“Um. My father. He was a scholar. Taught at Magic University.”
Thorne arched a brow. “What did he teach?”
“Witch History. He started with magic in the early days, going all the way back to Egypt. The Egyptian magicians were his favorite.”
Thorne nodded in appreciation. “I’m sure he loved you very much.”
I nodded. “I believe he did. Sometimes it’s hard for me to remember because it all happened when I was so young, but I know my father loved me.”
A knot tightened in my chest. It usually did when I spoke of him. The sadness must’ve shown on my face because Thorne reached. His hand covered mine. My hand, I would say, was normal sized. Thorne’s, in all his grand manliness, gloved mine easily.
Heat pricked my cheeks. Suddenly the night at the Old Witch Mill had turned very, very intimate.
Thoughts and feelings started to surge through me. I cleared my throat and gazed across the restaurant.
My sights snagged on Kimberly and Dash. Without thinking, I rose.
I slid my hand from under Thorne’s. “I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t get into trouble.”
I scowled and was about to say something when I noted the obvious twinkle in his eyes. Thorne was joking. He’d said that either to rile me up or to frustrate me.
Both worked, actually.
>
I shot him a teasing look and went on.
“Kimberly, so good to see you here.” I draped myself over an empty chair at their table. “How’re y’all doing?”
Kimberly smiled widely. Her blonde hair fell in thick, smooth waves over her shoulders. She wore a red dress that accented her trim body, and her simple touches of jewelry were impeccable.
“I’m so great, Charming. You remember Dash.”
They were truly a perfectly handsome couple.
Dash smiled so wide I swear his teeth sparkled in the lamplight. His oiled pompadour glistened, and a handkerchief peeked out from his suit pocket. The two truly looked classy and debonair.
“I do remember Charming,” he said in a deep voice filled to the brim with graciousness. “How’re you doing?”
“I’m doing great. Just having dinner, saw y’all over here and wanted to say hello.”
I waited for Dash to extend his hand, but he didn’t. Looked like I’d have to make the first move.
A thought occurred to me. “Dash, you were on the train the other day.”
“That’s right.”
“Did you happen to notice Corley, the woman who was murdered?”
His brows stitched in thought. “I saw her on the train once or twice. She was always talking to that young woman, the one who roomed with her, but I don’t know what they were talking about.”
He scratched dark stubble on his chin. “The conductor may have overheard what they were saying. He spoke to them at length.” Dash shot me a thousand-watt smile. “Sorry I can’t be of more help.”
I shook my head. “Oh no. That’s perfect. What you’ve told me is great. Thank you.”
I gave Kimberly a smile as she jerked her head toward Dash. She wanted me to touch him. I knew that. A hand was the best and easiest way to do it.
“Well, I don’t want to keep y’all. I’m just over there having dinner and thought I’d pop by.”
Kimberly craned her neck in the direction I’d pointed. “Who’re you with?”
Oh crap. Should I tell her? I had the feeling if Kimberly discovered I’d broken bread with Thorne, that it would be all over town.
So I decided to ignore her question. I extended my hand to Dash. “Great seeing y’all. Enjoy your night.”
Dash reached for me as a voice broke through the peaceful surroundings.
“That’s her! That’s the woman who broke into my house.”
I yanked my head around to see Rots Smythe hovering in the center of the dining room, an accusatory finger pointing straight to my chest.
“Chief,” he directed to Thorne, who’d risen, “I want her arrested right now!”
Dash dropped his hand. My chance had vanished. I shot Thorne a pleading look. He strolled up to me and took me by the arm.
“Evening,” he greeted Kimberly and Dash. Thorne then murmured in my ear, “I asked you not to get into trouble. Looks like our date is over.”
He said it just loudly enough for Kimberly to hear. Her eyes peeled wide as this nugget of information pinged in her brain.
“Come on,” Thorne said. “Let’s go talk to Rots.”
My heart sank. It did, indeed, look like my peaceful night had burst into flames.
Chapter 15
“I’m telling you, Chief, it was her.”
Thorne had taken me to the Flying Hickory Stick, a bar in town that also happened to house the jail.
Weird, I know.
Rots, wearing his fur coat, glared at me from across a table. “That woman was at my house. I want her arrested.”
“Do you have proof?” Thorne asked, his voice thick with patience.
Rots hesitated. “Well, no. I don’t actually have proof.” He shoved his finger toward my nose. “But I know it was her. I can feel it. She aimed that chicken at me.”
“See?” Rots pointed to a rip in the seam. “That’s what the vile creature did to my beautiful coat. It’ll cost me a fortune to have it repaired.”
“You could just use magic,” I murmured, “unless you can’t for some reason.”
Thorne gave me a scathing look. He didn’t want me talking about the machine.
“Miss Calhoun,” Thorne said.
I batted my lashes innocently. “Yes?”
“Where were you last night when Mr. Smythe accuses you of breaking into his home?”
“Chief Blackwood, I was watching Hocus Pocus with my mom and great-aunt. We love that movie. It’s so funny. Have you seen it?”
Thorne glared at me. “No, I haven’t. Can your mother and great-aunt corroborate this?”
“Most definitely.”
He turned to Rots. “I’m going to check on her alibi, Mr. Smythe. But in the meantime I strongly suggest you don’t accuse random people in this town of being criminals.”
“She’s not random,” Rots spat. “I saw her.” He pointed a finger at me. “You were in my house, and I’m going to prove it.”
I rolled my eyes. “Okay. Well, why didn’t you use your power to just fix your coat? Is there something wrong with your magic?”
“There’s nothing wrong with my magic.” His mouth twisted into a grimace like he wanted to say, See? I told you she was in my house. She knows my secret.
Rots yanked down his hat. “Good day,” he said stiffly before leaving.
“Good riddance,” I murmured. I pivoted toward Thorne and was about to smile when the dark scowl on his face filled me with fright.
My voice wouldn’t work. Heck, my brain wouldn’t work, either.
“I can’t protect you,” he growled in a low voice.
The arrogance of his words irked me. “I’m not asking you to. Never have I said I want you to protect me. The way you’re looking at me now, we’re not even friends.”
More anger flashed in his eyes.
The tavern door opened, and his gaggle of merry vampires entered, chuckling and laughing. They took one look at Thorne’s expression and shut up quickly.
“Wait right here,” he growled.
I jutted out my chin in defiance. “Why should I?”
“Because I’ve got to take you home. But there’s something I need to do first.”
I thumbed toward his officers. “You’re going to leave me with them?”
“You’ll be fine.”
With that, Thorne stalked off. I could practically see the anger rolling off him in fat waves.
I cringed, but what could I do? I was about to focus hard on my fingernails because I really didn’t want to have to engage with Peek and the band, which was exactly when Peek decided to pull my attention toward him.
“Well hello, Charming.”
When I first met Peek, he wore Carhart pants, a T-shirt and a baseball cap. He had been incredibly rude, bordering on threatening, that first encounter, and I can’t admit that every time I’d seen him since had been all sunshine and rainbows.
Nonetheless, I pushed forward a hard smile. “Hello, Peek. How’re you?”
He snickered and swaggered toward me, moving with all the fluidity and grace bestowed on a bloodsucker. The curl of his lips sent a chill straight to my bones.
Thorne trusted him, but I thought the dude was creepy.
Or maybe he just wanted me to think he was creepy because, well, he was a vampire and that’s what they did.
“I’m surprised to see you here.” Peek stood in front of me now. His red hair was cut sharply at his chin, making him look like someone had taken a razor to his tresses.
I folded my arms. “Why are you surprised? Maybe I’m reporting a stolen wallet or something.”
He cocked his head. His eyes burned with dislike. “Thorne generally doesn’t take ladies anywhere, especially not ones who are witches.”
I sucked in my cheeks, trying to temper my anger. “He only brought me here because I was accused of a crime I didn’t commit.”
“Great way to end your evening, huh?”
I shivered. “What do you know about my evening?”
“We
have to patrol,” Peek said, his words dripping from his lips like satin. He traced a finger through the air as if tracking points on a flow chart. “I saw you out.”
I hiked a shoulder. “Trust me. It’s not what you think.”
To me, that was the end of the conversation. I put a chill in my voice just to convince him of that fact. But Peek didn’t seem interested in dropping it. He leaned forward, his dark eyes sparkling.
“The last woman Thorne cared about hurt him pretty badly.”
I raised my palm. “Let me stop you right there. Whatever you think about this relationship, you can just forget it. We had dinner. That was all. He’s not interested in me, and I’m not interested in him.”
Peek dragged his gaze from me, leaving goose bumps scattered across my skin. “That’s good. It’s good that there’s nothing going on, because you don’t want to end up like his last girlfriend.”
Irked to the hilt and tired of his hints and games, I whirled on Peek. “And how was that, Peek? How did his last girlfriend end up?”
Peek licked his lips. “Dead. She wound up dead.”
My bones froze solid, stapling me to the floor. I stared at him, unsure of what to say, how to counter. There really wasn’t a response to that, was there?
While I swam in my thoughts, Thorne reappeared. The deep scowl was gone. His anger had vanished as quickly as my body had become as solid as an ice cube.
A light smile touched his face. “Ready?”
I nodded dumbly. My gaze darted to Peek before returning to Thorne. “Yes, I’m ready.”
We drove in silence. I didn’t know what to say, how to bring up what Peek had told me, and I felt I shouldn’t. Would Thorne be angry that Peek had said something?
I felt that yes, most definitely Thorne would be.
Keeping my mouth shut seemed the best solution. “Thank you for dinner,” I said. “Sorry I ruined it.”
He chuckled softly. “You didn’t ruin it. Far from it.”
I turned toward him, adding a touch of pleading to my voice. “So do you think you’ll maybe drop by Rots’s house?”
He steered the wheel with one hand, his thumb caressing the leather wrap over it. “We’ll see.”
My hopes dropped. “We’ll see? Are you kidding?”
“I can’t just barge in.”
