Page 57 of Dark Obsession

“Someone’s been breaking the rules,” Cody said, tone hard.

“No one from the group I know is doing it,” she said. “No one. They’re all just trying to keep a low profile and find a way to exist in a world that doesn’t believe in them. Or, if they do believe, they’re terrified and want to destroy them.”

“Because they kill people and create more vampires,” Cody said before starting to move again.

“Are all gay men the same?” Zenona said.

“What the fuck?” Cody stopped and stared.

Her question raised a familiar knot of emotion—shame, guilt, and anger braided together—that tightened low inside Demetrius’s belly.

“You’re not, are you?” She looked between them. “It’s no different for them. You trusted Michael, why can’t you trust Marlowe?”

“We don’t know Marlowe!” Cody’s volume had gone up again.

“Let’s all take a beat here, okay?” Demetrius stood and held both hands out. “Emotions are running hot, and that won’t help any of us.”

“Fine,” Cody said with a snarl, then pointed at Zenona. “I’m bisexual, and you know it.”

She stood and crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. “Do I?”

Cody’s cheeks reddened, and he turned away.

Demetrius watched them. Cody’s face was still flushed, and he practically stalked the area behind the couch, avoiding their eyes. Zenona had put the chair between them again where she picked at a thread.

“All right,” he said. “There’s one way to get through all of this and figure out what we’re dealing with.”

“Oh?” Cody and Zenona said at the same time, then exchanged glares.

“Yes.” Demetrius looked at Cody a moment before turning to Zenona. “Take us to The Rusty Screw.”