Page 14 of Vampire's Breath

She pulled her brows together. “Did you ever figure out why he needs the old man saltbush?”

“He didn’t tell me. And it’s probably just as well. His business is his business—it isn’t something I need to worry about.”

Amy let out a soft scoff. “I can’t remember the last time I saw you look at somebody that way.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but stopped, the warmth in my cheeks betraying me. I took another sip of my wine, wondering if I could play off the flush as being tipsy. Maybe with someone else, but not with her. “And exactly what way is that, Amy?”

“You know—the whole flirting-with-your-eyes thing. He had you tongue-tied from the moment you met him. And I’ve heard John talk about what you can do with that tongue.”

“That would be why I’m no longer with John.” A slow burn rose in my chest. I brought the glass to my lips again, buying time, not wanting to continue this topic.

“But what about this guy?”

I shrugged nonchalantly, adjusting my tone so it was one of indifference. “Well, yeah, of course. I mean, he’s hot. Would I like to hook up with him tonight? Yes, but that isn’t what he wanted.”

“And you couldn’t even get him to stay for the party,” Amy teased.

I threw my free arm out, letting it drop to my side, the movement releasing the energy that had been bunching my muscles. I stared at the gates even though he was long gone now.

“He even had an interest in Georgian England.” I sighed.

“What?”

I turned to her. “Yeah. He saw my books, then said he’d studied the period extensively. What are the odds, huh? Hotandinterested in history.”

But not interested in me.

Amy tilted her head. “Extensively enough to help you with your research?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know.” A hollow laugh escaped. “Moot point.”

But something niggled at me. Some things he’d said. It felt like he knewsomething, something important that might help. If only Mum had been able to talk to him, she would have wrung it out of him. The weight of her absence pressed down on me.

“Maybe it’s for the best,” I mumbled.

Amy frowned. “What is?”

“That he’s not interested. I mean, the last of my family just died. How do I know I’m not just trying to fill the void she left?”

“There’s only one way to find out.”

I took another sip of my wine. I was not chasing him. Not now. Not ever.

Lorcan

Fuck.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I stared at the counter in my kitchen, about to prepare my first cup of tea for the morning. The near-empty jar of old man saltbush taunted me. In my haste to leave last night, I had left the bag of tea. I closed my eyes and sighed. The last thing I wanted to do today was return to the garden center.

I’d spent most of the night staring at the ceiling, wanting nothing more than to return to Briar—to go to the party and talk to her all night next to the fire. I wanted to pull her into my arms and kiss her, to know what her lips felt and tasted like. I wanted to know everything about her.

But what was I supposed to say to her? “Let’s go to dinner. By the way, I ruined your ancestor’s life, but don’t worry, I promise it won’t happen again?”

Or maybe it would work to explain my family? “My brothers and I are all dhampirs born to a human mother and vampire father. She has to drink his blood every day to stay with him. By the way, Aiden would like to kill us all because we won’t join him in his quest for world domination.”

I needed to forget her. At least that was what I had determined last night as I tried to push thoughts of her face and the feel of her fingers resting in mine from my mind.

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