It wasn’t much.
“I’m clinging to my bachelorette status,” I called back. “Love you.”
“Love you! See you at dinner tomorrow!”
There was no chance in hell I was going to my family’s weekly dinner after the shitshow that just occurred. I’d break the news over the phone, later. Excuses would definitely be made.
I sent Maverick a quick message with one hand as I went past the guild’s security guards, flashing them a quick smile.
Me
Sorry about that, Whimsy is a pain
Maverick
Her name is Whimsy?
Me
Yep
Maverick
Is that a vampire thing?
I put my phone in my pocket as I stepped into the awful meetup I’d had to fight so hard to prevent Maverick’s goons from attending.
Jazz music played from a radio. Humans mingled in some of the booths and around the tables, with a few single vampires spread out among them. The humans who were cleared to donate blood wore red wristbands. The ones who weren’t cleared wore black bands.
I managed to dodge everyone on my way to greet Neve. She was a tall, strong middle-aged woman with pale skin, straight brownhair that fell straight to her collarbone, and hazel eyes. She wasn’t kind to anyone, but she had always been polite to me.
I sat down across from her in the booth.
“Hi, Bloom. Glad to see you survived the werewolves.” Her voice was as cold as always.
“You and me both.”
“How’s Harper? I haven’t heard from her since the first murder.”
“She’s a little shaken up from everything that happened with Steven, but she’s getting by.” I chose my words carefully.
Harper and Neve weren’t close, but they were family. She hadn’t said anything, but it seemed safe to assume that it was wrecking her to know that her own mother would have her killed if she found out what had happened.
“I figured.”
There were three black wristbands on the table. Neve tracked how often every single vampire fed, and since I’d skipped two previous gatherings, I’d be required to feed on three humans to make sure I replenished the blood my body had burned through.
“Let me know if you need help dealing with the Alpha. The Guild has a few contacts in the city’s government that might be able to send a message.”
It was almost laughable to think about the human government trying to tell an immortal Alpha that he couldn’t be possessive of the woman fate had all but thrown at him. If someone was going to help me deal with him, it sure as hell wasn’t them.
“Thanks. I will.” I slipped out of the booth, carrying the wristbands.
One of the vampires noticed me and jogged over.
Green.
Ugh.
