Page 52 of Midnight Queen

“She will not be alone,” Bria’s companion pipes up. “I will be her company while you two discuss the business at hand.”

Bria smiles thankfully at him, before looking expectantly at Silas.

He remains in place, staring down at me.

“Go,” I stress, nudging his arm with my shoulder. “I’ll be right here.”

Finally, Silas releases my hand and he and Bria walk across the room to stand in a shadowy corner where no one can eavesdrop on their conversation.

“She promised that this would be a work-free night, but I knew better,” the man draws my attention back to him. “I suspect you can relate to this, seeing as I doubt Silas ever stops working.”

“He stops when he has more important things to tend to,” I say, not needing to elaborate further. “But I also never want to be in the way of his work. It’s finding that balance.”

“That’s a very wise outlook, Quincey,” he says my name like we’re old acquaintances. I’ve never been able to hide what I’m thinking, which is why I’m not surprised when he quickly adds, “I’m sorry, I guess it’s only fair that I introduce myself. I’m Álvaro Soto.”

My head cocks, “Álvaro?” I repeat to be sure I understood him correctly.

“Yes,” he confirms. “Have you heard of me?”

My lips curl into a small smile as I shake my head at him. “No, I’m afraid your name hasn’t come up yet, but as you can imagine, I’m still navigating my way through all this. I’ll know all your names soon enough.”

Just like they all know my name now, I’m going to make it my mission to learn all theirs. I want to know each of the vampires that Silas has dealings with.I want to know their secrets.

His eyes flick to the bandages on my chest, the angry pink lines of my cuts are on full display beneath the clear surgical tape. “All things considered, I think you are handling all of this with great strength and grace. Not many humans can walk away from what you have.” Looking down my arm where the bruises on my wrists are still fading, he adds, “It is good to see that you are healing so well from those heinous things he did to you.”

I lift my hands in front of me, turning them over so I can trace the yellow bruising all the way around my joint. “I’m fairly certain that not many of your kind would agree with that. Many were eager to watch me bleed out.”

Álvaro shakes his head, face turned up in distaste. “Not Bria and me. We are very happy that Silas found you.”

I look at the man’s perfectly sincere expression. “I’m very glad that we ran into you tonight. I was worried there wouldn’t be any friendly faces. I swear some of these people are glaring at me so hard I think they’re trying to create fires with their eyes.” Since Silas walked away, their stares have become more intense. I can feel their eyes boring holes into my skull.

“Ignore them. Many are jealous and the others do not understand Silas’s infatuation with a human,” Álvaro explains this like it’s information I haven’t already figured out on my own.

“That’s the good thing about being at the top, isn’t it?” I ask, not bothering to keep my voice low. They all can overhear for all I care. Actually, I’d prefer it. “They don'tneedto understand, and Silas sure as shit doesn’tneedto explain himself. All they need to do is accept that I’m not going anywhere, and I suggest they accept it fast. It’ll be so much easier for them in the long run if they do.”

Álvaro falls silent, his dark brown eyes examining me like he’s seeing me in a new light.

Before either of us can say more, an arm wraps around my back and a large hand settles on my hip. Even in an environment where danger is lurking in almost every seat, I don’t flitch. I know it’s Silas without having to turn my head.

“Did you two work everything out?” I ask as Bria steps back into her position next to Álvaro.

Bria’s dark painted lips turn downward. “We discussed what we could tonight, it will more likely entail a much longer conversation, but like I said, I don’t want to take him away from you for too long.” Her arm wraps around her companion’s. “Let’s get out of their hair so they can enjoy the rest of their night.”

Silas nods his head in dismissal, and I smile politely at each of them.

“I’m sure I’ll see you both sometime soon,” I tell them as a goodbye.

“Yes, I would love to get to know you better, Quincey.” Bria chirps before looking at Silas. “She’s lovely, Silas.” With that last compliment, she pulls Álvaro away.

Silas waits for them to return to the seats they’d vacated to come talk to us before he coaxes me forward. “They just informed me everything is ready at our table, including your wine.”

To the white cloth over the round table, to the strings of lights crisscrossing above us, the staff here accomplished everything I requested.

When I purchased this building more than a hundred years ago, it was one of the tallest in town. As the years have passed, the buildings around it have grown taller, but somehow despite that, the view of the surrounding city has remained just as exquisite as it was the first time I stood on this roof.

“Silas,” Quincey breathes out as she takes in the intimate dinner I’d had prepared for her. The hotel roof is never used for such a thing, but I wanted to do something more special than a date at a typical restaurant. “This is beautiful.”

She moves in a slow circle, head tilted up so she can look at the fairy lights. While I watch her my lips twitch because she continues to surprise me.

---