I join Bane in glaring across the table. “You really aren’t helping.”
“Why would I? This is much more fun,” he says, laughing.
“Sit down,” I order. Bane just glares, not acknowledging me at all. “Both of you sit down and shut up.”
Dante surprisingly does what I ask. He performs a low bow, as if he’s some grand gentleman, before he sits, placing his hands neatly on the table and pretending to be the picture of innocence. Bane has to follow suit, like listening to me is a weird dare and he doesn’t want to be shown up.
Whatever. At least this vaguely resembles a civilized conversation by the time I join them at the table, taking a seat next to Bane.
“Look, we’re just here for some answers,” I tell Dante. “Let’s talk.”
“What’s in it for me if I provide those answers?”
“How about I don’t kick your ass?” offers my partner in crime.
“Quiet, puppy. The adults are talking.”
Since he hasn’t been able to resist the provocation yet, I reach out and dig my fingers into Bane’s thigh under the table before he can explode.
He stops glaring at Dante, mostly because he starts glaring atmeinstead. The small action feels suicidal, but I need to keep his short fuse in check until we find out what we need to know. Speaking of short fuses, touching him feels like touching a live wire, dangerous and electric. His thigh is firm under my fingers, warm, and—I slam the door on that train of thought before it derails my brain completely.
“How long have you been in town for?” I ask Dante. “A month, two? And you’re stirring up trouble with one of Concordia’s established, respected packs. The covens hate it when tourists and newcomers start making waves, so it’s best if you just cooperate.”
The covens hate when the wolves who actually live here cause trouble even more.They expect us to help keep the peace, but I don’t mention that part.
“Fine,” the vampire agrees with a huff. “Ask your questions.”
“Are you taking advantage of my cousin?” Bane demands immediately.
Dante throws his hands up in the air. “Subtlety isn’t your strong suit, is it?”
As if the vampire knows anything about that himself. His style is somewhere between old-fashioned and modern, a loose white tunic-style top with an open collar paired with sinfully tight black pants. It’s his own spin on vampire chic, completed with a deep burgundy trench coat and dark designer sunglasses.
“How did you and Wynn meet?” I ask.
“Hmm, we met at a bar, though I really can’t remember which one.” He shrugs. “Nothing too interesting, really.”
“Was it love at first sight?”
The vampire laughs, long and loud, enough that Bane’s eye twitches. “Love isn’t the word I’d use. And he’s certainly not my destined one and only, if you believe in those fairy tales.”
“Then what drew you to him?”
Dante opens his mouth, then cuts his eyes to the man next to me. “Puppy might get upset if I start going into graphic detail about my favorite parts of his cousin’s body.”
“What I mean is,” I jump in hurriedly before puppy—uh, Bane—does indeed go berserk again. “Werewolves and vampires don’t get along too well, do they?”
“Honestly, the whole ‘natural enemies’ legend was part of the appeal,” Dante confides. “Forbidden trysts are thrilling and dangerous.” His eyes slide over Bane and me intimately, a lewd expression on his face. “You two must know what that’s like.”
My heart skips a beat at his insinuation, heat creeping up my neck. I try to say something and only manage a wheezing sound. Given what I saw about Bane earlier, it’s hard to laugh off the comment.
“Oh yes,” the vampire laughs. “I bet you two could tell me a thing or two about hate sex. We could trade stories.”
Bane completely loses his cool, roaring and slamming his palms down on the table.
“Shut your damn mouth,” he orders in a voice that might make me cower if it were directed at me. His eyes flash in a warning.
The vampire flinches, shaking his head with an airy laugh and trying to play it off as his hand reaches toward his collar and the sunglasses resting there.
