Chapter 17
TRACE
“He took a bottle of Scotch and headed downstairs. I don’t know where he went.”
James’ eyes were troubled as I answered him. I tried to sound more reassuring. “He might have gone for a smoke. Baxter seems like she might get cranky about polluting human lungs with tobacco. She’s quite thoughtful like that for a vampire.”
“A whole bottle? How do you know he went downstairs?”
I chuckled. “Because I’d gone for a leak and saw him heading down the staircase, all right?
And no, not a whole bottle, although he can’t get drunk, so would it matter if he had?
” I didn’t mention I was fairly sure the bottle had been full before Edwin had opened it initially.
“What’s up, James? Is it too loud for you in here?
” I’d done some reading up and discovered that folks with hearing loss could also be oversensitive to noise.
He all but disappeared inside his T-shirt. “I dunno. I just feel…” He scowled up at me. “I feel like something’s bothering him and he’s not telling me. I don’t know why I think that, but I do. I know I’m being stupid, but—”
“Hey, stop. There’s nothing wrong with intuition. You’re worried about hi—”
“I’m not worried!”
“All right, concerned?” He gave an affirmative jerk of his chin.
“Then what’s the worst that can happen if you find him and ask him?
He’ll either be your typical bloke who won’t discuss his feelings so he’ll cover it with a shitty lie, or knowing Edwin, crack a joke.
Right?” James nodded, some of the tension in his shoulders lessening as I spoke.
“But then he’ll know you cared enough to ask. So that will be a plus. Also right?”
“Guess so. But…” He worried the hem of his T-shirt, one finger twisting and untwisting the fabric. “He’ll think I’m pathetic, won’t he?” He grunted then, kicking at his shoe with the toe of the other foot. “I am pathetic. I don’t do anything except feed him. He could get that from anyone.”
I shot him a sharp glance and herded him from the ballroom into the corridor outside where it was quieter, directing him away from the doorway.
“Have you been and got yourself a fit of the miseries?” I had a low tolerance for alcohol myself, and I could take it or leave it. Perhaps James was a depressive drunk.
He scoffed at me. “No. I’m not getting trollied when I don’t know half these people.
I’ve stuck to the fruit punch. Charley was telling me Pavel makes it from a recipe Isher gave him.
It’s mostly blueberries and meringue. ’Cept it’s not real meringue in case of vegans.
” He rolled his eyes then grinned. “I’m all for vegans in principle, but I’m too fond of cheese to go there.
Baxter is kinda ethical for all she’s a top-level hacker.
” He clapped a hasty hand over his mouth.
“Shit, I’m prob’ly not supposed to say that. ”
My previous chuckle threatened to return as a belly laugh, but I didn’t think he’d appreciate that, so I bit my cheek and fixed a neutral expression on my face.
“I’m on the Council. Baxter’s views about liberating excesses from billionaires and their ilk are well known.
” I tried to sound casual. “We could look for Edwin together if you like.”
“All right.” He didn’t seem enthused that I’d offered, but by now I wanted to find Edwin to put a smile back on James’ face, so I headed downstairs with him, keeping up a cheerful banter about the various paintings hanging on the walls, some of which James informed me were Edwin’s; he recognised the signature.
We found him in the kitchen, along with Dalziel and an unopened bottle of red wine, the label of which Edwin appeared to have shredded.
Both looked up as we entered, Dalziel with a warm smile and Edwin more hesitantly.
His face was taut with the peculiar tension that suggested he’d been crying, which I knew was physically impossible for a vampire; his body language gave off the same vibes as someone dealing with the after-effects of a massive emotional outburst. There didn’t appear to be any hint of animosity between him and his sire, so I wondered what could have prompted his upset.
Still, it wasn’t my place to ask. I wasn’t sure enough of my place — if indeed I yet had one — in his life to enquire about anything that personal, which might have been stupid seeing as I’d had my hands on his cock, but a hook-up didn’t have to be meaningful.
So, because the weird atmosphere in my own head was giving me grief, I gave James a little push to stand in front of me and simply blurted out, “Your shadow seems to think he’s more of a burden than anything, and I quote, ‘he’, meaning you, Edwin, ‘could get blood from anyone’.
D’you want to talk some sense into him because I’m not sure it will count if I say anything. ”
“You fucking traitor!” James hissed at me, outrage replacing the apathy I’d got on the stairs. Edwin’s eyes widened slightly, but he didn’t speak, his gaze pinballing between the three of us.
I shrugged, unrepentant. “It needed to be said.” I turned my attention to Dalziel. “Do you think perhaps we should leave these two so Edwin can knock some sense into his shadow and friend?”
Dalziel patted my forearm as he stood. “On the contrary, Dempsey, I shall leave you all to talk. Edwin has plenty he should be sharing with the folk who really need to hear it,” his eyes narrowed on Edwin, but his lips twitched as they did so I didn’t think he was having a dig at him, “and not with his sire, enlightening as our conversations have been tonight.” He squeezed Edwin’s arm as he circled around him to reach the door back into the house, then bestowed what looked to be a genuine smile on a bemused James.
“James, you have no need to fear that you are not already as essential to Edwin as the darkness, with or without your no doubt estimable blood. Gentlemen, I shall instruct the others to give you some privacy for a while. These things are best spoken of while you are away from home. It gives you a chance to be honest without the familiar distracting you. Although, I suppose, Trace, you are unfortunately at somewhat of a disadvantage seeing as this is practically my progeny’s second home, but Eddie is a fair man when his head is on straight. ”
He swept out of the room, pulling the door firmly closed behind him.
“What was that all about?” I sat down, and slid the wine over.
I worked the cork loose, pouring a glass for myself and waggling the bottle at James with an upwards quirk of my brows.
He shook his head, then finally also came to sit down, nearer Edwin than me, but eyeing us both like he’d rather be anywhere but in the kitchen.
Edwin bowed his head and shoved it into his hands with a grunt of frustration.
“Dalziel is a meddling bitch and I want to strangle him with the sleeve of that fancy cardigan he’s wearing.
” His head dropped to the kitchen table.
“How does he do it? How does he manage to push every single one of my buttons and still end up being right, every damn time? Gah!”
I caught James’ mystified expression and held my hands up in an equally baffled silent reply. I signed he should try to get through to his master. Shadows had a strong bond with their vampires, and although James hadn’t been with Edwin long, it was obvious the pair of them were already close.
James looked unsure. “Go on,” I mouthed.
“Uh, Edwin? Can we help?”
No response.
“I know you’re a badass vampire with a serious height advantage over Dalziel, but, uh,” he cracked his knuckles, gunshot loud in the quiet room, “I might know someone who could shank him if you’re desperate.”
I snorted, the offer being so unexpected that a disbelieving laugh broke free before I could check it.
Edwin raised his head slowly, then turned and stared at James with what looked very much like adoration in his blue eyes.
He reached out and stroked a thumb down James’ cheek, as tenderly and slowly as his smile broke the twisted curl of his lips.
“James, love, did I really hear my sweet shadow, my frail human, say he’d find a hitman to teach my sire a lesson, or am I finally losing the plot?
Because that is hands down the nicest thing anyone has ever offered to do for me.
” He sniggered. “Also the most suicidal, but let’s not get picky at a time like this.
” He sat up straighter and tugged James’ chair closer so he could cradle the boy’s face in his hands.
“I fucking adore you, darling.” He brought their heads together.
“That’s partly what I was talking to Dalziel about. ”
A sharpened dagger straight to the chest wouldn’t have hurt any more.
I’d seen it, of course, the way the pair of them circled each other like ships around a lighthouse, reflecting the light back on the other.
I’d been lucky to share even a tiny morsel of the passion I knew was simmering under the surface with them both, for that one magical moment.
I was always good for a fun fuck, but beautiful folks like Edwin and James didn’t want the ugly guy for more than a quick shag.
Being good in bed wasn’t enough, and seeing as I’d been so wiped out I’d not had a chance to show them I was a good fuck, I was out of luck.
It stung, but I should have been used to it by now.
Mostly I was, but somehow a tiny part of my brain had allowed myself to dream.
“Trace.” Edwin’s tone was laced with impatience. I blinked at him. “Where did you go? I was baring my soul and you vanished like you’d left your body.”