“Why do they need to meet withhim?” he hears Tiffany ask on his way out.
They march him out of the manor, past the front gate, until they are ensconced in the woods and certain of their isolation. When they find a clearing in the foliage, the three vampires face off in a nearly equilateral triangle. It is only midafternoon, yet the sky is already darkening.
“She is my Familiar, and she is off-limits,” are the first words out of William’s mouth.
“Why won’t you answer your phone?” asks Nate.
“Why did you not warn me that Lenny was going todrinkfrom me?”
“None of us receive any warning,” says Nate, like that justifies it. “Anne told us you purchased a ticket to Boston, and Henry followed your cab to Harvard. What did you and Bayona discuss?”
“Why not ask Henry what we spoke of if he was spying on us?”
“He had to stay upwind of you and keep his distance, or you would have picked up on his scent.”
William studies Nate’s dark eyes, wondering what his real role is among the vampires. “I gather you were a young detective when you were turned.”
“I was turned young because I have a special talent,” says Nate with a grim smile. “I can tell when someone is lying to me.”
William already sensed this uncanny ability of Nate’s.
“Are you going to disclose what happened, or should we question Professor Bayona?”
“First, tell me who you really are,” says William. “Because you make a terrible welcome committee.”
Nate halves the distance between himself and William. Cisco moves up by the same amount in a flawless choreography.
“I am Lenny’s hand on Earth.” Nate says the title heavily, like it is something of great value.
Yet William is not impressed. “Is that not Osorio?”
“Osorio is his caretaker. I am the enforcer of our laws.”
“AndI’mNate’s bodyguard,” says Cisco, cracking his knuckles in emphasis.
“Bodyguard?”asks William, now even less impressed.
“Not all my tasks are pleasant,” says Nate. “Most vampires don’t like it when I’m forced to do things like place them in a death-sleep because they’ve become careless about keeping our existence secret.”
William grits his teeth, hearing the threat implied in Nate’s words. “How does Lenny even know what happens aboveground?”
“Osorio doesn’t simply bring Lenny humans to hunt.” Nate’s steps toward William are mirrored by Cisco. “He also brings him people to compel who report back on our behavior.”
William cannot keep the surprise from bleeding through his expression.
“Lenny has spies everywhere, and he sends word to me to handle any problems that come up. Specifically, when vampires break the rules by doing things like making a Familiar. Then I get thehonorablejob of killing that Familiar.”
“Lorena is off-limits,” William warns again.
Nate narrows his gaze with interest. “What makes you think you are special enough to be above the rules?”
The question is not rhetorical because Nate studies William while awaiting an answer.
“I will find a place of my own, and when you have an assignment for me, I will accept it,” says William, imbuing his voice with authority. “Until then, I have more to learn about modern times and everything I have missed. As I already have a cover at Huntington, I plan to attend the school for the time being.”
“You actuallywantto go to classes?” asks Cisco, frowning. “You could learn all this online!”
Nate moves closer, as if he needs to examine William’s eyes when he poses his next question. “All this for a mortal?”
