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Play it cool, Gem, I tell myself. You got this.
As they approach the bar, I don’t even pretend not to notice them, though I do step away to the far end of the long counter since it’s obvious that they’re here for me. The second they entered the bar, Tamera’s head swung my way. Her scarlet nail followed as she pointed at me. A sense of self-preservation warns me that I’m probably going to want to keep this conversation as private as I can, so I move away from few customers who were enjoying their five o’clock drink.
I nod at them, grabbing a rag and wiping down this side of the bar. “Welcome to Charlie’s. Can I get you guys anything?”
It’s a kindness, a test, and me just doing my job all rolled into one. If they’re on duty, alcohol is out, but they’re both vamps. Charlie keeps the back fridge stocked with blood bags—both the real stuff and synthetic—so I could serve them something if they’re thirsty.
Please ask for a blood whiskey, I think. Just a shot so I know that I’m not in as much trouble as I’m willing to bet I am.
Tamera’s pale green eyes glance up at Dominic. Like every other vamp in Muncie, his eyes are just as light; blue instead of green, but so pale that they kind of freak me out. I fix my gaze on a point just over his shoulder so that he can’t tell.
When around an apex predator, never show any weakness, even when they’re wrapped up in such a respectable and lovely package.
Dominic glances down at Tamera, then shakes his head. “Nothing for us, but thanks for offering, Ms. Swann.”
Oof. Ms. Swann.
I toss the rag while biting back a sigh.
Yup. I’m in big, big trouble.
Might as well just go for it, then. “Let me guess. This is about the prick from this morning, isn’t it?”
Tamera is supernaturally beautiful—because, well,vamp—but her beauty fades a little when she twists her face into a sneer like that one. “If you’re referring to how you attacked Monroe—”
“Tamera,” Dominic says chidingly. “The Cadre doesn’t judge until we have all the facts. We have Monroe’s statement that a feral wolf attacked him. Does she look feral to you?”
A begrudging, “No.”
“I agree. So now we’re here to ask Ms. Swann for her side of the story. Can you listen with an open mind, or would you rather return to headquarters while I handle this for Roman?”
“I’ll listen.”
“Good.” He waits a moment for her to say anything else, then offers me a small grin when she doesn’t. “Roman believes in fairness, even if some of his people don’t understand why. Still, Tamera’s a quick learner and will be an asset to the Cadre now that she’s joined us. I’m glad she’s here to help with this evening’s mediation.”
As Tamera preens next to him, I can help but think: oh, he’sgood.
Instead of scolding her and making her feel bad, he corrects her behavior and lifts her up. I’ve seen Aleks do something similar, especially when he was talking to some of the vamps he worked with.
Roman’s influence? Maybe.
I’ve never met the leader of Muncie, but I’m grateful for him all the same for all of the allowances he’s made for me ever since Aleks vouches for me last year. Gotta admit, after how I lost my temper earlier, a part of me was almost sure that he’d kick my sorry tail out of Muncie once word got back to him about me attacking one of his people.
He could very easily still do that, but at least he’s giving me the chance to defend myself first.
So I do. From the way Tamera’s expression turns skeptical as I give a play-by-play of what happened between me and that Monroe asshole, I’m not so sure I pull off being as straightforward as I want to—my animal nature gets the best of me, emotions taking over as I remember what he said to set me off—but she doesn’t interrupt. Neither does Dominic.
When I’m finally done, he nods. “Thank you. Monroe has a history of going after those weaker than him, then complaining when he finds one stronger. You’re not the first. I’ll bring your response to Roman, and maybe you’ll be the last.”
Whoa. I thought the way I just about tore him apart was payment enough for his challenging me. Luna, if I wanted the vamp taken out, I could’ve done it myself and saved us all the trouble.
Brutal.
I must have given away something in my expression because Dominic is quick to correct my suspicions.
“Please. We’re not monsters, Ms. Swann. We won’t kill him for going against our leader’s wishes. If anything, Roman will just… encourage him to leave Muncie if he won’t abide by our rules.”
Because he seems to be siding with me, I make myself ignore his cheap shot. Oh, the benevolent vampires would never take down one of their own, would they? Not like the beastly shifters, huh?
