Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Guess Gwen ratted me out, because I no sooner woke at sunset and guzzled my mug of warm blood than Cillian walked into my bedroom.
No knock. No warning. Just suddenly there, looking stern and handsome, whereas I had bedhead and a pillow imprint on my face.
“Did you seriously kill someone in public?” he barked immediately launching into a harangue.
“Hardly public. It happened in an alley.”
“Where you could have been seen,” Cillian growled.
“It wasn’t intentional. When the guy broke my nose—”
“He did what?” Cillian stalked for me and grasped my chin to look at my face. He turned it left and right.
“It’s fine now. It healed before we torched the body.”
“You shouldn’t have been close enough for him to touch you in the first place,” Cillian snapped—and yeah, he might be chastising, but holy moly the man oozed sexy.
“Yeah well, at the time all I could think was I had to stop him from hurting his ex-girlfriend.”
“So you decided to be a hero.” Cillian sighed and his tight grip on my chin eased. His fingers lightly brushed my chuck. “Bravery is commendable but not when you take unnecessary risks.”
“What risk? He didn’t stand a chance against me,” I scoffed.
“Few humans would, but you could have been seen, which would have been bad. If it were to be known vampires existed, we’d harken back to the days when villagers hunted and culled our kind.”
“I’m sorry. I saw him smack his ex and lost control.”
“At least you had a reason and didn’t just kill him for fun.” He stood back and eyed me. “You seem to be thriving since I last saw you.”
I tossed my hair. “If by that you mean getting young again, then yes. You forgot to mention that was one of the perks.”
“Because it doesn’t happen to everyone. Some fledglings take years or even decades to reverse the effects of time. Some never have it happen at all and remain the age they were when changed.”
“How young, appearance-wise, will I get?”
He shrugged. “No idea. As mentioned, it differs from person to person.”
“I won’t turn into a child, will I?” Because that would suck.
His laughter emerged low, and sexy. “No. Early twenties is usually the most anyone regresses.”
“Thank fuck.” I eyed him. “Anything else I should know? Like, am I going to get special powers?”
“That, like the age reversal, differs from vampire to vampire.”
“Wait, so I might get some kind of ability, like turning into mist or a bat, hypnotizing people, super speed?” I couldn’t stem my excitement.
His lips quirked. “No shapeshifting, I’m afraid, but mesmerizing is a common skill among our kind.
It helps to convince our dinner to stand still and not scream.
Speed increases with age. You’ll also find yourself stronger.
Some of our kind can even foretell the future or read a person’s intention. ”
“What’s your superpower?”
“A secret for now. I hear you went shopping.” He changed the subject.
“I did, on your dime. Yvette took all kinds of measurements and notes. I should be getting a bunch of stuff over the next few days once she gets the new outfits tailored to fit.”
“Excellent. As your body continues to change, you’ll most likely have to see her again a time or two for resizing. Once your changes stabilize, you’ll just be able to email or call her when you need new garments.”
“Are you encouraging me to spend your money?” Having dated many cheap men, it took me by surprise.
“I am. Don’t worry about cost, I have enough for you to order thousands of wardrobes.”
“I just need one, but thanks.” Then because I couldn’t help myself, I quipped, “Gonna have to start calling you sugar daddy, or should I make that sugar vampire?”
“Neither.” He grimaced.
“How about sugar fang?” His glare had me laughing. “Oh, your face, so priceless,” I chortled.
“Now that you’re properly outfitted, you should ask Gwen to make an appointment with Colleen.”
“Who’s she?”
“Hair and makeup artist.”
“Not sure why I’d need either. Last night was the first time I left the house since getting here, and as you noticed, it didn’t go well.”
“It happens. Fledglings struggle with controlling their bloodlust but, that said, you’ve done well thus far. My staff says this is the only incident you’ve had.”
“Yeah, but I should admit, I’ve wanted to bite Lou a couple of times.” Lou being the most stuck up of the three staff members, which said a lot given how not warm and cuddly the other bodyguards were.
“I’ve wanted to do the same on occasion,” Cillian joked, his face creasing in a smile that had me eyeing him with hunger—not the fill my belly kind, but cream my panties carnal.
“Why have you avoided me?” I bluntly asked.
“I’ve been busy.”
“Dealing with Gavin’s reappearance,” I stated remembering what I’d been told.
“Among other things, yes. December is a hectic time for me. But it’s not as if you’ve lacked for anything.”
“Other than someone to talk to,” I grumbled. “I would have misbehaved sooner if I knew it would get me a face-to-face meeting.”
“Feeling neglected?”
“More like bored and lonely. Your staff aren’t exactly warm and fuzzy and I’m not allowed to talk to anyone from my old life.
” That had been made crystal clear to me by Randy.
“I’m not sure how I’m supposed to make friends, seeing how I can only go out at night and can’t exactly reveal my secret.
Not to mention, any humans I befriend could accidentally end up being dinner. ” My lips turned down.
He grimaced. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a protégé and I’m afraid I’ve forgotten what that’s like. I might be able to help with the boredom aspect. I was invited to a Christmas soiree tomorrow night. You will accompany me.”
He didn’t ask, he told, and I didn’t care. I couldn’t help the spurt of excitement. “A soiree sounds fancy. How should I dress?””
“The last time I attended this particular party the women wore a wide range of outfits from simple to intricate.”
“That’s not very helpful.”
“How about the fact I’ll be wearing a tuxedo?”
My brows lifted. “Hot damn. That sounds way more sophisticated than anything I’ve ever attended.” I paused before adding, “Are you sure you want to take me?”
“Weren’t you just complaining about being stuck in the house?”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to embarrass you in front of your friends.”
“You’ll be fine. And they’re not my friends. Just people I know.”
And he wanted me to meet them.
“All right, it’s a date then.”
“A date…” he repeated almost musingly. “I’ll see you tomorrow at sunset.” As quickly as he barged in, Cillian left.
The encounter left me dissecting it more than it probably merited. How had I gone from getting in shit to being told to gussy up for a party? I hit the gym to see if exercise would help me figure Cillian out. Probably not. I’d need more than a handful of meetings for that.
Despite running as fast as the treadmill could go, I didn’t breathe hard.
Kind of cool for someone who’d never been really fit.
I worked my arms next using a machine that must have made lifting weights easy since I apparently repped over a hundred lbs.
Me, who used to struggle toting kitty litter bags.
As I hit my eighty-third chest press, Gwen popped her head in. “Colleen’s here to have a go at your hair.”
“Already?” I’d talked to Cillian just over an hour ago.
“Boss said you needed some mowing. She’s the best. Only person I trust with my head.” Gwen shook her messy, highlighted bob that suited her petite face.
“Tell her I’ll be down in five. I’ll shower quick.”
“Sluice off your body only. She wants to see your hair dry so she can decide how to style it.”
Ominous, but also kind of thrilling. Another Pretty Woman experience.
I ended up seated in the kitchen on a stool feeling self-conscious as Colleen circled me, lifting my hair, staring at my face.
She muttered to Gwen. “Her natural hue is decent. We just need to color the bit of gray she’s got.
The cut she has now is all wrong for her face shape, though.
I’m thinking layers to frame, curtain bags.
” Colleen knew her shit and by the time she finished, damned if I didn’t look young again.
A bit of dye so everything matched, a cut and blowout later and my hair had never looked so good. Heck, I’d not been this hot in decades.
Colleen no sooner finished my hair than Yvette arrived with the first load of outfits, including a sparkly sheath that I didn’t remember being part of the order.
I held it up. “I think you brought this by mistake.”
“Nope. It’s yours,” Yvette stated. “Cillian called and said you were attending a holiday gala.”
“Isn’t this too shiny?” The fabric glittered each time it moved. Definitely attention getting.
“It’s perfect. Trust me.”
Might as well. Yvette probably knew better than me what to expect.
The day—ahem, night—went by more quickly than expected as Yvette had a friend bring over a collection of shoes and handbags.
While I’d never been a person who invested much in shoes—I had exactly four pairs: running shoes, boots, shiny leather flats for going out, and sandals—I couldn’t help but get excited as Horace insisted I needed a pair of silver-hued heels, a black set, over the knee boots, and more.
The only thing I had to rein him back on was the height of some of the ankle-twisting shoes he tried to convince me I needed. I’d never been good with stilettos.