“You owe me a chance,” she said softly.
“Do I? Do I owe you anything? Have you not already been paid, so many times over?”
“Haveyounot gained from that night, almost three centuries ago? Would you be standing here, had I not taken an interest in you?” Her hand smoothed his thin T-shirt over his chest, as if there were a wrinkle there. “No, Antoine, you would be long dead and forgotten. Nevermore to brood in dark corners or explore the taste of your delightful witch.”
Her fingertips stroked down over his stomach, then curled inside the hem, brushing his bare skin. He gripped her wrist, pulling her hand away, and her breath caught, eyes flashing briefly red, before returning to her glamoured green.
“I have given you everything you have,” she murmured, making no effort to pull her hand free. “The least you coulddo is hear me.”
This was a different side to her, bordering on serious. That hint of vulnerability he’d seen the other night had returned, albeit framed in her sensuality. But it piqued his curiosity.
“Very well. An hour.”And then, if she is not back, I’m going to Cally.
“More than I need,” she said, crossing past him toward the chairs. As soon as he released her hand, her fingers trailed over his shoulder, but the touch was fleeting. She glanced back at him with a hint of playfulness in her smile, then took her seat with her usual grace. The dress pulled tight, rising high, and she crossed one leg over the other, dangling her foot in her stiletto heels. Only then did she look up, expectant, as if she knew he’d be watching.
He took his seat with an air of indifference, setting his book aside, not letting her see how much she still managed to affect him after all these years. Resting his elbows on the arms of his chair, he steepled his fingers and tilted his head with what he hoped was polite expectation.
“I can sense your power, you know,” she began, her bare thigh shifting almost imperceptibly against her other leg. “You are not at my level, but the gap has closed. Dramatically.”
“So much?” he asked despite himself, surprise combining with curiosity.
“Did I not tell you that feeding on a witch would make you the most powerful vampire of our time?”
He nodded. “You did, but you are so much older than I.” He found himself wondering again how old she really was.
“Yes. You have a long way to go to reach such heights. But you will catch me up,mon amour, and that is…excitant.” Her eyes glittered and her leg moved again, almost as if she were aroused—which wouldn’t surprise him, not when they were talking about power.
“How much more powerful do you think I am?” he asked, trying to make the question sound light and not give away his interest. But Roberto was a member of the Curia, and while the gap in power to him would not be as much as to Belle, it was still a significant obstacle.
“It is impossible to be sure without tasting you…” She let the words lilt upwards, as if inviting him to offer.
“No.”
Her lips twitched in amused acceptance. “Maybe a third more than your age would suggest.”
A hundred years of power, in only a few weeks.“That is… staggering. Is such growth sustainable?”
“No, I wouldn’t expect so.” She rested her elbow on her crossed knee and placed her chin on the back of her hand, gazing at him. “A sudden spike would be expected, for it wasn’t just the witch, was it? There was Minh, too, that despicable toady creature.”
“So from Cally alone, how long would it take?” The mere mention of her name, and the urge to go to her was almost overwhelming. Wherewasshe?
“For what,mon amour? To catch me up?” Belle said, and it was an effort to pull his thoughts from Cally and focus on her. “I don’t think we need to put a timeframe on it, do we?”
In other words, she still wouldn’t admit how old she was. “What about Roberto? Could I catchhimup?”
“Yes, given long enough, but that isn’t what you’re asking, is it? You are impatient for vengeance.” She leaned back, holding up her hand to forestall him speaking. “I don’t begrudge you. If he had done the same to me, I would also seek to destroy him.”
Was he becoming more like her? That was a concern.
But in this, it didn’t matter. Roberto would die. As would Nico and Tobias.
“I see it in your eyes,” she said. “Either Roberto will soon be dead or you will. Likely before the year is out.” She sighed. “In truth, I don’t believe youarehis match at present. Will you heed caution?”
“Caution?” he asked, one eyebrow raised. “From you?”
“Bien sûr.I am the epitome of patience and caution.”
“I seem to remember you completely disregarding the Code, and being called ‘naughty’.”
