Under a Vampire Moon

by Lynsay Sands

good?" Christian asked with interest.

  "Oh, well, I remember how much you disliked it when we were in England and you and the boys were sharing there," she said lightly.

  "Uh-huh," he said with disbelief.

  "Anyway, I should let you go. You're probably exhausted after your flight and would like to sleep, and we want you well rested and perky for tonight. "

  "Why? What's happening tonight?" he asked at once.

  "Well, you'll be performing, of course," she said on a laugh. "Genie is so grateful you were willing to fill in for the band that canceled, she's coming to the show tonight and offered to buy us all drinks during your break. So make sure you join us then. "

  "Right," Christian said. "Tell Father I'm paying for the villa. "

  "Now, Christian-

  ," Marguerite began.

  "I'm hanging up, Mom. Good sleep," Christian interrupted and started to hang up, but paused when he heard his father say, "Marguerite? What's wrong, cara?"

  "He called me Mom," Christian heard her say in a sniffly voice.

  "Ah, bella," Julius Notte crooned. There was a rustling and the line died.

  Christian smiled faintly and pressed the button to end the call, then set his phone on the bedside table and glanced around.

  "I'm guessing you're taking this room?" Zanipolo asked, pulling a bag of blood from his fangs.

  "You guessed right," Christian said dryly.

  The other man nodded and glanced around at the others. "That leaves three rooms and four of us. "

  Gia chuckled at their expressions and headed for the door. "Well, there's one other room with a double bed.

  The other two have twins, so I'll take the double bed and leave the other two to you guys to fight over. "

  "I'll share with someone," Santo offered.

  Zanipolo grimaced. "No offense, cousin, but you snore like a foghorn. There's no way I'm sharing with you. "

  "I guess that means Zani and I are sharing and you get your own room, Santo," Raffaele announced, heading out with Zanipolo on his heels.

  Santo stared after them with surprise. "I don't snore, do I?" He frowned. "Can immortals snore?"

  "You don't snore," Christian assured him.

  "Right. " Santo frowned. "So why-"

  "You shout and thrash and scream," he said quietly.

  Santo stiffened, his expression freezing. Then he nodded, ran one hand across his bald head and left the room.

  Christian watched Santo leave, then slapped the bag of blood to his teeth and pushed his door closed. He was exhausted and couldn't even be bothered to go get his suitcase.

  Moving to the bed, Christian quickly brushed aside the robe and flowers and lay down. He stared at the ceiling as he waited for the bag to empty, and pondered whether his life was about to change or not. He suspected Gia was right and Marguerite had found a possible lifemate for him. He suspected it was the entertainment coordinator she kept mentioning.

  "Genie," he murmured, pulling the empty bag from his teeth, and then his eyes closed and he fell asleep.