Page 16 of A Song in the Night

“Wait. That hot bounty hunter? You work with him?”

I bite my bottom lip, surprised by the hot rush of jealousy I feel from Valerie’s words. “He’s notthathot,” I say weakly.

Of its own volition, my mind flashes back to that moment on the couch, when his hand was clasped around my wrists as he pinned them above my head.

Valerie arches a brow at me, sipping her drink. “You forget that vampires can smell arousal,” she remarks.

I roll my eyes. “Anyway. Once I figured out it was Henry, I told Uncle Edward. I thought I was free. But then dear ol’ Dad sold me to the shapeshifters who run the slave auctions. Like I said, technically, he did hold up his end of the bargain.”

Valerie is silent for a moment, and for an instant, I wonder if she’s going to speak against our father.Her father, Charlie, I correct myself silently. In spite of all he’s done, none of my siblings have dared to acknowledge Alexander Travesty’s cruelty.

Instead, though, Valerie just says, “At least you were bought by one of our cousins. Is she treating you well?”

To hide my disappointment, I take another gulp from my glass. “Actually, my situation is better than I could’ve hoped for. As for being ‘bought’, I prefer to look at it like a loan. Until it’s safe for me to be on my own, I’ll work at Skye Investigations to pay them back.”

“Speaking of…” Valerie reaches into her jacket. She pulls out a black velvet pouch and slides it across the table. “This should help.”

As much as I hate taking money from her—from the Vampire King’s coffers—I don’t have many options these days. “I’m going to pay you back for this one day,” I tell her, picking it up with a wince.

My sister shrugs. “It makes no difference to me, Charlotte. It won’t be missed.”

She’s right, and I know that, but it’s still hard to accept. I give her a grateful smile as I slip the pouch into Noah’s coat pocket. Beyond the alcove, the song changes, becoming something slightly slower. I take a long drink before asking, “How are things going at the mansion since Henry…”

“Since our brother became a traitor?” Valerie offers when I hesitate, and I nod. She lifts one shoulder in a shrug. “Father was furious more than anything else. He’s essentially lost a son, but he’s focusing on the betrayal.”

“His pride is hurt,” I comment.

Valerie shakes her head, sighing. “Father and his pride. It’s going to be his downfall one of these days.”

“Have you… have you spoken to him about what happened?”

She makes a sound that resembles a laugh, but there’s a hard edge to it that ruins the effect. “No. I barely see him, and he’s always been cold and guarded with me. Nothing like how he was with you.”

Here, Valerie pauses. I don’t respond because I’m drowning in a wave of pain and memory. Seeing the Vampire King’s eyes gleam with genuine affection as he peered down at me.I have given you a world in which you can be whatever you want, Charlotte. If you want to shoot a gun, shoot a gun. If you want to hit the target, hit the target. If you decide to miss, that’s fine, too. The choice is yours.

As one, Valerie and I take long drinks from our glasses. Then she meets my gaze and says, “I know he isn’t a good man, Charlotte. I do. But he’s still my father. Even if he has no interest in acting like it.”

Feeling closer to her than I ever have before, I impulsively reach across the table and squeeze her hand. “I’m so sorry, Valerie.”

She shrugs again, then straightens. “It is what it is. We aren’t a normal family.”

Though we’re sitting next to each other, it feels as if she’s put distance between us. I slowly pull my hand back and hide my hurt. “How is the rest of the house?” I ask in a neutral tone. “Beatrix?”

“Oh, she’s fine. Dating her way through Las Prinx right now.” Valerie exhales heavily. “Not that I blame her. She’s just distracting herself from the chaos at home.”

Before I can respond, my sister’s phone chimes. She pulls it out, frowning at the screen. After a moment, she looks back up with an apologetic expression. “I have to get back.”

I wave a hand. “I shouldn’t stay out too long, anyway.”

She stands from the booth. “Take care of yourself. I’ll meet you back here in a couple of weeks, okay?”

“You too.” I stand to hug her. She briefly hugs me back and ducks out of the alcove, leaving a trail of expensive perfume in her wake.

Once she’s gone, I linger to finish my drink. I leave only when the glass is completely empty.Not enough, I think as I weave through the throng of sweaty dancers. I don’t have a buzz, or even the beginnings of one, and there’s nothing to distract me from the thirst that’s starting to ache at the back of my throat.

“Charlie!”

I whip around and feel my eyebrows rise at the sight of Deacon. The human makes his way toward me, his young face bright and smiling. He’s so short, so thin, that he’s struggling to get through the sea of arms, hips, and elbows. I hurry toward him and we meet near the edge of the room. Deacon inclines his head in a wordless question. I nod, and we move away from the noise, down the hall that leads to the bathrooms. As I follow the human, I notice a duffle back hanging off one of his shoulders. Strange thing to bring to a club.

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