Page 15 of Sleepless Beauties
There’s a notebook on the coffee table, I fling it open and I’m scribbling her facts on a blank page, even as he starts on with the next member.
“Croft two, Pavel.” Prey visibly shivers just saying that name, but he doesn’t let it delay his spew of information. “Pavel is an elder, and second in command. He—” Apparently this vampire isn’t among Prey’s favorites. “As vampires age, they…” his head tilts this way and that. “Theydoage. And… it shows.”
He seems to shake those morbid thoughts away.
“Croft Three,” he continues.
But my line on Pavel is nearly blank. I’ve learned almost nothing about the man. He’s the second in command, and he’s elderly. That’s it.
“Wait. You didn’t even give me a back story on Pavel. What’s his last name? His history? Anything would help.” I know from work as an independent investigator that the devil is always in the details. Even if I was just tracking cheating husbands instead of deadly vampires.
“His last name.” Prey pushes his hand down his face as if he could just wipe away his annoyance.
He clearly can’t.
“If Pavel could remember that far back, I’d give you his last name. I’d give you a cute little how he was made backstory. But Pavel is old. He’s… literally ancient. And he doesn’t remember tedious details like his last name.” The vampire sighs a long and drawn-out sound of irritation.
“Croft Three,” he says once again and instead of pressing him for more, I move on to the next line. “Rival Royale.”
A snort I can’t repress shakes through me, but Vuitton is the only one who joins in with my snickering.
Prey simply arches one of his e-boy eyebrows.
“He made that name up, right?” I’m still smiling hard. Prey’s just tries glowering harder.
Okay. Noted. Not made up.
“Rival is the advisor and speaker of the council. You will be in contact with him the most. He and I arranged for your role in the absence of Kyra Vega.”
I jot that down and note that I’m no longer getting pretty back stories, but just the facts. Prey isn’t patient and honestly, facts are always worth more than stories.
Usually.
“Croft four is currently vacant, but will be filled by an appropriate candidate soon.”
“Empty?” I ask.
Both Vuitton and Louis peer over their broad shoulders at me, and the stark silence that settles in after my question lays a blanket of eeriness over the room.
“Yes.” Prey carries on. “Croft Five—”
“What happened to the vampire in charge of Croft Four? Did they pass away?”
Prey closes his eyes slowly, and his tolerance with my hunger for more information is very obviously wearing thin.
“Croft four was found dead twelve nights ago.” Louis says from across the room.
My heart stutters.
“Um. Hold on. Time the fuck out.” I stand suddenly and face Prey. “Is this a common thing for vampires? Members of your immortal council just fucking drop dead on the regular?”
Prey’s attention shifts over my face, his gaze scanning. For what? I don’t know.
He lowers himself lazily into the spot on the small green couch that I just vacated. He kicks his feet up on my little coffee table as he goes.
The asshole.
“There have been some…issuesrecently. Creature Control is investigating, but a small group of us are looking into it ourselves. Hence, recruiting a pain-in-my-ass human to delay everyone from finding out Kyra Vega has been murdered.”
