Page 109 of Vampire so Virtuous
She frowned in surprise, contemplating his words. “For you?”
“If I feed on you, I don’t need to feed on them. Are you doing it to save others from having to go through this, or to stop me from being such a monster?”
“I…” Cally shook her head.
She didn’t want to think of him as anything other than a monster, it made it too complicated.
But it already wasn’t simple, was it?
Because for all his arrogance, all his self-serving excuses, he wasn’t what she wanted him to be. He wasn’t some remorseless predator, feeding and discarding without a second thought. He wasn’t soulless, incapable of anything but hunger. He cared, in his own way. And that complicated everything.
Damn it.
Why did I even come here tonight?
“I can’t believe I came here to get away fromyourthralls.” She clung onto her anger, letting it drive her. “Don’t send them after me again.”
His shoulders tightened within the silk of his gown, but he said nothing.
“Did you hear me?” she demanded.
“My hearing is far better than yours.”
That earned him another glare, which went unseen. “There’s lines, Antoine. You can’t…” She waved a hand in frustration. “You can’tsuffocateme like this. You can’t just…” She trailed off again, not convinced she’d made her point. Whatever her point was.
He turned around, his pale blue eyes narrowing slightly. “Have you made a decision?”
“No, I—” She swallowed. “You… you’re going to go and meet this Curia?”
“Oui.”
“Well… at least you’ve fed.”‘At least you’ve fed’? What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Cally?
“You should be safe while I’m with them.” He tapped the letter against his hand. “All the other vampires will be there too, so there should be no danger. But keep an eye out for Minh’s thralls.”
“I will.”
“Better yet, stay in the house tonight. You and your friend. Marcel will find you a bed.”
She stared at him in surprise. “Is that necessary?”
“A precaution, but a prudent one, I think.”
“All right.”
He nodded, then turned and walked from the room without another word.
She watched him go, confused.
How come he’s the one drinking my blood, and I’m the one left feeling like shit?
Marcel opened the other door as if summoned. “All finished, madam?”
“Yeah, I suppose,” she said, still staring at the door through which Antoine had gone. She shook her head, and turned to Marcel. “What manner of man is he, Marcel? Not as a vampire, but as a man.”
The old retainer tilted his head and gave her a long, assessing look. “He is a man in pain, madam. But I have always thought of him a good man, a virtuous man—though one who carries his sins like shackles. If he were not, they would not weigh on him so.”
“Yes… yes, I can see that.” Cally chewed her lip, making her decision. “Tell him I said ‘yes,’ will you please? When you see him next?”
