“Not get involved with demons. Nope. That’s a firm no.” He held up a dismissive finger at him.
“You’re a pussy,” Viktor scoffed.
“I’m smart. It’s called self-preservation.” Greyson shook his head. “Nope. No demons.”
“It’s true that I need your help with the painting, but can you just help me sort this thing out? I’d ask Quintus or Hunter, but they just became bonded with mates. Look at it as teambuilding. Healing the brotherly relationship. You know about art. And wolves.”
“I don’t know—”
“I’m sure you heard I’ve got a hybrid. He’s a handful and I need help.”
“Heard all about it from Quintus. I was quite surprised, given you’ve no children.” Greyson sipped his wine and released a loud exhale. “Ah, fuck. I’m not here to help you with your baby vamp. If you didn’t want a child, you shouldn’t have sired one.”
“It’s complicated. It wasn’t exactly planned. But what’s done is done.” Viktor shrugged.
“So, what’s the issue? Sounds like you’ve done better in a few months than our sire did in a lifetime.”
“A lifetime of torture,” Viktor reminded his brother.
“You know that’s right.”
“The thing is, well, Rafe may still need guidance. He doesn’t wish to return to his pack. And you can see how this may be an issue.”
“It can take many years to fully train a vampire. Or so I’m told.”
“Baxter didn’t train us. He turned us into slaves.” Viktor looked to Waverly who sat at the bar. She gave him a sympathetic smile. She’d only seen but a fraction of the abuse.
“Yeah, well, it didn’t stop Quint from turning others. He got on with things. But you? Me?” He sighed and looked into his glass. “It was never in the cards.”
“I don’t regret what I did. In that moment, I couldn’t let Rafe die,” Viktor explained.
“Guess ole Baxter didn’t beat the humanity out of ya after all, did he?”
“Not for lack of trying,” Viktor agreed, his voice soft. “But I won’t do that to Rafe. He had no choice in his turning. It won’t be an easy path, but his life can be good again. He can be whole.”
Viktor stole a glance at Waverly and then changed the subject, unwilling to acknowledge the feelings gripping his chest. He shook them off, focusing on the task at hand.
“I don’t normally ask you for anything. It’s been years. I just need—"
“I’ll help,” Greyson gritted out, setting his glass on the counter. “Where’s my room?”
“Take the third floor. Tomorrow morning I’ll grab Rafe. Flash him back here.”
“We should look at the painting now,” Waverly insisted.
“It’s late.” Viktor moved toward her, noting her reddened eyes.
“But I can do this now. If your brother…if Greyson knows about art, I need to know more about it.”
“It’s one in the morning. You need to get some rest. I promise you we’ll start fresh in the morning.”
“But—” she began.
“Viktor’s right. Humans need to sleep. You’ll get sick,” Greyson told her.
“I’m not tired.” Waverly clenched her face as she attempted to hide a yawn.
“He’s right. We’ve got a lot to do tomorrow,” Viktor said.
“You must realize your limitations as human.” Greyson glanced at his brother. “Um what I mean is that, uh, you seem like a smart human. You may not know but us vampires must rest too. You know, keep up our strength for all that killing and whatnot.”
The color drained from Waverly’s cheeks and Viktor frowned at him.
“Did I say killing? What I meant was, well, not killing per se. You know. We’ve got business. We’re businessmen,” he corrected. “Entrepreneurs need sleep. Not as much as humans but—”
“So, you’re saying you’re an art dealer?” A smile softened her face.
“Sure, yeah. That’s what I am. How’d ya know? I’m an art dealer, and your boyfriend there has a vast collection.”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Waverly protested.
“Technically not a girlfriend. A lover, yes.” Viktor questioned his own words. A seed of doubt was planted as she denied her feelings. What the hell is happening here?
“So that means you’re available?” Greyson asked with mischief in his eyes.
“No,” Viktor and Waverly both answered at the same time.
“Well, all right.” Greyson gave a hearty laugh. He stood and yawned, stretching his arms well above his head. “This vampire here, had a busy night. Came halfway around the world to help my long-lost brother. I think I’ll just nip off for a nap and let you two figure out what’s what. Tomorrow we’ll get to the art. Sounds like we’re gonna have a busy day.”
“Thank you, Greyson.” Viktor told his brother as he strode toward the staircase. “I won’t forget this.”
“No hanky panky, my chickadees.” The vampire spun around and gave a salute. “Ah, young lust.”
Viktor turned to Waverly, who set her wine glass in the sink.
“Are you sure Greyson can help us?” she asked.
“Yes of course.” Not really.
“He seems…different than you.”
“That’s because he is. He’s not like me at all.” A flood of memories flashed in his mind, and he promptly shut it down, unwilling to let the past root anger.
“Viktor. About what I said. It’s just that I know you probably have other girlfriends. I don’t want you to worry about…well, you know. I mean, it’s just that I don’t want you to think that because we were together this is something serious. You live in Miami, and I live in California. Long distance relationships and all that. I just want you to know I get it.” She stared up at him, feigning indifference.
“Mo chroí. I have no other girlfriends.” Only donors, one-night stands and empty sex. Viktor’s stomach sank as he considered his thoughts. She’d admitted she wasn’t his girlfriend. She told him she didn’t date vampires. The crushing hunger for her blood drove him wild but he wondered if it was simply the chase of the unattainable that drove him. “But perhaps we should go more slowly.”
“Um…yeah, sure.” She nodded.
Viktor extended his hand to her, his chest full of emotion at the thought of letting her go, “You need to know though, the truth is not just that I don’t have girlfriends. I honestly don’t have anyone. A few paranormals here and there of course. I may be the life of a party, but I don’t have friends. I have acquaintances. Whereas you, on the other hand…you are,” he smiled at her as he gently brought her into his embrace, “a friend now. A lover. So, I’m afraid whether you wanted a vampire in your life or not, you’re stuck with me.”
“I was wrong about that, about vampires,” she admitted. “It’s just my mom. She, uh, she didn’t like what happened with me. I know you think I’m something special but not everyone likes their kids to have visions. It’s not particularly cool in mommy circles.”