Episode Seventy-Six

YOUR SILENCE IS CONCERNING, VAMPIRE

brAN

The first text from Baspin comes within minutes of me entering Duval House. The asshole programmed his number to have a unique chime and the unfamiliar sound immediately pulls my attention.

His name is in bold over the notification, and then, Your silence is concerning, vampire.

I darken the screen and slide the phone in the back pocket of my pants.

Damien starts barking out orders to the room as we enter through the side door, as if he didn't just wake from a magically induced coma, as if nothing has changed. "I need at least fifty vampires ready for battle," he says. "No one under a hundred. Feed before we leave. You have twenty minutes."

"Where are we going?" That from a vampire draped over one of the wingbacks in the far corner. There's a human in his lap, head resting against his shoulder, a bead of blood running down the slim column of her neck.

"Fae realm," Damien answers.

Damien and I leave them to discuss this revelation. It won't be long before word spreads through the entire house. Can they feel the fae magic like I can? That discordant buzz along the neck?

In our private wing, Damien and I break at the hallway. "I'm changing," I tell him. "Meet me downstairs in ten."

He nods as he turns, headed for his private quarters. "I'm stopping by the armory first."

"Grab me an iron dagger. Or two."

When I push through the closed door of my rooms, I find Jimmy at the dark fireplace, arms crossed over her chest.

"Christ," I mutter and bypass her for my closet.

My phone dings in my pocket. I pull it out and set it on the island in my closet. "Don't start, Jimmy."

Her hair is wound up in a neat bun on top of her head. She's wearing no makeup, but there's fresh color in her cheeks indicating she must have just recently fed.

I need blood too. I need it soon.

"You can't just go running after her like this." Jimmy pulls herself up on the island. It's topped with a slab of solid marble I had shipped over from an abandoned palace in France. There are thick black veins running through it.

"That's where you're wrong, Jimmy," I say, tearing my shirt away and tossing it into the corner. "I can and I will."

My phone pings again. Then again.

"Who is that?" She reaches over and snatches the phone before I can grab it. "Who is Baspin?"

"No one." I yank off my pants and add them to the pile.

"Bran."

I cross the room and pull a black t-shirt from one of the velvet hangers. The hanger swings on the rod, then clunks against the wall.

"Bran."

"He's the fae who dumped me in the park." I pull the shirt over my head, then rake my hand through my hair, straightening it.

"Why is he texting you?" She reads one of the notifications. "‘ You need my help, vampire. Here's a fact: fae can't lie even over text. So if I say you need my help, you know that's the truth .'"

I can feel Jimmy's eyes on me, even though I've given her my back as I flip through several pairs of jeans.

"If a fae is offering to help you, why are you ignoring him?"

I pull down a pair of dark jeans. "Did you miss the part where I said he dumped me in the park? In the daylight?"

I can practically sense Jimmy frowning at me. "You're leaving out one important detail. He gave you a tarp. And your phone."

I scoff. "Can no one keep a secret in this fucking house?"

Deftly, she hops off the counter and comes to my side, my phone still in her grip. "If the fae are offering to help, you should take the offering."

Pants buttoned, I reach for my phone but she holds it out of reach like we're two little shits playing a game of finders keepers.

"Jimmy."

"Take the home advantage."

"This isn't a game of baseball."

"No, it's a game for Jessie's life."

I grit my teeth. The reminder is like ice in my veins. My stomach sinks.

"I know what the fucking stakes are."

"Do you?"

The phone dings.

I reach for it. Jimmy stretches further away.

"Careful, Jim," I tell her, my voice even, but my eyes bleeding to gold.

Even though I am implying I will hurt her if she gets in my way, she and I both know I won't.

She steps back from me and types in my phone's password. I grumble and yank on boots. "You're fucking intolerable."

"There. Fixed it. He's on his way," she tells me. "And you'll hear him out."

"Or what?"

The smile she gives me could melt iron. "Or I will burn down your French chateau."

I narrow my eyes. "You wouldn't."

"It's for your own good."

She knows how I feel about my real estate. It's not nearly as important as Mouse, but certainly ranking nearly as high.

And the French chateau is my favorite. It's the first estate I purchased after I was turned into a vampire.

It's symbolic.

She hands me the phone and looks up, meeting my glowing gaze. "I'll get you someone to bite. Then you'll meet me on the front steps and you'll utilize all of the tools you have at your disposal, even if it's a fae who dumped you in the park."

I close my eyes and suck in a long breath, trying to keep it all in control.

I am impatient. And I don't like being told what to do. And I sure as hell don't like being coerced.

But Jimmy will always be the exception.

Always .

"Fine," I tell her. "No women," I add. I refuse to drink from the veins of any woman other than my Mouse.

Fifteen minutes later, I'm satiated and feeling much better when Baspin emerges from the shadows surrounding Duval House. He's wearing a simple blue tunic and black pants.

"Were you going to ignore me?" he asks, arms clasped behind his back as he comes to a stop in a pool of light from the lamp post.

"It's been decades since you've been to the fae realm," I answer. "What good would you do me now?"

Jimmy nudges me on the left. "Be nice."

"No," I tell her.

Behind us, the front door of Duval House opens and I recognize the cadence of my brother's steps. I left him to feed on his second donor just a few minutes ago. His hunger seems to have no bottom. But I suppose I can't blame him, having just woken up from a coma.

Baspin's gaze tracks Damien as he crosses the front porch and comes down the steps to stand on my right.

"Damien Duval," the fae says and smiles, gives a shallow bow. He knows what he's doing. Even though the fae hold no allegiance to the vampires on this side, everyone in Midnight knows to show at least some respect to Damien Duval.

"You changed your mind?" Damien asks me, ignoring the fae.

"I made him," Jimmy says from my left.

"She convinced me," I correct, avoiding both of their gazes.

"What's in it for you?" I ask Baspin. "Surely you have a price."

"Of course I do." He takes another step. All three of us are acutely aware of his every move, the outline of every one of his pockets, and the shadows that surround Duval House.

There are no other heartbeats hiding in the dark. It appears he's come alone after all.

"I can help you get into the fae realm. I can help you locate Jessie. I can even help you infiltrate the Summer Court if need be, and I suspect the need will be . And in exchange for my help, I would like a title."

Damien and I share a sidelong glance.

"What kind of title?" I ask.

"Lord of Winter Court."

I snort. "Is this some kind of trick? The court no longer exists. How do you suggest we pay that price?"

"It will be easy," he answers with confidence. "Just as soon as you help your little mouse reclaim her throne."