Page 31 of Vameer

The scent of burning hair hits the air.

“Fuck.” The man swats at his leg and stands upright.

“My apologies.” I keep my tone as gentle as I can. “I didn’t intend to frighten you.”

“Course not. Just a big-as-fuck vampire standing in the dark with a fucking sword is all. Nothing scary ’bout that.”

I lift a brow. “You know I’m a vampire?”

“Uh, yeah.” His tone implies this is obvious. “Even without the size. The horns and”—he uses his empty hand to point to his eyes—“kinda give it away.”

“Who do you know?” I narrow my solid black eyes at the Irishman.

“Uh.” He eyes me warily. “I don’t catch your meaning.”

“What vampires do you know?” I try to figure out if this man might actually be a foe.

“None, boss. You’re the first.”

His heart rate has been elevated since he saw me, but it doesn’t increase as he speaks. And he doesn’t smell like lies.

I continue to watch him. “Then how do you know what I am?”

“Everyone knows what vampires look like.” He shrugs. “The horns and shit.”

I take a step closer. “What do you mean everyone knows?”

His pulse jumps. But his scent is laced with fear, not deceit. “Just everybody. People’ve known forever.”

People have known forever.

Pressure builds in my chest.

Forever. Longer than this man has been alive.

“How d’you not know that?” His brows furrow.

“I’ve been…sleeping.” The admission grates out.

He would not be able to detect my lies, but the truth will help me get the information I need.

The man presses his lips together, then he exhales. “For how long?”

I have to concentrate on keeping my heart steady.

That is the question.

But since I don’t know the answer, I ask my own. “What year is it?”

The man’s eyes widen, and he swallows before he tells me.

And when he does…

My power rolls inside me.

The ground starts to vibrate.

And I put all my focus on my heartbeat.