Page 19 of Ophelia's Vampire

“Didn’t you?” I ask as I settle into the seat across from her. “I’ve been back in the city for a few weeks now.”

“I’m aware. And now you’re what? Stalking me?”

“No,” I say, then think for a moment and amend, “well, at least not much. And I wouldn’t have bothered if you hadn’t been blowing me off for weeks.”

I try to keep my tone light, but the words strike a nerve.

Cassandra’s always had an ethereal sort of beauty to her. Light brown hair styled in loose waves around a delicately sculpted face, eyes such a pastel blue they’re nearly silver.

But the years that have passed since I last saw her have given her an unfamiliar edge. Something sharper, more canny and world-weary as her expression tightens into mistrust and suspicion.

“Your sister is leading the Bureau now, isn’t she?”

My answering smile is stiff and forced. “Yeah. She was recently promoted.”

Cassandra lets out a non-committal hum and takes a sip of her coffee. “And she’s the reason you’re here?”

“You’rethe reason I’m here.”

A crack in all that brittle disdain. “Me?”

“Yes, you. You talked to Cleo, a little over a month ago. About what was happening with the rogue vampires here in the city, who you thought might be behind the—”

“I’ve got nothing to say about that,” she says, defenses fully back in place as she takes another delicate sip. “I was mistaken. I never should have reached out to Cleo.”

I shake my head, reaching for some excuse to keep her talking.

“We can keep this between us. It doesn’t need to get back to anyone in the coven if you’d rather—”

“Listen, Ophelia,” Cassandra says, voice lower now. “Whatever it is you think you’re going to accomplish here—”

Her words cut off and her eyes go wide at the sight of something behind me. I only have a split second of spine-tingling awareness to register something’s wrong before I hear a smooth, familiar voice.

“I hope I’m not interrupting.” Casimir sinks into the seat beside me with his usual careless elegance, a warm smile on his face as he looks at me. “Sorry I’m late.”

If I had fewer years of PI work under my belt, and fewer instances of finding myself in dodgy, unexpected situations, I might have absolutely lost the plot at the look in his eyes. Soft, affectionate, a bit teasing as he rests a casual arm on the back of my chair.

And even with that depth of experience, I’m sure I’m nowhere near as smooth as him as I return his smile and lean into his half-embrace.

“It’s alright. Cassandra and I were just catching up.”

I have no idea what the fuck is happening right now.

I have no idea how he found me, no idea what to do with the fact that he’s acting like we’retogether, no idea how to calm the racing of my heart or the slightly swimmy sensation that washes over me at being this close to him for the first time in seven years. Surrounded by his scent—warm cologne and the crisp laundered smell of his suit, plus something beneath that’s sharp and fresh and allhim—and the sudden recipient of all that focused vampiric attention, it’s all I can do to keep my face and body relaxed and turn my smile back to Cassandra.

Even though I have no idea what the fuck is going on, Idoknow she looks entirely off-balance right now. All her cool composure and defensive posturing is gone as her wide eyes dart back and forth between me and the vampire at my side.

It’s the opening I need.

“I hope you don’t mind I asked Casimir to join us. We’ve reconnected while I’ve been in the city.”

A flash of uncertain calculation crosses Cassandra’s face as she takes in the way we’re sitting, along with a pulse of something that looks very much like suspicion when her eyes land on my neck.

My unbitten neck.

But the look is gone in an instant as she gives her head a small shake and regains her composure.

“Of course I don’t mind,” she says, her tone entirely different than it was just a minute ago. Friendly, warm, her smile wide and almost sincere as she addresses Casimir. “It’s been a while.”

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