Page 128 of Vampire so Virtuous
Cally swallowed, steeling herself. “I’ll go with her, Antoine.”
Belle clapped her hands in delight. “What a lovely gift!”
“One night,” Antoine ground out.
“Three,” Belle said immediately.
“Onenight,” he said again. “I will come for her at dawn.”
“Ah, such ardor. Very well, one night.”
“And no blood.”
She walked a few steps across the room, as if considering, then spun to face them. “I’ll try, but she is so delicious.”
“No. Blood.” He bit off each word.
Belle pouted. “You spoil all my fun.”
“What gift you have is my choice.”
“What help you have is mine!” she snapped, her mood changing abruptly, eyes flashing red.
Cally hesitated, then took a small step forward. “I’ll come with you, if you promise not to harm me, and… and that you’ll help Antoine.”
“No,” Antoine said urgently.
“J’accepte,” Belle replied, her lips curling in triumph.
“No,” Antoine said again, this time to Belle.
“Too late.” Belle waved a hand. “She made her own offer.”
She looked too smug, and Cally couldn’t help wondering what she’d done. She looked at Antoine, but his face was a mask once more.
I should’ve stayed upstairs.
“What a delightful evening,” Belle cooed, turning with a flourish of her dress. “Come, chattel, the night is slipping away.”
“My name is Cally,” she snarled. “Don’t use that word.”
Belle merely laughed, walking to the far door, opening it, and looking back expectantly.
Cally followed with heavy steps, her mind racing with what she’d just agreed to. She glanced at Antoine as she passed him. She’d done it partly for him, for his alliance—though she didn’t even understand what that truly meant. Impulsive. Foolish.
He swallowed hard, his expression impassive, but his eyes were intense, too much emotion to read.
Belle’s gaze lingered as Cally headed into the hallway, where there was no sign of Marcel.
“Au revoir,mon amour.” Belle closed the door behind them and gave a happy little sigh. “So much fun,” she whispered to Cally, her eyes sparkling. She linked her arm with hers as if they were two friends out for a shopping trip. “Come. I intend to enjoy you while I have you.”
Thirty-one – Cally
“Here we are,” Belle announced gaily, as her car pulled up before a mansion on the outskirts of Boston. The car clock read just after one. Had it really only been two hours since they’d been queueing outside Minh’s club?
To Cally’s relief, Belle had been content to sit in silence for the journey. The Mercedes was a fitting indulgence for the ridiculously wealthy vampires—heavily tinted windows and seats of the softest leather. The rear center console kept Belle on her side, a welcome boundary. Cally had been thankful for it, but she wasn’t under any illusions about what was to come; Belle had made sure of that, giving her the entire drive to anticipate it.
The large house stood bathed in light, spilling from grand windows across the courtyard where half a dozen guards loitered, looking more absurd than menacing in their ill-fitting suits. One stepped forward to open her door, his jacket gaping to reveal a machine pistol in a holster—very gangster.
