“Fairly sure.”
“Looking at it, I was leaning toward Turkey.”
“Hungary definitely seems higher on the list.”
“And you’re sure they’ve seen the original?”
“No, but they’ve seen photographs.”
Gavin’s eyebrows went up. “That is notable.”
“Tenzin thought so too.”
“How did things go with her?”
The server brought back crystal champagne glasses and a cut crystal glacette with ice and a bottle of Dom Pérignon. She opened the bottle and poured two glasses, setting them in front of Ben and Gavin.
“Santé.”
“Santé.”
They clinked glasses, and Ben sipped the dry, sparkling wine.
“To your immortality,” Gavin said. “May you not waste it as long as I did.”
Ben’s eyebrow went up. “Oh?”
“Yes, Tenzin gave me quite a lecture a few years ago about all the dawdling I was doing. Apparently creating an international club and entertainment empire was a bit of a waste. Who knew?”
“She did apparently.” He drank his glass and poured another. “Fuck, I hate not being able to get drunk.”
Gavin raised an eyebrow.
“What?” Ben said. “It just took the edge off sometimes, you know?”
“I know. What did you think of the Corsicans?”
“They’re interesting. They really love Tenzin.”
“That doesn’t surprise me; she saved their hides from your uncle.”
“She told me. So Hungary. Can you leave tomorrow night?”
“I can. This visit was more of a check-in than a real work trip. My manager here is very good.”
“He or she would have to be.”
“She, and yes.” He looked around the club. “This club has seen more than its share of immortal summits.”
“Not that you can tell me about them.”
“Of course not.”
“Does it bother you?” Ben saw a water vampire Emil Conti had been trying to track down in Italy for a few years. The man was a thief and had assaulted a human on Conti’s staff, nearly killing her. Yet here he sat in Monte Carlo, openly chatting with business associates and beautiful humans.
“I like who I like” —Gavin followed his eyes but said nothing about the Italian vampire— “but business is business. Safe haven is assumed in my clubs unless you cross me or those under my protection. Neutrality may not be palatable to some, but it’s necessary.”
Ben shook his head. “What does it say about me that it makes sense?”
“It says you appreciate disagreements being settled without bloodshed.”
“Right.”
“What has you in a mood?”
I am still your friend. I will always be your friend whether you want me or not.
“Tenzin thinks she did the right thing, doesn’t she? Not just the selfish thing” —he looked at Gavin directly— “the right thing. The righteous thing.”
“Yes. And she’s right.”
“How can you say that, knowing how I feel?”
“Because look at you.” Gavin leaned forward and refilled his champagne glass. “Look at yourself, Ben.” His voice was low. “Your power fills this space like the bass thumping in Radu’s club the other night. That’s how big it is. Most vampires would walk in here with an attitude if they wore that much power. Even if they were young, they would flaunt it. And yet here you are, quietly drinking a glass of wine with me, speaking politely to the humans in my employ, nodding at immortals you only know socially and acknowledging everyone, not only those who can benefit you.”
“And?”
“You were born to be this.” Gavin sat back. “Don’t glare at me when you know it’s the truth. You—the man you were—has not been changed by immortality. If anything, it’s made you a little more humble. And that’s extraordinary.”
“So you’re saying Tenzin knew what was good for me better than I did?” Yeah, that really didn’t sit well.
“I’m saying that if it hadn’t been her who had to make the decision, you’d already be at peace with it. You’re angry because you don’t want to admit this is who you were meant to be.”
* * *
It might have been early Saturday morning for Ben, but it was still Friday night for his baby sister, which meant that he owed her a video chat.
Ben sat in his safe room at Gavin’s and powered on his tablet. In seconds, a ringing sound filled the room.
“Ben?” Sadia’s little face popped onto the screen. “You called!”
“I told you I would.”
“Every Friday night.”
“As many as I can.” Ben knew not to make promises he might not be able to keep. “I will do my best.”
Sadia’s screen jumped and shook. “Wait a minute.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“To my fort.”
He smiled. “Your fort?”
“Yes.” The shaking stopped but the picture wasn’t as bright.
“Where are you?”
“I told you, in my fort.” She craned her neck. “Dema and I built it in the playroom, and we used blankets and some of the poles from a camping tent and it’s really cool.” She looked up. “Can you see?”
“I can see the inside a little.”
“It’s really cool.” She propped her chin on her fists. “Do you have a fort?”
“I don’t.”
“Where are you?”
He looked out the window at the glittering lights of the boats docked in the harbor. “I’m not too far from Rome.”
“Really?” She switched to Italian. “Piacere!”
Ben smiled. “Ciao, sorellina.”
“Are you going to Rome? Are you going to see Fabi?”
“Not on this trip. I’m going to a new place I’ve never been tomorrow.”
“Is it going to be fun?”
“I hope so.”
“If it’s not” —she rolled over and looked at the tablet upside down— “just come home.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He smiled. “I do have to work though.”
“I know.” She kicked her feet in the air. “Do you see my feet?”
“I do.”
“Mama said Dema is going to buy me new shoes because I grew out of my old ones.”
“Are you getting really old while I’m gone? Am I going to recognize you when I see you again?”
She giggled. “Yes. I’m going to be old enough to be a vampire soon.”
Ben tried not to wince. “Okay, silly, just remember—”
“It’s only, only allowed for grown-ups.” She rolled back over. “I knoooow.”
He stared at her precious round face and her missing teeth. He tried to imagine what she would have done if he’d died in China. Would she
