They reached Newbury Street, where cars and trees formed neat rows, and the sidewalks spilled over with revelers in costume, masks and sequins catching under the streetlights.
“We’re never going to park,” Cally lamented.
“We can park here,” Antoine said, as the traffic came to a stop again.
“You’re going to get another car impounded.”
But he’d already reached for their coats and got out. In the middle of the street. Leaving the door open.
She stared in disbelief as he walked around to her door, then jumped when a man got in behind the wheel. He gave her a smile. “I hope you have a lovely evening, Cally.”
Antoine opened her door and offered her an arm, then held her coat for her.
“Who was that?” Cally asked, as they moved to the sidewalk, the Ferrari driving off.
“Hmm? Oh, Charlie. Noah sent him down earlier.”
“You’re seriously using a thrall as a valet?”
Antoine watched the Ferrari pull away in the slow-moving queue. “Why? Is that wrong?”
Cally wrapped a hand around his arm. “I think the old me would say ‘yes’, but I had a chat with Noah about what it meant to be a thrall. They all love you, you know.”
“They do?”
“Noah said he’d work for you even if he wasn’t a thrall.”
“That’s nice. It’s not love.”
“Well, the word he used was ‘loyalty’. He also said he’d rather sleep with Gabe than you.”
Antoine’s arm tensed beneath her hand.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have mentioned him.”First Minh, now Gabe. Is putting my foot in my mouth to be a theme of our dates?
“The apology is mine,ma chérie.I have not yet spoken to Gabe, but I do trust what you and Noah have explained.”
They strolled through the crowd, commenting on the occasional costume or window display. When they were pushed for space, Antoine slid an arm inside her coat and around her waist, pulling her close. But no one so much as brushed against them, and the throng parted wherever they chose to go.
“How do you do that?” Cally asked, gesturing with one hand to mimic the way people seemed to move from their path.
“It’s a vampire mind thing. Nothing too heavy, just a gentle nudge.”
He’d spoken openly, but no one paid them any mind. Discussing vampires on Halloween? It carried an ironic sort of shield, which suited her just fine.
“There was something I’ve been meaning to tell you,” she began with a hint of caution.Too many things, in fact.But the Order would have to wait; he’d only just returned, and he had enough on his mind. “I’m sorry, I should’ve mentioned it before, but we never really had the chance.”
“I quite understand. What is it?”
“It involves Gabe.”
The tension in his arm returned, but he made an effort to relax and said nothing, only waiting with polite interest.
“Do you remember when Minh paralyzed me in the parking lot?”
“Of course.”
“A vampire mind ability, right?”
