Page 86 of Bishop's Flight
“It’s a talent I’ve perfected over the years.” They plucked at their pant leg again. “I don’t like to advertise.”
Even now, knowing Zasha as Brigid did, she couldn’t feel their fire. The faint hint of smoke was the only tell. “What about me? How am I doin’?”
“Smoke is practically coming out of your pores.” Zasha’s smile was flirtatious. “You’ve never been very good at hiding what you are, Brigid Connor.”
“You’re probably right. I was shite at undercover with anyone but humans.”
“And yet here you are, successful despite all that.”
Successful? Was Zasha jealous of her? That didn’t make sense. They were far more feared in the vampire world. Brigid was a blunt instrument that Murphy pulled out to bully people, and Zasha was a clever, seductive scalpel.
“Why are you doin’ this?” Brigid asked. “Why d’ya care about the Ankers gaining control of the city? You’re more powerful than any of them lot. All they have is money and information. What good is any of that to you?”
“There’s very little I want in the world, Brigid Connor.” A hint of Zasha’s Russian accent crept into their speech. “I want to be amused. I want to hunt and have my way. I would say I like to kill humans, but in reality I find them boring. It’s really been a very long time since I had any worthy adversary.”
“I don’t know, but I can imagine. Are you calling me a worthy adversary?”
Zasha ignored the question, and their eyes drifted to the wall behind her. “I am older than your mate. My own mate was older than me. Far older.”
Wait, what?Brigid tried to not let the shock show, but Zasha must have sensed it.
“You didn’t know I had a mate?” They smiled. “I did. They loved me, the only creature who ever did. Their blood still lives in me. That is the gift of mating.” They leaned forward and their fangs fell, cutting their bottom lip. “They survive. Theypersist. No matter how long they are gone, their amnis is with you. Their memories are yours. They live on in you, and their vengeance becomes your own.”
“Their vengeance?”
Zasha sat back. “There are things I want to know, and you… Stumbling, stupid little girl. You fell into power because you were a heroin addict. A drug addict who had the good timing to kill herself in front of a sentimental vampire.”
How did Zasha know so much about her? Why did they care? Their words stung no matter how many times Brigid had repeated them to herself over the years. “Correction. Iama heroin addict.” Her voice was rough. “I just can’t get high anymore.”
“Except with your fire.” Zasha’s eyes lit up, and their accent grew stronger. “Does it feel the same? Does it take you away? I never experienced drugs in my lifetime. Describe it to me.”
“No.”
Zasha rolled their eyes. “You’re boring, Brigid Connor. Weak and boring. You ended your human life and landed in one with power and potential. So I suppose you’re weak, boring, andlucky.”
A sour taste gathered at the back of Brigid’s throat. “So leave me alone then.”
“No.” Zasha stared at her with unblinking eyes. “Do you know how long it took me to become a vampire? Fifteen years. Fifteen years of servanthood and abuse. Fifteen years fucking whoever came into my sire’s household if they wanted me. Fifteen years of being a blood slave for a monster.”
“That’s terrible and should have never happened to you.” If there was a life that would produce a sociopathic vampire, that was it. “You’ve been a captive, Zasha. Let Lucas go. This is between the two of us. You want to fight me? You want a duel? What?”
“Boring,” Zasha spat out. “You irritate me, Brigid Connor. I fought and bled and suffered for my immortality. I groveled before my hateful sire to gain this power, and you? You trip into it and land in roses. You don’t even want it.”
“I do want it.” Brigid said it without thinking and blinked when she realized she was telling the truth. “If for no other reason than to protect the innocent from monsters like you.”
“Monsters likeme?” Zasha stared at the bathroom door over Brigid’s shoulder. “You want to protect the boy? Take him away from those two vampires who will turn him as soon as he reaches maturity.Thatwould be protecting him.”
“A grand idea. Why don’t you let us go and I’ll take him away.”
Zasha sighed. “But I made a promise, Brigid Connor.”
“To who?” Brigid’s mind was racing. Lucas had turned the shower off again. He was listening to their conversation, and all Brigid could think about was getting the lad away from Zasha. The vampire had no tells. For all Brigid knew, they could explode at any time, consuming Brigid, Lucas, and the entire boat without a hair on their head being singed. “You promised me to the Ankers? You promised to hand over the boy? The city? Like you care about promises. Let the boy go and we’ll keep things interesting.”
“I think it’s interesting right now.” Zasha leaned back. “Don’t you?” They twirled their finger in Brigid’s direction. “I can see your little mind whirling, trying to think of a way out, but there isn’t one. We customized this houseboat especially for you, Brigid. And the boy, but mostly you. You can’t get out of here without killing him.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Fairly sure, yes.”
