Page 19 of Fangs, Frost, and Folios
The girl sounded thoughtful but not saddened by her parents’ absence. Good. Sadia was cosseted and protected far more than she would like. Any hint of independence was likely welcome.
“You’ve found a lot of pieces on the bottom border,” Isadora said. “Nicely done.”
“No problem,” Sadia said. “I like doing puzzles with you. I mean… they’re not little-kid puzzles, so it’s cool.”
“Well, you’re not a child, so I wouldn’t expect you to enjoy children’s puzzles.”
Sadia let out a huge sigh. “I wish everyone else thought that way.”
“What way? That you’re not a child?”
“Yes.” The exasperation was clear, even from a distance. “It’s like, Ben comes and expects me to want to watch cartoons with him. Tenzin basically ignores me, and Dema is hovering. I swear, she’s just hovering over my every move. It’s embarrassing.”
“Well, she is your bodyguard, and your parents are out of the country, so I expect that’s related to work.”
“Fine. I mean… yeah, that’s okay I guess.” The girl began to get choked up. “I just wish everyone knew…”
“Oh sweetheart.” Isadora was clearly concerned. “What is it, my love?”
“I don’t know!”
The girl was obviously crying. Tenzin could hear the sniffles and practically saw the tears welling in her eyes. Her scent had changed from her distress and…
Her scent.
“Oh, my sweet girl.” Isadora was in full comforting-grandmother mode. “Is there anything I can do? Should I talk to—?”
“No! Don’t talk to anyone! There’s nothing wrong. I’m just… tired I guess. Or something.”
“Okay.” Isadora reassured her. “It’s all going to be all right. I’m here foryou, Sadia. You can tell me anything that’s bothering you. I will always protect your confidence. Do you believe me?”
“Yeah.” The girl sniffed. “I know. I love you, Grandma.”
“I love you too. So very much.”
“Do you have any chocolate?”
“Of course.” Isadora’s voice took on a note of clarity. “Every woman—no matter her age—should have a treat for herself hidden away for times like this.”
Ah, it made sense now. It all made sense.
Hormonal changes were easily detectable by experienced vampires. Ben hadn’t been around long enough to sense the rush of hormones that was flooding his younger sister’s system, but that wasn’t the case for Tenzin.
Sadia might not know why she was so moody and upset for absolutely no reason.
But Tenzin did.
Six
“My goodness.” Caspar’s face was soft and thoughtful. “I wonder when she wrote that.”
“I hope you forgive me reading it to you,” Giovanni was sitting in their rooms at Graves Court, speaking to Caspar on the screen while Beatrice readied herself for the evening. “We think it might be a clue.”
“No, I understand completely.” He smiled a little. “Such a Penny thing to do, isn’t it? Make a little game of it, all for her own amusement. She loved doing things like that. Do you remember, Giovanni?”
“I do. She was the queen of treasure hunts during house parties.”
“I love the idea that she’s looking down, amused that you’re still alive and reading my letters.”
