Page 79 of Hunt the Dusk
We swept through the doors and into the opulent entranceway dotted with gilded portraits and ornate moldings. Classily dressed vampires and noble humans glided toward another set of doors into what was probably the recital hall.
Kaster lightly touched the small of my back, anchoring me as we moved with the crowd until we got to the doors, where a stern-looking man took our invites and raked us over.
His gaze snagged on my holster. “No weapons,” he said.
I’d been expecting this, but there was no way I was leaving my sword behind, and I was about to tell him so when a voice I’d been wanting to hear for the past week cut through the hubbub and silenced it.
“She can take her weapon inside,” Ezekiel said. “In fact, she can take a whole arsenal if she wants. After all, she’s my watcher.”
The crowd melted away to let him through. Kaster tensed, but Ezekiel had eyes only for me, and damn my treacherous body, I could not look away from him.
“What are you doing here?” My voice came out as a rasp.
“I could ask you the same thing.”
“I’m on a date.”
“Hmmm, well, I’m here as a potential patron, so shall we?”
He sidled up to the other side of me and offered me the crook of his arm.
The sheer arrogance of the male. “I already have an escort.”
“And now you have two.” He looked over my head. “Unless Mr. Black has a problem with sharing…”
Orina?Kaster asked in my head.
It’s fine. I’m fine. Shit, are you fine? I’m so sorry.
Don’t be.Kaster inclined his head in Ezekiel’s direction in acquiescence.
“Good.” Ezekiel smiled and flashed a little fang. “It saves me having to kill you.”
I glared up at Ezekiel. “What is wrong with you?”
“Now that is a loaded question, one that I’m sure you’d happily answer if left to your devices.”
Kaster’s laughter filled my head.
Are you serious right now?
“Your Majesty.” Christian Constrange sidled up to us with a stiff smile on his face. “And who is your lovely…Oh, Miss Lighthart.”
“I’m here as Mr. Black’s plus one.” I had no idea why I felt the need to clarify that.
“Of course. Of course. Please be seated. I’m sure we can arrange a box seat for His Majesty. If you’d informed us of your attendance, then we would have?—”
“Excuse me?” Ezekiel’s tone was ice-cold. “Ihave to informyou?”
Christian’s eyes went round. “No. Of course not, I just…I meant?—”
“Can we please just go inside.” I sighed. “There’s a queue behind us.”
“Please follow me,” Christian said.
I glided through the doors and into the recital sandwiched between two powerful men with the awful feeling that tonight wasn’t going to be much fun after all.
Chapter 27
