“And you think I did? You think I—”Corbin shook his head. “Never mind.”
“I just have one more question, Corbin,” Isaid, still glaring at him. “If I’m such a bad risk that you haveto glamour me to keep a civil tongue in my head, why choose me toplay your consort? Why not pick someone else entirely—someone moremanageable?”
He looked into my eyes. “Because, Addison, Ihad hoped that one day reality would mirror this fantasy that weare playing out. And there is no one I would rather have by myside.”
I wasn’t sure what to make of that. Did hereally expect us to have some kind of long term relationship afterthis was over? Because that was ridiculous—an Auditor couldn’t datea vamp. And besides, I was furious with him and I was pretty surehe was fairly unhappy with me, too. We would be terrible together…wouldn’t we?
Of course you would, don’t be silly. Whyare you even thinking about this? I scolded myself angrily.
“Roderick will be here shortly,” Corbinsaid, breaking into my inner debate. “Come, we need to go out andget ready to greet him.” He held out his arm for me and raised oneeyebrow. After a long, cold silence, I took it and we walked out ofhis office.
This was not going to be fun.
Chapter Ten
We stepped out into the main area of theclub, which looked deserted without the steady flow of humanpatrons looking for glam-sex and bored looking vampires looking forblood. The lights were turned up, although the area was stillpretty dim, and the raised dais in the center of the club whereCorbin usually sat was empty.
And then, suddenly, it wasn’t anymore.
In the blink of an eye Roderick was standingon the dais looking down at us. I didn’t even hear the door openand shut—he was just there without warning. The display mademy gut tighten—not even Corbin was that fast.
I took a firmer grip on the strap of mypurse, glad for my hidden Glock. No matter what Corbin had saidabout bullets being no use against a vamp as old as Roderick, Istill preferred to be armed. And if push came to shove, we’d seehow well a six-star vamp stood up to hollow points filled withsilver nitrate. Since the bullets explode on impact and the silvereats into the vamp like acid, I was betting Roderick would have alittle more trouble with being shot than everyone seemed tothink.
“Good evening, Corbin,” Roderick saidcoldly. He was wearing an old fashioned suit that looked like acostume from a historical drama set in the eighteen hundreds andhis dark hair was carefully coifed in place.
“Good evening, Inquisitor.” Corbin noddedhis head in a kind of half-bow. “Where is Celeste?”
“Here.” She strolled up in a much moreleisurely manner, smiling as though she didn’t have a care in theworld.
Hmm, for someone on trial she doesn’tseem too terribly upset, I thought, giving her a blanklook.
Behind Celeste trailed two human women, atall black Amazon looking girl with cheekbones sharp enough to cutglass and a tiny petite Asian with a curtain of long black hairthat fell to her waist. Both of them were dressed like me—which wasto say, as if they expected to be attending a semi-formal party.Neither looked up at all but kept their eyes trained respectfullyon their designer shoes.
I wondered if I was supposed to be actingthe same way—respectfully averting my eyes, acting demure—but therewas no way I was going to look down in such a dangerous situation.My eyes were trained on Roderick and Celeste, both of whom couldtear me limb from limb in four seconds flat if I gave them half achance.
“Welcome to my establishment,” Corbin saidformally, making a sweeping gesture with one hand. “I would offeryou refreshment but it seems you brought your own.”
“Indeed, we did.” Roderick smiled andbeckoned to the tiny Asian girl who came to him at once. “Celestehas been most accommodating in satiating my needs.”
Thinking about how she had given him Taylorto “satiate his needs” made me grit my teeth. My fingers itched formy Glock but I had promised Corbin to be on my best behavior so Iforced myself to say and do nothing.
“Before we get on with the trial, why don’twe all have a little snack?” Celeste suggested.
“A very good idea, my dear,” Roderick said.“These kinds of proceedings are always thirsty work.” He turned tothe small Asian girl at his side and gave her a look. She seemed tounderstand his wordless command for she pulled her long blackcurtain of hair to one side and bared her throat for him. Roderickpounced at once, sinking his fangs deep in her neck and suckingsavagely. The girl shuddered but made no complaint though it lookedextremely painful.
To one side, the tall black girl was alsobaring her throat for Celeste. However, there was no way the petitevampire could reach her human snack’s vein.
“Kneel,” she snapped and the girl fell toher knees at once and looked fawningly up at Celeste.
“Yes, Mistress.” Clearly she was in thrallto the vampire—I could tell by the tiny red pinprick in the centerof each of her pupils. I reminded myself to look for the girl nexttime I inspected Celeste and write her a very expensive citation.She would also have to go to court and the girl could be taken awayfrom her—maybe before it was too late, as it had been too late forTaylor.
But before I could plan any more legalaction, Corbin was taking my hand.
He looked into my eyes. “I’m going to drinkfrom you now, Addison,” he said quietly. “Prepare yourself.”
“All right,” I murmured, my heart startingto hammer in my chest. I pushed my hair to one side, baring myneck, but he shook his head.
“Remember what we spoke of earlier.”
I felt a sinking sensation in the pit of mystomach. Oh, right—in order to prove his true dominance over me hehad to drink from my thigh. Well, this was probably going to beabout as much fun as a pelvic exam and about ten times morepainful. Still, I had given my word to behave and do as he said soI
