Page 199 of Vampire so Virtuous
“I am sorry for your loss.” He sounded genuine, his voice tinged with guilt—and something else, something darker. Self-loathing. She knew instinctively.
“We are not responsible for the actions of others, Antoine.”
“A timely reminder,ma chérie,thank you.” He cleared his throat. “This is why you went to Milton?”
“Yes.”
“Busy day.” He made a wry sound, causing his chest to vibrate against her. “Terror. Pouvoir. Excitation.”
“What?”
“Nothing, just a memory. Forget I said anything.”
“You must have a lot of memories.”
“That is true, but I look forward to making some new ones. Maybe even some happy ones.” He was quiet for several soaring leaps. Then, “Do you think we could be happy?”
Her breath caught in her throat. He sounded wistful, almost… human. Asking her if they could be happy together. A chattel and a vampire—no, awitchand a vampire. That sounded better, somehow.
Her lips curved against his neck. “I don’t know, Antoine. Are you still blaming me for your Lamborghini?”
A stunned silence, then he laughed aloud. “You know, I never liked that car. I bought it on a whim, and largely at Marcel’s encouragement.”
“So I did you a favor.”
“Perhaps,ma cherie.And yet, some part of me wishes to make you pay for it. Over and over again.”
She shivered at those words. “You could buy another one easily.”
“True.”
“I could blow that one up, too.”
He chuckled. “And I would have to make you pay.”
“Over and over?”
“Exactement.”
“Are we nearly there?” She was ready to be there.
“A few more minutes.”
And then they could shut the world out and be alone.
“Oh! I sent Eve to you. For her safety. I was worried that she… that Minh might…”
“I understand. A moment, please.” He was silent long enough to make two leaps. “Noah tells me she is asleep in her room, and, rather concerningly, she has taken my copy of theLe Comte de Monte-Cristowith her.Can she read French?”
Cally exhaled, both relieved and amused. “Uh, I don’t know? I doubt it?”
“It is as I feared. She means to blackmail me.”
“Just her way of looking out for me.”
“A reminder that I should behave myself?”
“Exac-ter-mong,” Cally imitated, deliberately butchering the accent.
