Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
All day long I’d felt like I was coming out of my skin. Someone was watching me. I felt eyes on me during my shift, in the parking lot, and now at home, with the feeling only alleviated when I hurried inside the house.
I was being followed. Probably by Alric or one of his people. Did the Prime think I was stupid enough to actually think I could escape this dinner? The thought made me snort. I had no intentions of skipping out.
If anything, maybe I could suck down a great meal and hurry home to get a good night’s sleep? Goals.
I went through the motions of getting ready—shower, shave, lotion, etc.
I debated on wearing my hair down to keep my neck covered, but the dress was a one-shoulder style that begged for an updo, so I tamed my curls and pinned the long length around my head, leaving a few stray curls to frame my face.
To keep the updo in place, I added the special pin I’d created in the basement last night.
At a glance, the hairpin seemed innocuous.
I’d spelled a stunning black and burgundy peony to keep its freshness and souped it up with some simple magic.
It was just a little piece of me—nothing that would register as a weapon.
If a mage scanned me, he wouldn’t think twice about the pin and assume the spell I’d used on the flower was to keep it from wilting.
He’d be half right.
Once the pin was secure, I started on my face. I kept my makeup simple and followed the rule my mother taught me. If you did dark lips, you took it easy on your eyes. If you did heavy eye makeup, you went with a nude lip.
Tonight, I’d chosen to go with a smoky, mauve look with a maroon eyeliner, bringing out the green in my hazel eyes. I kept my lips a simple nude with a slight pinkish sheen and added a wash of berry-colored blush. A spritz of jasmine perfume before adding the jewelry, and I was ready.
When I walked out of the bedroom, Edmund let out a low whistle. “You look stunning.”
I frowned. “I’m trying to look like I belong at a fancy dinner party but not like I’m a socialite or anything. Like maybe a small-town girl who gets dragged into society against her will.”
Edmund snorted. “I think you underestimate how beautiful you are.”
I blinked in surprise. “I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“Well,” the spirit grumbled, “you usually look like a patchwork quilt, so seeing you all dolled up is a surprise.”
“Don’t hate on my thrift store chic,” I chided. “Patchwork is the new black.”
“Can’t you just take the compliment?”
“Fine.” I picked up my small non-matching purse from the table. “Thank you, Edmund. Please gaze upon my glory for the next few moments for tomorrow I will be back to regularly scheduled programming in your favorite mismatched cardigan.”
“A car just pulled up. A fancy one.”
“Let me guess. A limo? An Escalade?”
“Worse. A Rolls Royce.”
Lipstick fell out of my purse and rolled across the floor. “Excuse me?” The entire freaking neighborhood would be atwitter when they saw me get inside.
“Incoming,” Edmund said. “Get your lipstick, straighten your hair, and put your game face on.”
My fingers trembled as I snatched the lipstick and shoved it back into my purse. I straightened my shoulders and reached for the door.
A tall, well-built male stood there when I opened it. Like most vampires, he possessed a cold sort of beauty. Ice-blue eyes, dark hair, well-sculpted cheekbones…
I sighed, my fear draining away with the realization that the Prime wasn’t here to kill me. Not immediately, at least. This male, even though he was a vampire, was merely here to pick me up. He’d be a fool to harm me. “Why must all of you be so pretty?” I blurted.
A surprised chuckle broke from the vampire. “I think it’s in the manual.”
And funny? My feminine instinct almost made me swoon before I got it under control. A reluctant smile tugged my lips up. “Well, who am I to question the manual?”
He held out his elbow. “My name is Leo. I’ll be your driver this evening.”
“You couldn’t come in like a Kia or something, Leo? I’m going to be all over the neighborhood gossip board this evening.”
“Sorry, Miss Alex. The boss is well known for his extravagant taste in vehicles.”
“Yes, well, considering someone just lectured me for my poor taste in thrift clothing, he must be aware that my taste is scraping the bottom of the barrel.”
“I’ll make sure he knows.”
“No need,” I said dryly. “This is a one-time thing.”
Leo didn’t respond, which was a little worrisome. He led me down the steps and over to a cream-colored Rolls Royce.
“Good gracious,” I muttered. “I feel like a toddler with jam on my fingers. My mere presence will sully this gem.”
“We have napkins in the center console,” Leo said as he held the door open.
I laughed. “Why are you a driver, Leo?” The leather was a deep mahogany brown and smelled brand new. I slid inside, the fabric of my dress gliding over my skin as I settled into the warm seat.
“I do many things, Miss Alex. Whatever the Prime needs.”
My lips twisted. “And what do you need?”
Leo’s icy eyes flickered. “Watch your dress, ma’am. I’m about to close the door.”
I ignored the flutter of curtains in the surrounding houses and the nosy nellies peeking out. I’d never live this down.
Leo pulled away from the curb and into traffic with ease.
“How long have you worked for the Prime?” I asked.
Our eyes met in the rearview. “Years.”
“A wide range. Five? Ten?”
When he stayed silent, I sighed. “Come on, Leo. This is my one-time ride in a fancy car with a handsome man, and I’m all dressed up. At least pretend to participate in my fake Cinderella story, please.”
A flash of teeth and Leo shook his head. “Fifty,” he said after a moment. “May I offer some advice, Miss Alex?”
“You may.”
Leo’s gaze went back to the road. “The Prime never invites females to dine with him. Whatever you did, you’ve intrigued him.” He didn’t meet my eyes. “It is never a good idea to intrigue someone as powerful as Alric.”
I sighed. “It was accidental, I assure you.”
“May I ask what happened?”
My laugh this time held a sardonic edge. “Your Prime left me for dead in an alleyway.”
Leo’s eyes went wide.
“Surviving made me interesting, I suppose.”
The vampire blinked, a small furrow appearing between his brows. He opened his mouth, paused, then closed it.
I nodded. “Thank you for your warning. I will do my best to heed your words.”
Leo didn’t have to tell me his warning might have come far too late to help me now.
The feeling of being followed never left me, not until the vehicle slid through the massive iron gates of the Prime’s Hive.
Few supernaturals ever visited a vampire’s private Hive, much less one belonging to a Prime.
Humans who visited rarely left, for obvious reasons.
Vampires loved parties, lots of willing victims to attend to their needs, but gatherings were held on the public part of a Hive, usually run by humans and kept far away from the main area where the vampires resided.
Leo pulled the vehicle right up to a well-kept French provincial-style home.
Soft gray brick and black shutters lent the residence a slightly gothic feel, softened by surprisingly hedonistic landscaping.
Flowers bloomed everywhere, spilling out of the ground, from planters dotted along the large entry way, and large hanging baskets above.
Pink, red, white, violet, and purple varieties of petunias mixed with violas and geraniums competed with sweet potato vines in a riot of color.
“Who does the landscaping?” I asked as we slowed to a stop.
Leo met my eyes once more. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” The amusement shimmering in his eyes made me frown.
I stared until realization hit me. “You’re shitting me.
” Though, if my hunch was correct, Alric was far smarter than I’d initially given him credit for.
Some lower-powered hedgewitches took side gigs as landscapers and botanists, though none worked for vampires.
A sneaky hedge or natural witch could do a whole lot of spying when left to their own devices on a vampire’s property.
But I assumed the vampires’ dislike was more than their paranoia.
Leo’s laugh was bold and genuine. “The Prime has quite the green thumb. He can’t maintain all the grounds, but he insists on planting around the main residence and his private cottages. All the flowers and plants you see within this acre are planted and maintained by Alric.”
“I’ll be damned.” Even with my suspicion, I was struck dumb. A complete monster couldn’t have done this, could they?
Leo turned the vehicle off. “Vampires are not the soulless creatures we are sometimes portrayed to be, Miss Alex. We may no longer be human, but we do still possess souls.”
“You think I’m judgmental.” The realization, as true as it might be, stung.
Leo shook his head. “No. I believe you are somewhat new to our ways. Be careful not to put us in a box. We are full of surprises.”
I nodded slowly. “Will you be driving me home?”
“I will not know until dinner ends, Miss Alex.” With those cryptic words, Leo slid out of the seat and hurried over to open my door, offering a hand to help me out.
His fingers were cool but strong, and he released me as soon as I stepped away, my hands reaching down to straighten my dress so I wouldn’t trip.
“How many people are attending?” I asked as he led me up the steps.
Leo moved to the side and held the door open. He frowned as I walked through. “Just you.”
I stumbled over the hem of my gown and threw my hands out to break my fall. A cool hand wrapped around my arm, gently bringing me upright.