Page 34 of Stalk the Dark
Ezekiel’s laughter echoed around us. “Make yourway to the dining hall on the left.” His voice drifted away, leaving me standing in the dark with two hunters at my back and a tremor in my limbs.
“Are you all right?”Ordell cupped my shoulders with his large hands, running his gaze over me. My knees shook, but I held my ground, resisting the urge to lean into him.
“She looks fine,” Hemlock said.
I shot him a sharp look. “You sound disappointed.”
“No. Just wary. What did he say to you?”
“Nothing much. He was acting…hospitable…” I winced. “He’s playing a game, obviously. He said you could stay to dine.”
“We’d stay regardless,” Ordell growled.
Hemlock rolled his eyes. “Of course we would. Look, we’re on his turf, so let’s play by his rules, and we can get the fuck out of here.”
I hadn’t told them about my plan to live here, and now wasn’t exactly the time. And to be honest, I was having second thoughts. No. It was a solid plan. The only plan, and I needed to raise it with Ezekiel tonight while he was feelingmagnanimous, and I didn’t want it to come as a shock to the guys. “Look, guys, I was going to tell you on the drive here before I got batnapped. SoI’m telling you now, and I need you not to make a big deal about it.”
“What is it?” Ordell asked.
“I’m going to ask if I can live here.”
They both stilled, and then Hemlock let out a bark of laughter. “Perfect.” He turned away, reaching into his pocket and retrieving his silver coin.
“Why would you do that?” Ordell asked, looking genuinely confused.
I glanced around the hallway, a prickle skating over my skin. “I feel it would be easier to do my job if I was here.” I met his gaze when I said it, hoping that he’d read between the lines and know it wasn’t something to be discussed in Ezekiel’s vicinity.
His frown cleared, and he nodded. “If that’s what you think is best, then we’re with you.”
“What?” Hemlock snapped.
Ordell shot him a quelling glance, and Hemlock’s jaw ticked dangerously.
Ezekiel’s voice filled the hallway. “If you’re done confabulating, dinner awaits.”
I’d been right to keep my peace here. It was obvious now that the walls had ears, and all ears led to the master of the house.
I adjusted my holster and headed toward the dining hall. “Let’s eat.”
Chapter 13
The dining room was through a vaulted arch where hardwood floors and plastered brick walls hung with huge landscape paintings waited, their details hidden in shadow.
An elaborate dining table sat in the center of a room large enough to seat at least twenty, and at the far end sat Ezekiel, silver goblet in hand, surveying the many plates of food neatly laid on the table. Tarts and bowls of stew, cooked ham, tiny pastries, and small, white bread rolls. There was an abundance to choose from, and he’d laid this out for just the two of us?
I mean, he hadn’t known that the hunters were coming with me, or had he suspected?
He looked up as we crossed the room. “Welcome to my humble abode.”
The candles on the table and sideboard flared brighter, casting distorted shadows on the wall, and fora moment, my head was filled with whispers, but they died once I reached the table. I took a seat somewhere in the middle, a nice distance away from the vampire king.
Hemlock walked around the table to take the seat opposite me, but Ordell walked around me, putting himself between me and Ezekiel.
Ezekiel watched them like a hawk, his eyes darting between the two, and as Ordell sat, the vampire king’s nostrils flared.
“Interesting aroma you have there,” he said to Ordell.
“It’s a homemade body wash,” Ordell replied, settling into his seat by pushing it back to give his frame more room. “Happy to give you the recipe.”
