Chapter Eleven
Heels clicking on the cobblestones, Verity rushed up to the cafe, bursting into find Cora sitting at the counter, head in her hands. A moment later her friend was in her arms, shaking with sobs.
“Toby dumped me,” was all the text said and the only thing Verity could think about was those damn photos on her phone. The ones she had been too busy to show her friend. Too wrapped up in her own problems to save her from this.
“I’m so sorry,” she said.
“He said I’m miserable. That all I do is moan about losing the cafe and I never have time for him.” The words were punctuated by sniffs and whimpers.
“He’s a fucking dick. You deserve so much better.”
“But he’s right,” she wailed. “All I think about is the cafe. I didn’t pay him enough attention.”
“That isn’t true.” The thought of showing her the pictures was a fleeting one. That wouldn’t help now. As much as Verity hated seeing Cora like this, she was glad to see the back of Toby.
Holding Cora by the shoulders she looked her in the eye and said, “He never deserved you. You are funny and beautiful and clever and he was nothing.”
Cora blinked, looking as if she was taking the words in when she said, “You look nice.”
Verity looked down, at the high heels and sheer black dress, courtesy of Theo’s credit card.
“Oh, I…” she stammered, searching for an excuse. “It doesn’t matter, I can cancel.”
“Cancel what?” Cora asked.
“Nothing.” Verity started taking her coat off when Cora’s eyes widened, lip twitching in an almost-smile.
“Do you have a date?”
Her phone chirped and Verity’s hand automatically covered it through her pocket, eyes on the ceiling. Excuse! Think of a fucking excuse!
“Oh gods! You’ve got a date! And you’re here with me! Is that him? Who is it?” Cora did smile then, excited for her friend despite her own heartbreak. Verity didn’t deserve her.
“It’s just drinks. I don’t…” she started but Cora grabbed the front of her coat, shaking her.
“Don’t you dare cancel a date for me! Who is he? Where are you going? Is he fit? Have you kissed? Have you...?” The barrage of questions came so fast Verity didn’t have a chance to answer until her phone started ringing and Cora demanded, “Are you late? Go! Quick!”
The whirlwind that was Cora shooed her towards the door shouting something about fucking on a first date being a power move.
“I don’t think it is,” Verity laughed. “I’ll come by tomorrow. Have a girls’ day.”
“Sleepover!” Cora sang. “You can tell me all about it.”
Agreeing, she tumbled out the door and checked her phone to find three texts and a missed call, all from Theo. Fuck.
It rang again and Verity answered on the first ring. “I’m sorry. I’m on my way.”
“Where are you?” he asked, each word clipped.
The morning had barely begun, and he was already pissed off with her. Great.
Not a speck of blue remained in Theo’s eyes when he pushed the car door open for her, and she wasn’t sure if it was hunger or anger that had driven the colour from him.
They’d agreed to skip his Wednesday feeding so he could drink from her at the club but now she wondered if that had been a good idea.
They rode in silence, Theo driving faster than he should and abandoning the car with the valet that Verity failed to notice on her first visit. And then they were there, skipping the queue, throwing her coat in the cloakroom and walking straight into the opulent domed room.
A small stage had been set up on the dance floor for a band. Light refracted from the singers jewel-encrusted dress as she sang a lament, voice deep and sombre, serenading the couples who swayed in each other’s arms.
Theo’s hand slid into hers as he led her through the watching crowd, weaving between humans and vampires until he pushed her against the polished wood bar and caged her in his arms, chest against her back.
“Sorry,” he murmured in her ear. “Haven’t seen this guy for a while.”
Turning to ask him what he meant, she fell short when their cheeks touched, the unexpected contact sending her heart galloping. She pulled back. He didn’t. He only looked at her, eyes flicking to her lips for a split second.
“I… I don’t know what he’s going to be like. It’s been so long.”
Was he nervous about meeting his friend?
“We should have a signal. For in case you need saving,” she said, leaning into him a fraction more. Gazing up at his dark, hungry eyes.
“In case I need saving?” he asked, grinning.
“You can scratch your nose, and I’ll pretend to faint.”
“And what if I have an itchy nose?”
Verity hummed. “That might mess with the plan,” she mused, pouting.
Those black eyes flicked to her lips again, his grin widening until fangs pressed against his lip. It was only then she realised how rarely she saw them. His smiles were always a little tight. Composed.
He noticed her looking and drew his lips back over them. The mayor’s smile, perfectly tailored to make humans forget his true nature.
“Don’t do that,” she said, and his brow creased. “I mean it Theo, if you’re gonna smile, smile.”
Before she could think better of it, her hand found his jaw, stroking her thumb up across his skin.
“Smile or I’ll bite you,” she threatened, snapping her teeth and earning a low growl. That delicious rumble travelling through her back, straight to her core.
“Careful,” he told her, hand wrapping around her waist. “Don’t you go making promises you’re not gonna keep.”
“Oh, I’ll keep it,” she swore, and he smiled, fangs out and eyes crinkling.
There was only them. No crowded club. No soulful singer. Just Theo’s fingers as he tucked a stray hair behind her ear, getting close, his breath against her cheek, about to whisper Phoenar only knew what in her ear.
And then there was the bartender.
“Lord Chapel?” he asked.
Only Theo’s eyes moved as he stared at the man interrupting them.
“Mr Wysall is expecting you. He’s in the blue room, sir.”
Theo’s eyes found her again, so close they shared breath.
“Come on,” he sighed, pulling back and taking her hand.
The moment shattered, music and laughter washing over anew as Theo guided her through the crowd. She wanted to stop him, take him back to the bar and finish what he’d started, but they were here for a reason, and flirting was not it.
Well, she supposed it kind of was, but a line was blurring somewhere, and Verity couldn’t figure out where.
Pretending to be a couple was one thing, but the way he held her so close, breath on her cheek and eyes hungry for more than just blood.
Either Theo had a secret talent for acting, or he wasn’t pretending.
On her first visit to SubRosa, Verity had been so overwhelmed she hadn’t realised there was more outside the dance floor. The plush curtains and drapes circling the room hid a wide outer circle of booths and tables, dark spaces for nefarious activities, and dotted between the booths were doors.
The one Theo led her to opened into a corridor.
Both the velvet ceiling and the carpet beneath their feet were dotted with lights, as if they were walking through stars that cast a soft glow over the gilded oil paintings along the walls.
Though beautiful, the works of art were nothing like the ones in Theo’s office.
Men and women, vampires and humans, creatures she had only read about.
Some naked, some dressed, some… copulating.
Music and talking drifted from each closed door as they walked until Theo stopped at one and, to Verity’s dismay, they heard a woman shouting.
He stared at the “Blue Room” door before turning to Verity, brows drawn together.
“Think we can still run?” he asked.
Before Verity could answer a low male murmur came from inside and the door swung open.
“Theo!” exclaimed a man, pulling him into a hug and slapping his back. “I was starting to worry!”
“I told him, Theo!” came the shouting woman’s voice. “I told him he’s a shitty friend!”
“Oh, that’s not true,” Theo laughed, pulling back and taking Verity’s hand again to pull her into the room.
As advertised, everything was blue from the two semi-circle couches to the wood panelled walls, the abstract paintings and the spine of every book on a floor-to-ceiling bookcases.
The music from the main room played over speakers, but it was barely audible when the woman spotted Verity and ran over to hug her with a squeal.
“And you must be Verity! We were so excited when we heard Theo had a girlfriend! A human girlfriend! Let me get a look at you!” She pulled back, beaming at her. “She’s beautiful! Far too good for you! Come sit with me!”
Verity turned to Theo with a silent plea as the woman dragged her towards one of the couches where Verity smiled helplessly at two men, who had been watching in silent amusement.
“Maybe some introductions, darling?” the man from the door said, taking a seat opposite and rolling up his shirt sleeves to fetch a bottle of champagne from an ice bucket. He looked to be early thirties, but the fangs told her he was likely much older.
“This is Charlie and Ed,” she gestured to the couple. Charlie, a vampire in a suit minus the jacket, Ed, a human in jeans and a polo. Both blonde and both handsome.
“Marcy’ll calm down in a minute,” Charlie mock-whispered.
“I’m just excited to have a new friend,” Marcy said before pointing to the other man, who offered Verity a glass. “And that’s Elliot, he likes to think he’s in charge.”
Verity hummed, accepting the glass. “Something tells me that isn’t the case though.” She winked at Elliot who gave her a knowing nod.
“Damn straight!” Marcy laughed. She looked a little older than Elliot, forty at most, with dark hair and deep brown eyes. She clinked glasses with Verity. “Come on. Tell us how you met.”
She looked to Theo. Shit. What was she supposed to say? The truth? It was only then that she realised Marcy called her Theo’s girlfriend. She supposed that was the idea, but having his actual friends call her that felt a little distasteful.
“Verity,” Theo said with a grimace, “is my donor.”
“Oh dear,” Charlie laughed. “Don’t let the Exchange hear.”