Page 53 of Shadow Hunter

Joshua paused but didn’t miss a beat. Clearly, he was used to dealing with demanding guests like this. “Of course,” he said.

Tiffany blinked. “Caius, I haven’t looked at the menu yet,” she said.

Caius reached across the table and placed a hand over hers. “Trust me. You’ll love this.”

Releasing her hand, he unfolded his napkin as he spoke. “We’ll have a starter of spinach and sea-urchin ravioli in a white-wine reggiano broth, and che`vre-stuffed smoked dates wrapped in prosciutto with aged balsamic saba on a bed of arugula. For our meal we’ll have fresh herb-crusted Kobe filet mignon, cooked rare, and Maine crab cakes with a micro-green and lobster remoulade served on a plate of pure pink Himalayan Sea salt, and the apricot cre`me bru^le´e for dessert.”

Joshua didn’t even pause to write down the order, as if he’d be trained to remember it. “Right away, sir.” He gave a curt nod before quickly exiting the room.

Tiffany removed her napkin from the table and unfolded it across her lap. “You’re tastes are…very specific,” she said.

That’s putting it lightly.

Caius ran his fingers through his golden blond hair. If she hadn’t known he was a vampire and an egotistical douchebagto boot, maybe she could have found him handsome—at leastbeforeshe’d met a certain dark-haired vampire hunter.

“I make it a habit to eat nothing but the finest foods.” He grinned. “You only live once.”

“Or forever in your case,” Tiffany grinned as if she’d meant the comment affectionately, before she took a sip of the water Joshua had left them with. She swallowed hard, fighting not to show her hand. Was Caius’s statement intended to be as threatening as she’d thought it’d been?

She returned his smile.

“I suppose that’s true.”

Thankfully, Joshua chose that moment to return with a bottle of wine. He opened it at the tableside and gave Caius a sip to taste, waiting for Caius’s approval, before he then poured the red liquid into two crystal glasses. “Your appetizers will be out shortly.” He removed the extra plates from the table before exiting.

Tiffany sipped her glass of Bordeaux. She was quickly coming to realize it was Caius’s old favorite. The wine slid down her throat, already warming her cheeks. “Very nice. It has a complex flavor to it.”

Caius smiled and sipped from his own glass. “Let’s get to the point, shall we? We both know what we’re here to discuss.”

Tiffany had to catch herself before she sputtered slightly, nearly spitting the wine back into her glass. Shit. This was happening much more quickly than she’d expected.

Caius inhaled deeply. “I can tell by your scent that you’ll be a perfect Host. My main Feed.” He ran his tongue over his teeth, and she prayed his fangs stayed in place. Leaning back in his seat, he fixed his ice-cold stare on her. “You’ll reap all the benefits, of course. I hear the human sensation as we feed is phenomenal.”

She struggled not to choke on her own tongue, reminding herself that no fangs would ever mar her throat. Never. And as for phenomenal...No, not for her.

Maybe if you were into pleasure-pain.

She ran her hand over her thigh, reminding herself of the panic button. And she would wager that the flatware lying before her was at least part silver—an extra protection. Once it penetrated the skin, silver was like acid to a vampire’s insides.

Her hand itched to hold her stake. When it was strapped to her side, she felt power surging through her in the face of vampires.

Now, she wasn’t as certain.

A moment later, Joshua and a second waiter paraded into the room, balancing their starter plates on trays. Fast service.

One of many bonuses of shelling out ridiculous amounts of money for a meal.

They set down the plates in front of Tiffany and Caius. Joshua flashed a respectful smile. “We hope everything is to your liking.” Then he and his shadow exited.

Tiffany eyed the plate before her. Artistic foodie explosion or delicious high-class meal? She wasn’t quite sure which, but the overcompensating extravagance was certain.

Caius leaned forward in his seat and fixed his stare on her. “Where did I leave off?” He paused, then, grinning, pushed his seat away from the table. “Ah yes, the advantages.” He stood and crossed to her side of the table, looming behind her. “As I said, you’ll reap every benefit. I’ll make sure you have the finest of everything, and, of course, there are always...” He squeezed her shoulders and whispered in her ear, “...the sexual pleasures.”

She froze beneath his touch. Her mouth went dry and sweat gathered on her palms. “In other words, I’ll be your high-end call girl.”

She slid away from his hold and rose from her chair to face him.

She wasn’t about to sit by while he waited like a snake at her back.

---