Page 33 of Call of the Blood

“He’s fucking with you,” the other fae said with a flat expression. “Yeah, we serve donated. Sounds like that’s something you’d like. Warm or hot?”

“Hot,” I answered, even more thrown off that they could serve me.

“Normally, vampires go to the blood club,” a werewolf said, looking over. “You must be that little vampire Lucas’ girl has drama with now. He said you had fire red hair down to your ass.”

“Not really drama,” I said, shrugging at the wolf. “Though I didn’t realize my hair was that long.” I pulled my curly ponytail forward, and it wasn’t. It was longer than when I became a vampire, but it wasn’t extreme. I didn’t comment on the blood club thing. There was no reason to. If the fae here served human blood, then they saw enough vampires to maintain that business decision.

I sniffed the hot blood when it was put in front of me. A lidded coffee cup of blood. The absurdity of it was funny, but I wasn’t in the mood to laugh. I took it with me to a table in front of the windows and started sipping as I watched the street. Humans out late, laughing and talking together or stalking to mug someone. It didn’t really matter. I just liked to watch them.

“Don’t mind the werewolves or the witches,” the fae at the other window seat said. “We have vampire regulars. Some of them will probably be in soon. Blood clubs have a… vibe that a lot of vampires will only tolerate out of necessity.”

“And you are?”

“The owner of this fine establishment,” the fae answered. “Name unimportant. You are Everly Abbott, the vampire under Alexius the Hunter. He certainly doesn’t go to blood clubs. He actually stopped in here earlier, had questions. Are you here for the same?”

“Actually, no. I had no idea he was here,” I answered, frowning. “He’s here on work. I’m on vacation.”

“She’s not lying,” one of the werewolves called out.

“Thank you,” the owner said, smiling back at the werewolves. “So, you’re on vacation taking in the sights of Los Angeles.”

I was amazed and deeply uncomfortable. This was my second full night in the city. It wasn’t close to done, yet random supernaturals, in a café I hadn’t heard of until tonight, knew about me.

“If it’s not rude to ask… how do you know all that about me?” I asked softly. “I’m from Savannah, and while I know rumors get around…”

“Oh.” The fae frowned. “Yeah, you aren’t being trained in a full nest or in a city with anything worth talking about. Savannah has two important things. A witch coven and Alexius. Fae are really only getting a foothold in the city.”

“Yeah,” I confirmed.

“Then I’ll be nice. Let me educate you about why places like this exist and how I know everything. Why Alexius came by earlier.” He got up and waved me to follow him. I looked at the werewolves, oddly enough, almost asking if I should.

“No one wants that smoke with Alexius,” the werewolf said simply. “No one is going to harm you here. It’s neutral ground, and the owner is honor bound and magically bound to protect his guests, even from himself unless his life is actively in danger.”

“Ah. Thanks.”

“No problem,” the helpful werewolf replied. As I went behind the counter, I heard the werewolf huff. “Can’t believe no one has brought her to a place like this before.”

“No, she’s more just rubbing elbows with ancient vampires if the rumors are true,” the other werewolf said, shooting me a look that I caught before going into the back.

I knew the signs of an information broker when I saw them.

“Wow,” I said softly, seeing the computer set up and the board of important things he was either showing or tracking himself. One of them was news on vampires, recent events he picked up and could then tell the people he wanted or needed to tell.

“There are fae like me all over Los Angeles and other cities. We also manage some of the more underground things of the supernatural world, like bounties. Which, if you didn’t know, are legal. But they’re not allowed in my establishment. We fae know when and where people’s business should take place. You might be interested in this,” he said, pointing out something on his board for me. “A freebie for coming to my establishment on your vacation. For trusting a new supernatural place site unseen.”

“So, normally someone has to pay you to get back here and get intel,” I said, smiling a little. It was a good business plan. An easy one.

“Or become my friend,” he said with a casual shrug and turned to look at me. I hadn’t really taken him in out in the main area, but in the closer space, I could see he was beautiful. He probably had a lot of friends. He made no move on me, so I pointed out something obvious.

“I need to know someone’s name to be their friend.”

“Ah. Fine. Beautiful women, my weakness. It’s Wren. Yes, a songbird in the information game. Now, get to reading.”

I leaned forward to read what he pointed out, smiling that I had gotten his name out of him.

“Alexius the Hunter and Everly Abbott spotted at LAX,” I read aloud. I laughed softly. “Fair enough. Spotted right out in the open.” I read further. “Alexius the Hunter at Court of Coffee, asking about vampires that won’t present themselves to Maria’s nest.” It was timed and dated for earlier in the night. He’d stopped in really quick after leaving me with Declan.

“Hm-hm.” The fae was smiling. “And now I get to add to it.” He grabbed a pen and wrote ‘Everly Abbott on vacation, exploring Los Angeles scene, spotted at Court of Coffee’. He then timed and dated the little entry.