Chapter 25
Chapter
Twenty-Five
“Ijust thought of something,” Antonio says.
“This demon made the deal with you, knowing you were clueless about who you actually were. It’s banking on you not knowing the truth to be able to trick you.
If it finds out that you now know it needs you to free it…
I actually don’t know. But it won’t be good. ”
“That’s a good point,” Devon agrees.
“Demons lie more than they don’t,” Antonio goes on.
“They cheat and change the rules as they go. Blackwood blood is needed to use the key, but the demon doesn’t know you know the truth.
It could easily trick you into thinking you weren’t the one who actually opened the door and the lesser-demons could get their hands on the key right after you unlock it,” he says rather quickly. “Does that ramble make sense?”
“It does,” I tell him. “And I know I need to play dumb. I have to be careful not to risk him knowing what I know.”
“This is a lot to keep track of,” Mabel says as she sets up for another tea party.
We are in the parlor with her, trying to wrap our heads around everything I just told them.
Xavier and Theo are back in his office, dealing with someone from the VC.
The public is still freaked out from what happened, and the rumor mill is in full swing, perpetuating fear.
The two men who tried to carjack us last night turned out to be former gang members with outstanding warrants. Victoria from the VC was thrilled when she found out about it, being able to spin everything to make Xavier look like the hero I know he actually is.
The man with the broken wrist is on trial for some pretty gross crimes against women.
I’m not sure what angle of Victoria is running with, but Xavier definitely looks like the hero this city deserves.
I knew there was a lot of image control when it came to politics, I just never realized how involved it all was.
Or, if I’m being honest, how fake a lot of this is.
It skeeves me out to think about other politicians being made to look like wonderful people when I know they’re not.
That’s something I can worry about later, if ever at all.
It is what it is, and I plan to stay as far away from politics as I possibly can, given the fact that I’m married to Xavier Malus.
Devon‘s phone rings. “It’s the Charlotte PD,” he says and leaves the room to answer it. Mabel gives Antonio and I another cupcake and then serves tea to all of her dolls. By the time she’s done, Devon comes back.
“They found your truck, Antonio.” By the look on his face, I know the truck isn’t in working condition.
“Where’d they find it?” Antonio asks. “I am kind of scared to hear the answer.”
“You should be,” Devon goes on. “Because they found it at the bottom of the lake. Someone reported suspicious tire tracks on the bank. “Your wallet and phone were recovered as well, but the SIM card was removed from your phone, which is why it was not traceable.”
Antonio sits up and runs his hand through his hair. It’s getting long, and I probably should remind him to get a haircut. Self-care isn’t high on a hunter’s priority list.
“They really went all-out like something bad happened to you,” I say, shaking my head. “I mean, something bad did happen, just not the narrative they want.”
“If they wanted to try to sell you becoming a vampire they should’ve tried harder,” Devon says. “Why would we get rid of your truck at a lake? That doesn’t make sense.”
“You’re right,” Antonio agrees. “It definitely wasn’t thought out. Which makes me wonder…” He picks up his empty cup of tea taking a fake sip to appease Mabel.
“I wonder, too,” I say, voicing what he doesn’t want to say out loud.
“Wonder what?” Mabel adds real sugar cubes to our empty cups.
“He wasn’t supposed to die,” I say bluntly. “They needed human blood to draw the sigil on the ground, but they didn’t need enough to drain someone. There is no reason to slash his wrist like a suicide victim.”
A few seconds of silence took by as we all think about just how fucked up the situation is.
“You know,” Devon starts, a smirk coming to his face. “You all thought I was a vampire when I pretended to be one.”
“Not me,” I remind him. “I could tell you weren’t a vampire the second you walked into the house.”
“But they didn’t.” He motions to Antonio.
“A house full of well-trained hunters was convinced I was a vampire because I acted like one. I mean, I also came from this family and you were expecting a vampire to come to your house, so I see how that worked in my favor and I can’t take credit for having any award-winning acting skills, but…
” His eyebrows go up. “If they want a vampire, I say we give them a vampire.”
I laugh and then realize he’s serious. I look at Antonio expecting to see similar amusement on his face. I’m taken aback to see that he’s actually considering it.
“That’s not a terrible idea,” he says.
“Right? You wouldn’t have to hide out here all the time.”
“Um, hello?” I interject. “You could get staked. You know what happened the last time someone thought I was with a vampire who wasn’t a vampire. You were there. Devon almost died!”
“He did die,” Mabel says in a singsong voice. “And he still is dead.”
“Exactly. Don’t think the same won’t happen to you,” I tell Antonio. “I already made a deal to bring you back once.”
“How about I just don’t get staked?” Antonio says. “I mean, that’s the preferred plan anyway, right?”
“That’s always my plan,” Devon says, and they both laugh. In another life, I would have loved so much to sit here and see my brother and my brother-in-law getting along and joking like this. But man, things are messed up right now.
My phone dings with a text and I immediately pick it up. I’ve never been particularly glued to my phone, even though I loved to waste a good hour doomscrolling. But right now, I am desperately waiting for an update from Leo. The text is from Delphi, not him.
Delphi: I heard you guys are coming to the benefit tonight. I’ll be there! My clinic is a donor.
Me: Benefit?
Delphi: It’s for the NC Young heritage committee. They’re big political donors.
Delphi: Maybe you haven’t heard yet, and I don’t know if I should be the one to spill the tea…
Me: Well, not you have to.
Delphi: The mayor is going to step down and officially announced his endorsement for Xavier
“The fuck?” I ask that loud and everybody looks at me.
“What’s going on?” Antonio asks.
“I’m not sure. I think I need to talk to my husband.”
“God, it’s so weird hearing you say that.”
“It’s kind of weird saying it still,” I admit and hold up my left hand. “Do you know how long it took me to get used to this thing? I scratched myself several times before I did.” I stand up, stretching my arms out in front of me before I leave the parlor. I meet Xavier halfway through the house.
“You’re being nominated for mayor?” I ask and he looks a little surprised. “Delphi just texted me. Her clinic is a donor for the fundraiser benefit tonight.”
“Right, they are,” he says and puts both hands on my shoulders, slowly running his hands down my arms until he laces our fingers. “Yes, we’re going. All of us.” His lips curved up into a cocky smirk. “And I like Devon‘s idea. Tonight, Antonio is a vampire.”
I close my fingers around the gemstone and whisper the incantation Marie told me to say.
Almost immediately, I feel a sense of clarity come over my mind.
She told me that the same powers that enable me to sense what other people are thinking and feeling makes me at risk for opening my mind to anyone with similar abilities.
Like the demon.
So tonight, I can’t use my talent to suss out anyone for Xavier’s benefit, but we would rather not have the demon in my head.
I put the gemstone in my purse, and check my reflection one more time before I head downstairs. Antonio, Devon, and Zeke are all down there, dressed and coordinating but not matching suits.
“I have to admit,” I say, looking at Antonio standing next to the two vampires. “As long as you don’t breathe you obviously you kind of fit the part.”
“This is the most expensive thing I’ve ever been inside,” Antonio says motions to his suit.
“Even more expensive than those hookers you paid for in Chicago?” I reply with that missing a beat.
He makes a face and just rolls his eyes at me. “How many of these fancy benefits have you been to? They said you go all the time.”
“Honestly, I’ve lost count. Some of them are just more or less meetings I suppose.
” Tonight, I’m wearing an emerald green, one shoulder dress.
It’s floor length, with a slit all the way up to the top of my thigh on one side.
My hair is down and soft waves, hanging around my face.
I have on a pair of diamond earrings, and given my track record of hunting demons in evening gowns, I opted for some low, comfortable heels tonight.
“You look beautiful,” Xavier tells me when he comes into the room. He grabs me around the waist and kisses me, tongue slipping into my mouth. He’s never cared who sees.
“I would say get a room, but you may take that literally and make us late,” Theo grumbles.
We head out. Xavier Theo, and I drive together and the others go separately.
The event is at a fancy hotel downtown filled with lots of rich old people. It takes forever to make our rounds. Everybody wants to stop and say hi to Xavier, congratulating him on what a good job he’s done keeping the city safe, or how happy they are to see him cleaning up the riffraff.
I spot Antonio, Devon, Zeke, and Mabel across the room and make my way towards them as soon as I politely can.
“You didn’t tell me they were serving dinner,” Antonio says as soon as I get over to him. “I’m fucking starving and I can’t eat. I’m a vampire. Can I?”