Page 71 of Stalk the Dark
All these vampires had come from Ezekiel. Been spawned from him somehow, which meant he’d made them, and then they’d birthed or made others. Or wait…had he ever had children?
A gust of cold air rushed over my skin, and conversation dipped as a troop of vampires, dressed all in black, entered the ballroom.
The newcomers approached, vampires with ebony hair threaded with ribbons of silver, and what the heck was Kaster Black doing with them?
The head of Longlier Sangualex division gave no indication that he recognized me. He trailed a few steps behind a stocky vampire with a widow’s peak and a nose that dominated a comfortable face—the leader of this troop, no doubt.
“You finally awake, then, old man?” The leader’s mouth formed a sharkish grin.
Ezekiel laughed, the sound smooth and enticing. “Laudon, it’s good to see you.”
The two embraced, brief but heartfelt, then broke apart to study each other.
“You’ve lost weight,” Laudon said.
“And you’ve put it on,” Ezekiel replied.
Laudon let out a boisterous bark of laughter. “You know me. Never one to turn down a meal.” He patted his belly then turned to his companions. “Ah, meet my youngest, Kaster.” Kaster stepped forward and bowed. “He’s mute,” Laudon said. “But he’s smart as a whip, head of the largest Sangualex department in Dracul territory.”
Ezekiel gave him a once-over. “You said you’d never make a vampire.”
“I said a lot of things,” Laudon said. “But times have changed, and if we are to survive, then we must change with them.”
Ezekiel arched a dark brow. “You’ll come to Branwood for supper soon and tell me all about thesechanges.”
Laudon’s expression sobered. “Of course.” He glanced over at me. “You’ve taken a vein?” His eyes lit up with interest. “May I?” He reached for me, and Ordell and Hemlock moved to intervene, but Ezekiel beat them to it by grabbing hold of Laudon’s wrist.
The vampire went preternaturally still. “Not sharing?”
Ezekiel smirked. “Do I ever?”
Laudon chuckled softly. “Good point.”
Ezekiel relinquished his grip on the other vampire. “However, Miss Lighthart is my watcher,nota vein.”
“Ah…” Laudon reclaimed his hand, subtly rubbing at his wrist. His gaze flicked to the hunters at my back. “I see.” Something passed across his features, an emotion I failed to decipher because it was gone too quick. “In that case, welcome to Dracul, Miss Lighthart. My name is Laudon Umbren, head of House of Shadows.”
“A pleasure to meet you.” I inclined my head.
He flashed wickedly sharp canines. “Likewise.”
A liveried server appeared sporting a silver tray with a single goblet on it, which he offered to Ezekiel. The vampire king made to wave him away, but Laudon stepped in with a roll of his eyes and plucked the goblet from the tray. “Seeing as neither of us deigned to bring a vein, we may have to settle for a goblet of wine.” He handed it to Ezekiel. “Fetch me one too, boy,” he ordered the server.
Ezekiel took it with a shake of his head and a smile. “Bossy as always.”
“You’re one to talk…Speaking of which. Weshouldtalk.”
They walked off, heads together, and we trailed a little behind them.
How much longer were we going to stay? Kaster looked just as pleased to be here as I was. Ordell dropped me a reassuring nod as Hemlock’s attention swept the room.
I sidled closer to the vampire. “Hey, remember me? You owe me a coffee machine.”
He looked down his nose at me with a whisper of a smile and inclined his head.
“You know him?” Ordell asked.
I was about to respond when Ezekiel stepped between us and took my arm. “We should be going. Miss Lighthart has an early start tomorrow.”
