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Silvan snorted. “Stalking is your area of expertise, isn’t it?”
“Excuse me?”
“That night in the Quarter when you were following Romy?”
Bastian smiled thinly. “But I was not the only one trailing Andromeda, was I?”
Silvan rolled his eyes and started to pace. The primal agitation had begun, and moving was the only way to slow it.For Romy.“Fuck, man, I was just getting a sno-ball, and then I smelled your dead ass. Followed the stench and spotted Romy with her nerd, and lo and behold, thereyouwere, slinking into the shadows like you always fucking do.”
“That’s not what you saw in the alley, though, was it, Silvan?” Bastian’s smooth grin was as unnatural as the rest of him. “But we have far bigger conundrums to solve at present than who Andromeda is attracted to.”
Silvan turned away. Why was he even talking to the creature? What would his father think if he ever learned that his son and heir had not only feasted on a witch until she came all over his face but also had a mostly civil conversation with their actual mortal enemy?
For that matter, why washenot more concerned about it?
Was it the vamp? Was he magicking him in some way, forcing calm upon him?
Nah, too easy. Silvan would know if someone was controlling him. He’d spent his life breaking chains.
“The only problem I have is how I’m gonna get home without someone smelling you all over me,” Silvan muttered.
“You saw it, Silvan. You saw it on the island.”
Silvan groaned and pointed his face at the sky. Of course he’d fucking seen it. It was all he could do to keep it out of his mind long enough to help Romy.
Light crunching sounded as Bastian drew nearer. He practically glided along the gloaming. Everything about him was so obnoxious Silvan could hardly stand it. “Somebody, somethingis preparing for a sacrifice. I would wager that the blood you saw on that altar belongs to someone you care about a great deal.”
“If you fuckingdaresay Claude’s name—”
Bastian held up both palms in surrender. “You have already drawn that conclusion on your own, so I don’t need to say his name. You know I’m right. That Andromeda, by virtue of who she is, is in danger. She’s…” The vampire trailed off and pointed his pained grimace into the brush.
Silvan’s neck hair stood at attention. He felt the sensation ripple through him, the thought of Romy on that altar eliciting a fierce wave of protection that almost had him shifting involuntarily. He swished his tongue back and forth in his mouth to save face. “Right, and how do I know that altar isn’tyours,vamp?”
“You do not,” Bastian said. “And I can offer no words to assuage you of your suspicions. Your hatred runs deeper than my skill to persuade. But for Andromeda, I suggest you at least try to trust me. You and I, we may never be friends, but even enemies can benefit from calculated partnerships. I would and will do whatever is necessary to protect her. I believe you would and will too. Am I wrong?”
“Of course you’re not fucking wrong, but that doesn’t mean you’re right about the rest,” Silvan gruffed. “Blood-soaked altars are a favorite ofyourkind.”
“And is that not, by itself, rousing your suspicion? The convenience of the finding?”
Silvan tipped his chin. “Speak English, asshole.”
Bastian folded his hands across his torso with a patient look. “When the conclusion seems obvious, it’s prudent to ask yourself why. If I wanted to deflect responsibility—or, as you might say, frame someone—then I would make it appear like someone other than me was the culprit.”
“You’re saying the vamps are being framed for murder?” Silvan raked his hand over his mouth with a bitter laugh. “Isn’t that your favorite thing?”
“It’s not my favorite thing, no,” Bastian said. “What I saw on the island disturbed me as much as it did you. I’m only suggesting Andromeda is safer with both of us looking out for her.”
Silvan blinked slowly. “You think I need your permission to protect her?”
“Only as much as I need yours.”
“Toush, asshole.”
“It’s pronouncedtoo-shay, but that’s neither here nor there. I can count on you?”
“I’m not doing this for you!” Silvan bounded forward. He felt his shoulders slowly rip.Not now.“Let’s get that really fucking clear right now,Bastian.I would never, and I mean never, take an order from you. And if I see you hanging around the Garden District, brooding about like a Dickensian orphan in need of a second helping, you can fucking bet I won’t have the same restraint I do now.” With a devious grin, he added, “You can thank her magical pussy for calming me enough not to kill you. Later, asshole.”
Silvan shifted and bounded away.
