“Correct.”
Slowly, my brain restarted, booting up like an ancient computer. “So…that’s why you don’t feed off blood donors.” I could almost hear the “turning on” noise in my mind. “The vulnerability?”
“Correct,” Killian said. “A number of ancient and great vampires throughout history were killed after feeding. It’s one of the most common ways for a truly powerful vampire to die.”
“Huh.” I picked at a fuzzy on my bedcover. “And that’s why you say you don’t trust Celestina or Josh like I thought. Because you don’t trust them enough to stand guard for you while you drink.”
“Exactly.”
I stared blankly at the wall, struggling with the immensity of what Killian had just shared with me.
“You’re quiet,” Killian said.
“I’m sorry, I’m just trying to process this. It’s…this is huge.”
“It’s satisfactory proof, then?”
“Yeah, for sure.” Guilt prickled at my conscience as I slouched in my bed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to tear such an important secret about your whole race from you.”
“It’s fine.” Killian’s voice was surprisingly calm. “You’re a virtuous idiot after all. You won’t even share this information with your House, and I’m aware you’ll die before you share the news—your honor is too overwhelming for you to do anything else.”
I was silent for a few moments. “You really don’t trust Celestina or Josh to guard you?”
“They would never betray me,” Killian said with confidence. “But that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t accidentally reveal a detail that could eventually spark my downfall. I have a lot of enemies—and some of them are vampires. It’s natural that I have many who would love to kill me if given the chance, so it is better not to.”
“It’s still pretty sad,” I said. “I hope one day you’ll feel differently about this.”
“It is what it is.”
“Well, I’ll call us even,” I said. “Thanks for trusting me, Killian. I won’t tell anyone. And I hope this means next time you’ll tell me when you have a plan that involves my participation?”
“Yes.”
I nodded, even though he couldn’t see. “Good,” I said. “That’s all I really wanted.”
“You are a simultaneously complex but simplistic creature.”
“I’m a wizard, it’s in my nature.” I glanced at the clock—it was a little after six. I was officially late for practice. “Are you going to be okay?”
“You seem to be under the illusion that telling you this has somehow wounded me.” His voice was amused. “Does that mean now is a suitable time to bargain?”
“Bargain for what?”
“Your bu—”
“Okay, and we’re done,” I interrupted him, guessing where he was going to take the conversation in an effort to prove just how fine he really was. “I get the picture. Thanks for calling, Killian. I’ll see you at our next practice session in three days?”
“Perhaps sooner,” Killian said.
I pulled the phone back to stare at it for a moment again. “Huh?” I said. “What do you mean?”
“Good morning, Hazel,” Killian said before he hung up on me.
I stared at my phone some more, then shook my head. “I guess he wouldn’t be a vampire if he wasn’t so mysterious,” I grumbled.
I clawed my way out of my bed and almost skidded out as I hurriedly threw on workout clothes. Although I rushed into a normal morning, I was well aware of the warm feeling that cushioned my heart.
Killian really did trust me. And I was pretty sure this was going to be a turning point for his Family, and my House.
The following day, we House Medeis wizards had just finished our early evening practice and were in the process of getting cleaned up for dinner when the doorbell rang.
I paused in the middle of yanking a clean shirt on. “House Medeis…who is it?” I cautiously asked.
I felt magic swirl around the property and return, bringing back the familiar and enviably cool sensation the House used to represent vampires.
“Huh.” I finished tugging the shirt on and stepped into my slippers. “Did Gavino invite someone over?” I slipped into the hallway as the doorbell rang again. “I’ll get it!” I shouted loud enough for my family to hear.
“’kay!” Someone—Momoko, I thought—shouted back.
I shuffled down the stairs and made it all the way to the front door where I swapped my slippers for shoes and opened the door, revealing a clutch of approximately twenty vampires crowding the sidewalk, with Killian at the front.
Chapter Thirteen
Hazel
“Good evening.” His voice echoed across the empty lawn. “May we come in?”
I stomped my way down to the sidewalk. “What the heck are you doing here?” I glanced at his retinue, who were carrying duffle bags and various power tools.
“You said to tell you next time I had a plan that involved you.” Killian shrugged, his shoulders barely moving. “It’s next time.”
“And what does that mean?” I unlocked the gate that blocked the brick path that trooped up to the House.
Celestina, armed with a drill, stared expectantly at me over Killian’s shoulder.
“Yeah, yeah, come in.” I waved the group in, but grabbed Killian by the arm. “Except you—you have to explain this.”
“As you very well know, I am paranoid,” he said.
“Uh-huh, I’m following you.”
“So it makes me…apprehensive when you are away from Drake Hall,” Killian said.
I pressed my lips together. “I live in a magic House with nearly thirty adult wizards, and you’re apprehensive?”
“Would you rather I say it makes me unbearably anxious?” Killian smirked, looking calm and controlled—the exact opposite of what he supposedly felt. “And paranoia often doesn’t make sense,” he added.
The Drake vampires had slowly made their way across the lawn and were loitering outside the House—although they eyed it, and one or two of them were taking notes on sleek tablets.
“So, what, you’re moving in?” I asked.
Killian perked. “That’s an option?”
“No!”
He gave me a look of disapproval. “You know you are perfectly welcome to move into Drake Hall, but it seems wizards are not as good hosts as us vampires.”
“You’re paranoid, so what do you intend to do?” I eyed Julianne, who was measuring the front porch with a measuring tape.
“I’ll have my people test it. I’d like to know what you’re dealing with and shore up whatever weak spots we find.”
“Define shore up.”
“I have some wards I intend to install—that sort of thing.”
“Oh.” I blinked and relaxed slightly. “That’d be nice.”