"Well." I wait until my stomach has returned to its normal position before continuing. "I'm not accusing anyone. But if it's not one from your nest, there's a rogue vampire. I can't imagine you'd be happy about that."
"No," Lucius practically hisses. "I would not."
"Hello, little wolf."
I crane my neck and Nero smirks down on me. "Oh hey."
The lieutenant glides around my chair to give his king a short bow. Frangelico acknowledges it by slightly raising his forefinger. His face seems more impassive. Is he happy about this interruption?
"Our guest tells me a body with our markings was found at the shifter fight club. Do you know anything about this?"
"Of course." Nero bows again. "I received reports earlier and am monitoring the situation. When we have more intel, we can find the one who trespassed your laws."
"If it was one of mine, it would have been done on purpose," Lucius says with perfect calm, but all the hair on my body rises. "A deliberate mockery of the peace I have ordered between my people and the wolves."
Nero bows. When the king is upset, maybe it's best to hold your tongue. I fold my hands in my lap and keep watching the vampires, while avoiding eye contact. Nero is dressed in his usual suit and cowboy boots, although he's left off his jacket. His shirt sleeves are rolled up as if he just stepped out of a scene. He'd be hot, if he wasn't a leech.
"Perhaps we can find a way to strengthen the truce," Nero offers. I can't believe he spoke up with his king seething. He swivels to me, smooth as a door on a well-oiled hinge, and treats me to a shallow bow. Not that the courtesy works on me. "You've shown great willingness to deal with our nest. I'd love you to accompany me to an event our club is sponsoring downtown."
"What?" I ask dryly, pretending nonchalance at getting an invitation from a vampire. "Like a blood drive?"
Both Lucius and Nero laugh horribly.
"Your sense of humor is exquisite." Nero makes a show of wiping his eyes with a lace handkerchief. "Not a blood drive. A free nighttime concert by one of our more talented... ah... protégés."
I blink, not sure if I'm more disturbed that he has extended an invitation to me, or that Toxic is sponsoring a concert for humans, or that they have protégés. The event sounds like a trap for unsuspecting victims.
"I would be honored if you'd accompany me," Nero continues.
I tilt my head, trying to make sense of this. "What, like a date?" My brain is still scrambling to catch up.
"If you like."
"I'm not one of your victims," I growl. What does he think, he can wine and dine me and then convince me to come back for a scene so he can wine and dine on me?
"Of course not." His smile says otherwise. "It would be a simple experiment. We can prove that vampires and wolves can enjoy each other's company. We would be seen together as equals."
I press my lips together, trying to figure out the angle. Nero is obsessed with me. How will the pack take it if I step out with him? Will they see it as a play for peace, or a sign that I'm in thrall? How will Garrett and his pack see it?
More importantly, how will Trey?
"Let me get this straight. You invited me to a concert. You and I would go out together to see and be seen. And then what?"
"We would see where things lead." Nero sketches an eloquent gesture with his hands.
I shake my head. I'm getting a little muzzy. "Sounds like a date."
"It can be a date," Nero's voice mesmerizes me. "If you want it to be."
I'm about to answer when a shadow falls between us.
"Fuck no." A big guy barrels down on us from the direction of the staircase. His scent slams into me a second before he comes into the light, every angle of his face tense and livid.
"Trey," I gasp as he inserts himself between me and the vampire in shirtsleeves. They're both tall, but Trey is bigger, bulkier, and madder than a wolf whose missed his prey.
Trey's scent swarms my senses and my head clears.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing, leech?" Trey growls.
"Making polite conversation with a lady. What's it to you, dog?"
"She's not going anywhere with you. She's mine."
I touch the place on my neck where he marked me, and warmth pours through me. A sense of rightness. My head clears even more.
The two glare at each other. Beyond them, Frangelico hasn't moved. He looks almost amused.
Nero looks smug. "My invitation wasn't to you, but to the lady."
"That's it," Trey snarls. "You're going down. I challenge you to a fight."
"Trey, what are you doing?" I whisper. At the sight of Trey, big and bold and present, all my earlier rage disappears. Crazy emotions are crazy.
"You, challenge a vampire?" Nero's laugh could curdle milk. "How amusing."
"One hour," Trey grits out. "At the arroyo."
"What," I gasp. "No. This is stupid-"
"Done," Nero spits. He disappears and reappears behind his king's seat.
"I do not allow my children to fight," Frangelico says. His face is blanker than usual. Maybe he's not happy at Nero's antics, either. "But he can sponsor a substitute."
"I won't fight one of your poor victims," Trey snaps.
"Oh, do not worry, wolf," Nero laughs. "My second will be a shifter. A fighter that is your equal. Or better."
Trey
I KNOW IT'S STUPID, but challenging that vampire and making him back down, hide behind his king? It felt good. Sucker has a death wish. Ever since he approached Sheridan at the club, I've been dying to stake him.
Fates, she was nearly under his spell. I had to do something before Nero stuck his fangs where they don't belong. Sheridan and I might be at odds, but she's mine.
"You were not invited here," Nero hisses at me.
I fold my arms over my chest. "I belong with Sheridan. Where she goes, I go. She's under my protection."