Page 37 of The Vampire's Hunter

Kharis had been telling him as much for centuries.

“Kharis,” Cassandra said, pointedly greeting his friend first, before finally turning her glowing violet eyes toward him. “Corbin,” she said, almost affectionately, her gaze raking over him, “You look like shit.” She strode past him then, no longer bothering with false pretense.

And that was Cassandra essentially.

A fierce beauty, and an even fiercer bitch.

Hands still in his pockets, Corbin twisted, his gaze following her as she went. He released an exasperated sigh. “Hello to you, too, Cassandra.”

Cassandra strode right down the aisle, hips swaying as if she were practically cat-walking, before she stopped a few rows a way from Dani, tilting her head curiously. “So, you’re the new mistress?”

“New?” Dani blinked, quickly glancing between them. “I…wasn’t aware anyone else had filled the position.”

Cassandra shrugged. “Don’t be too precious about it.” She waved a manicured hand in dismissal, plopping down in the nearest pew seat, before adjusting the strap on one of her Jimmy Choos. “He’ll get rid of you too. Just give it time. He does it with all of us.”

“Cassandra,” Corbin growled in warning.

“What?” Cassandra asked, glaring at him expectantly. “It’s true. He’s still hung up on some hum—” The siren paused for a moment, inhaling as if she were a bloodhound who’d just caught a sudden, unexplained scent on the wind. Slowly, she twisted back toward Dani then, eyes filled with hatred anew. “Oh, it’s you.” She shot a harsh glare toward Corbin. “Finally got around to fucking her, did you? Tell me, did she let you feed from her thigh while she blew you in sixty-nine?” Her eyes shot to Dani. “He likes that a lot.”

“Enough, Cassandra,” Corbin snarled.

“Or what?” she challenged. “You’ll put out a hit on me, too?” She arched one sculpted brow, before making a show of checking her manicure. “Lucien wasn’t too pleased about that.”

This time, it was Kharis’ turn to speak. “You’re lucky I don’t gut you from your cunt to your ears, you traitorous sow.”

“Language, Kharis,” Cassandra tsked, chastising him as if he were a child. “After all, there’s a human here.” Her gaze fell pointedly toward Dani, before flicking back to Corbin. “They’re such weak creatures, as you know.”

Corbin had to force himself to swallow the growl that rumbled in his throat. He had known he’d regret the day he told Cassandra about Rosalind, about the children, especially now that he hadn’t yet confided the same to Dani, but he hadn’t expected that regret to bite him for another several years, at least.

Apparently, sirens made their vengeance quick.

“No matter,” Cassandra said, waving her hand dismissively.

Had she always put on this much of a show? Corbin’s scowl deepened slightly.

“We’re here as friends now,” Cassandra continued, smiling devilishly, “after all, Angelo brought me here.”

“Of course he did,” Corbin snapped. “Angelo was always pleased to dine on someone else’s leftovers.”

“Leftovers, hmm?” Cassandra said, eyes narrowing. “And what about you, human?” Cassandra said, turning her attention toward Dani once more. “How does it feel to enjoy the leftovers of a dead woman?”

Dani blinked. “Excuse me?”

“I said,enough, Cassandra!” Corbin roared, his voice echoing throughout the cathedral.

“What? Did I say something wrong?” Cassandra placed a hand to her chest, batting her long eyelashes innocently. “You mean to tell me she didn’t know you had a wife and children?”

“With you?” Dani asked suddenly, her eyes nearly popping from her head.

Cassandra wrinkled her nose. “Oh, no. I’d never destroy my body that way. He—”

Corbin’s voice grew low and cold. “So, help me, God. Cassandra, if you utter one more word—”

“You’ll what?” Angelo asked, finally joining them. “You wouldn’t want this little meeting of yours to start off on the wrong foot now would you, Corbin?”

“Angelo,” Corbin muttered his greeting through clenched teeth.

Angelo preened. “I see Cassandra’s told you she’s found herself a new family as of late.”

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