Page 160 of Dawn Caravan
“Twenty?”
“Keeping in mind that not all of them are used regularly.”
“How many do you use regularly?”
She shrugged and rolled again so she was flying above him. “Define regular.”
He looked up. “If you were roaming around? Maybe once a year.”
“Oh, then I only have five. New York, Shanghai, Venice, Tibet, and Fes.”
“Fes?”
“Very few automobiles in Fes. I like it. I bought a house there only five years ago.”
Ben muttered, “I had no idea.”
Tenzin flew in front of his face, her eyes glowing. “I am telling you so many things, and I’m not worried about killing you! Chloe will be very impressed.”
Ben couldn’t stop his smile. “Good to know. So tell me about these vampire embassies.”
She floated to his side again and rolled in the wind. “I don’t know if other courts have them, but Penglai has bought property in cities around the world so that anyone in the court who needs access to a safe place has one in what might be hostile territory.”
“And there’s one in Rome?”
“There’s one in all the major vampire capitols.”
“So… Paris? London? Nairobi?”
“Of course. Buenos Aires, New York, Winnipeg.”
“Winnipeg?”
Tenzin looked at him like he’d taken a blow to the head. “Whereelsewould you put the vampire capital of Canada?”
“I mean, obviously Winnipeg,” Ben muttered. “Don’t know what I was thinking.”
“So we can stay in the safe house in Rome if you want,” she said. “Or we can stay near the Pantheon. I’m sure we’ll be safe either place.”
Ben sensed this was more about Tenzin than him. “Which place would make you feel more comfortable?”
She looked over her shoulder. “The Penglai house.”
“Then why don’t we stay there?” He sidled up to her and slipped an arm around her waist. “I don’t mind.”
“Fabia was very angry with me; I don’t want to needlessly provoke her.”
Ben had to smile. “New Year’s resolution?”
“I think Chloe would be proud that I’ve done as well as I have.”
“So is that why you don’t want to stay at the Rome house? Fabia’s my friend. She wants me to be happy.”
“I think she is in love with you. I don’t think she realized it before, but she is.”
“I don’t think so.” He looked at her. “Fabi will be fine. I’m more worried about you and Beatrice.”
“Beatrice has a right to be angry.” Tenzin settled under his arm like a bird beneath a wing. “She wanted to change you herself. Her or Giovanni.”
