Chapter 31
I escorted her into the ballroom. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, lit with candles. The entire room looked as it would have in my time. Violin notes hung in the air. There were many beautiful women here tonight in expensive dresses, but none more beautiful than the one at my side. Masks of all colours covered faces. I had compelled invitations out of the organisers for Quinn and her friends. Her presence drew attention from the moment she arrived
“This is incredible,” she whispered, her eyes searching the room in awe.
“Dance with me,” I requested. “Please?”
“Okay.” She let me guide her to the dance floor. I placed one hand on her back and led her into the waltz. She had clearly never danced this way before, but with my guidance, she caught on quickly.
“You said you used to attend events like this when you were human,” she reminded me. “Tell me about them.”
I cast a quick glance around the room, catching the familiar vampire scent. I pulled her to me so I could speak into her ear.
“You want to know about me as a human?” I asked. “I was boring.”
“That’s impossible,” she replied without hesitating.
“I was an artist but lived in privilege. My father was a man of importance; we always held balls where he brushed elbows with very well-known elites. There was no one in Venice who didn’t know my family.”
I stopped, catching sight of Gabriela. Her brown eyes dropped to Quinn before meeting mine with a slight smile. Behind her, Carlos glanced in my direction and took in the sight of Quinn.
‘ She smells tantalising, ’ he whispered through our bond. ‘ You’ve already given her pleasure tonight, that scent. I do believe you’ll have her tonight. Body and blood. She desires you, Matteo. They can only hold out for so long. ’
I turned my back on him and focused on dancing with Quinn. His words gave me hope, but I couldn’t hold on to expectation.
The room was full of vampires; at least half the clan were there. Events like this were a draw to my kind, so it was no surprise they were there. I decided against telling her how many vampires were in the room. She would likely entice them with her fear .
“Tell me about Venice,” Quinn murmured. “What were you like?”
“Venice was my whole world,” I said. “I never dreamed of leaving; it was all I knew. I found it peaceful to sit at the front of our home and watch the gondolas go past. I’d sit there and paint. Couples would often ask me to paint them.” Just talking to her about my life in Venice reminded me how much I missed it. I stopped talking as the memories washed over me.
We danced close, our faces inches apart, and again her want washed over me. My mouth hovered over hers, but I waited. Her lips parted, and I kissed her. My heart burst; hers skipped. Everything around us seemed to fade. All I could smell was her. Her blood, her perfume. Her scent. My hearing only focused on her heartbeat. Her presence had become my entire existence, and she clutched at me as if afraid of being torn from me. I pitied anyone who tried — I’d tear them apart.
We separated and she rested her head on my shoulder.
“I hope to see Venice one day,” she mentioned. “It sounds beautiful. The only place I’ve been to outside of Australia is New Zealand. My Dad’s from there, and we visited his family a lot.”
Her heartbeat was still racing, but not with fear.
“Maybe I’ll take you there.” I couldn’t hold the words back. I hadn’t returned to Venice for a long time, and the thought of taking her there brought me joy.
“Don’t tell me, you have a private jet.” I could hear the smile in her voice.
“No, but I do like to fly first class.” I boasted.
“Of course you do.” She laughed .
We danced in silence for a time. Me with my hand on her back, Quinn with her head on my shoulder. I caught her friends watching her with smiles on their faces. I listened to their conversation.
The taller, blonde one met my eye, and gave a brief nod. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her that happy,” she noted.
“Steven really did a number on her. I didn’t think she’d ever look at another man ever again.” The other girl said.
“Your friends are talking about you,” I told her.
“Nothing bitchy, I hope,” she joked, not lifting her head.
“No, they’re happy for you,” I said.
She scoffed. “If only they knew I was in the arms of a vampire.”
I stiffened. “This isn’t one of those things you’ll discuss with them, is it? Not all humans accept my kind.” Especially not hunters. I knew hunters were in Melbourne, had seen some patrolling the streets in the last few weeks, probably looking for me.
She did pull away then, to look up at me. “I won’t betray your secret.”
“I know you won’t, mi amore .” I stroked her cheek, and a new song started. “Do you want a rest? I think there’s food if you’re hungry.”
“That would be nice,” she said. “I should say hello to Lil and Mia.”
As we left the dance floor Gabriela approached. “Matteo.” She brushed my arm. “You look ravishing. Please do introduce me to your friend.”
Quinn locked her arms around mine and she moved to stand partially behind me. She’d deduced that Gabriela was like me and did a good effort of reining in her fear. Gabriela didn’t miss anything.
“She knows what you are. That’s not like you at all.” She turned her gaze to Quinn.
“I saw you,” Quinn said with a shaky voice. “You were watching me. At the restaurant.”
She’d mentioned it once. I hadn’t realised she’d been talking about Gabriela.
“You’re watching her?” I growled.
“When a member of my clan is seen in very public settings with a human, I tend to take notice.” She glared at me. “All these years, and you don’t know what sticking to the shadows means?” She smiled at Quinn. “I suppose you love that you’ve snagged yourself a vampire, don’t you. You like the danger. Or is it the pleasure from his ‘vampire’s kiss’?” Gabriela’s smile was hungry, and I bit back a growl.
“He hasn’t fed from me,” Quinn countered.
Gabriela’s eyes darted to mine in shock. “What are you doing, Matteo?”
“Gabriela, go and find your human and worry about him. Leave mine alone.”
“Yours? I see.” She gave Quinn a hungry smile. “Welcome to la Primera Familia, little human.”
Before I could say anything, I caught the whiff of blood. Gabriela half-turned as if she’d caught the scent, too. “Smells like Carlos has started early. I think I’ll join him.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “There are more bodies that you and I will talk about.”
Her smile grew cold as I pushed past her and led Quinn towards her friends.
“Who was that?” Quinn asked .
“She’s the head of our clan. I’ve known her for a long time. She’s very old.” I didn’t like that Quinn was now on Gabriela’s radar. “She’s what you would consider a queen in my world.”
We reached the edge of the dance floor, and she led me to her friends, introducing us.
“What was all that about?” Lilith asked, nodding towards Gabriela.
“Nothing.” Quinn said quickly. “Have you two danced yet? Isn’t this amazing?”
Lilith’s eyes remained on me as Quinn and Mia spoke, before focusing behind me, which I could only assume was on Gabriela.
Mia grasped Lilith’s arm. “Let’s go dance!”
A ping went off, and Lilith pulled out her phone, frowning.
“That looks serious,” Quinn said. “What is it?”
“There was another murder earlier tonight, on Bourke Street,” Mia read over her shoulder. “A woman was found down an alleyway.”
I feigned interest. “Down Bourke Street?” The location was not far from Quinn’s apartment, and where I’d fed earlier. I struggled to remember if I had lost control. All I remembered was the feeding, before returning to my limo. Did I slip up again? Gabriela will no doubt have words about that, too. Will she starve me again or cage me?
Quinn’s hand tightened around my arm. I could feel the change in her, as she gazed at me. I gave her a quick shake of the head but wished I could be sure I hadn’t killed.
“So, your brother is on that case then? Like the other ones?” Quinn asked.
“Yeah, he is,” Lilith said .
“On the case?” I asked.
“Her brother’s a cop; he usually gets the strange cases. He got the pair from the alley a couple of months ago, and the others last week.”
Lilith’s eyes met mine, and a spark of suspicion shone from within their depths as she turned her attention to Quinn with a frown.