Page 84 of Wanted: Vampire's Assistant
Zian looked at us like we were crazy, but crazy beings he was fond of. I patted his head and gave him a good scratch when he put his huge head on the cushion next to us, watching our antics with a puzzled, furry expression.
“Mesmer, I’m getting married!” I called to the bodyguard in the corner of the room, hiding in the shadows.
“Congratulations, my lady,” came his wry voice.
“Aww, Mes, are we making you uncomfortable with our affection?”
“Yes.” It went without saying that it was his duty to deal with it.
I cackled. “You could turn around and face the corner?” I suggested in an overly sweet tone.
Draven’s eyes were smiling again, but there was an evil look to them now. “Yes, like a time out,” he agreed.
I started laughing as Mes looked at both of us with his patented gargoyle look of disgruntlement. “Are you two finished yet?” he drawled sarcastically.
I looked at Draven, Draven looked at me, and we both said, “Nope!”
Mesmer sighed the hugest sigh, and I could tell...he was really looking forward to a lifetime of guarding us.
I sent Mes an air kiss and snuggled my chin into Draven’s neck. “Did Virion go home?”
Draven’s huff of laughter fluttered through my hair. “He took a room at the Docile Duke.”
I blinked, startled. “The hotel on Main Street that prides itself on treating its patrons like they’re royalty, and has 18thcentury English design and staff?”
He nodded. “The very same.”
I thought about that. Virion being waited upon by his own butler, sitting in a tea room while the ladies crocheted, and I choked on gleeful laughter. Virion was awesome and awe-inspiring, but he also was not really fond of emotions on any scale, and did not seem to like ridiculousness of any kind. Like, atall.It was really difficult to imagine him taking tea with little old ladies and stuffy gentlemen.
“Why?”
Draven shrugged. “Said he wasn’t ready to go home yet. I have to assume that a high elven warrior-farmer knows what he’s doing.”
I shook my head. Warrior-farmer. Virion was certainly interesting.
“Rhys took off. He said he had paperwork at The Laughing Elf, but I think he just wanted to check on Dice.” I wiggled my eyebrows, and Draven smoothed them with a tender look.
“He loves her,” he said.
I sat up. “Really? I thought, well, I thought he cared about her a lot, but I wasn’t sure it had progressed to love yet.”
“Trust me,” Draven said dryly, “I recognize the signs.”
I kissed his chin and frowned in thought. “Dice is still struggling. If he loves her, he’s going to have to be patient. She’s like a wild horse that just wants freedom and safety.”
“Saw many wild horses in Manhattan?” Draven asked with a smirk.
I smacked his chest lightly. “Funny. You know what I mean. That pixie will not fall easily. She’s too scared, and too determined to stay single.”
“You have no faith in Rhys?”
I scrunched my nose. “Of course I do! I just...feel bad for him, you know? Our relationship has been so easy in comparison with theirs.”
Mesmer suddenly sounded like he was choking on a chicken wing over in the corner, and Draven was goggling at me and mouthing the wordeasy,butwithout any sound coming out. Then he threw his head back and laughed. It filled the whole space around us, literally echoing in the vast room. What had I said that was so funny?
He gathered me to him tenderly after chortling so hard that he was nearly out of breath. “Ah, Mia. You are a treasure.”
Well,yes,I was. I ignored the continued sniggers from Mesmer and cuddled with Draven again. Eventually, the warmth of the fire worked its magic on me, and I drowsed. Before I fell fully asleep, my thoughts went to Rhys and Dice. I wanted to help them, but didn’t know how. I would think of something.
My last thought was of Virion taking tea with a stuffy and snooty elderly lady who was critiquing his holding of a teacup. “Pinkies out, young man. Pinkies out.”
I smiled and drifted off.
