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Impressed, even.
The chairs and sofas were arranged for both conversation and reading, with plush earth-toned pillows and throws on each.
I could totally see myself, nose in a book, with my legs tucked under me, all wrapped up in one of those throw blankets.
Even the great room, with its sprawling marble tile, multiple chandeliers, and open concept, had still stayed cozy because someone had the foresight to divide the room with rich, jewel-toned area rugs and comfortable furniture.
The king had hired a talented designer.
Arriving in the courtyard, I suppressed a tiny gasp. Again, I knew the layout of this space, but I hadn’t expected it to be so…
Magical.
Tucked so deep within the compound that midtown street noise didn’t reach it, lay a breathtaking, open-air courtyard. I gazed down at the recessed garden with cobblestone paths, topiary sculptures and exotic birds perched on stone pillars.
Only the crescent moon illuminated the gala, making the champagne flutes of blood look black and the vampire guests look their most magnificent.
I was a firm believer that Lafayette was the only vampire allowed to sparkle, but moonlight lit our kind from within, as if the moon knew we were creatures made only for her light.
The darker-skinned vampires glowed in shades of gold and copper, ochre and sienna, all the way to deep indigo and umber. The lighter-skinned vamps lit up the courtyard with silver and ivory and cream and blush.
We were our own light.
Vamps gathered around tall tables three and four at a time, sipping blood and munching on hors d’oeuvres provided by the king.
I spied a few of my nest mates—the vampires I should be living with—toward the stone pillars separating the courtyard from the interior space. But before going over, I checked the other courtyard exits. There were seven in total, none of which led outside. Instead, they all branched into the seven wings of the compound.
The only way out was the way I came in.
I took stock of the security vamp stationed in front of each courtyard exit. All of their stares remained fixed on the partygoers. What was this party for this time? A new library opening? Breaking ground on an addition to the compound? I hadn’t bothered to check the invitation. All I knew was this was my ticket out of here.
It was going to be a cinch.
I zeroed in on the wing entrance at approximately seven o’clock. The one I needed, and also the one with a huge blockhead vamp goon standing in front of it.
An unmistakable hired gun. Not part of the king’s regular rotation.
He didn’t have the thousand-yard stare of security with too little to do because their employer—the king of Laurel Cove—was the most powerful vampire on this side of the river. Nope, he was a brand-new hire, which meant he’d be extra-vigilant. His suit jacket had the shadowy outline of a firearm, which I had personal knowledge contained enough tranquilizer to take out a vampire rhino. The other security guards didn’t.
Bingo.
It was so nice when a plan came together.
The goon would be easy enough to distract. Just a wink and a nod in the right direction and he’d be putty in my hands. After that? That’s when the real work began.
But I couldn’t just beeline for the prize. That was too obvious. I had to mingle and bide my time.
And I had to make the hired vamp goon with big dumb dick energy believe I was actually interested in him.
Big dumb dick energy—coined for my first boyfriend, whose dick was so big it diverted too much blood from his brain and made him real dumb. Pretty. But real dumb.
Excellent in bed.
But again…
Real dumb.
I averted my gaze before BDD felt it and headed across the courtyard to my nest mates.
