Page 8

I nod at him. The sound of my name on his lips makes my mouth go dry.

“You’re quite sure?”

I nod again.

He narrows his eyes, clocks the blood on my hands, the box on the counter, the tongue on the floor. Then turns back to my assailants.

“Did you hear about what happened to the queen?” Thornfield growls, inching closer to them.

The vamps furtively look at the door as if they’re assessing whether they can make it out before he catches them.

Deciding they can’t, the female says, “We heard.”

“Tell me.” He rolls up his sleeves, reaches into his pocket, and takes out a cigar.

Panic blooms in my stomach.

He lights it and draws it to his lips.

I clear my throat.

Thornfield turns his gaze on me and quirks an eyebrow. Amusement and irritation dart across his face.

“The books,” I hiss, gesturing to the cigar. “The smoke…”

There is a pause. Then, slowly, Thornfield uses the palm of his hand to put out the cigar. It sizzles as it meets his flesh, but when he drops it to the floor and uncurls his fingers, his skin is already sewing itself back together.

“You were saying?” he asks the quivering vampires.

“You killed her,” says one.

“Ate her heart,” mutters the other.

I wrap my arms around my waist. He ate someone’s heart?

“Why did I do that?” Thornfield folds his arms. His muscles twitch.

“To prove you’re the boss,” the muttering one says.

“To prove I’m the boss.” Thornfield starts to smile. “Exactly.”

“Except…” The female tries to answer him. There’s a flash of defiance in her eyes. But then there is another blur of movement and a stomach-churning crack.

I slam my eyes closed.

When I open them, both of the remaining vampires lie on the floor. The sides of their skulls are caved in. Did he smash their heads together?

Thornfield towers over them, then crouches down.

They are still alive, their eyes twitching strangely in their concave faces.

He taps one on the forehead then takes hold of their chin and makes them look at me. “Apologize to the lady,” he says.

A slurred, unintelligible sound chokes past their lips.

With just a click of his fingers, he makes the other vampire do the same.

Then he stands, takes a handkerchief from his pocket, and uses it to wipe his hands.