Page 22 of Discovery of the Vampire
Giving him a shaky smile, I stepped out from behind him and faced the vampire who I now assumed was the leader of this coven. I ignored Brogan's sound of disapproval and his hand at my hip as I did so. But it sure didn't go unnoticed by any of the others.
"I didn't plan any of this," I said evenly, bringing Killian's unnerving gaze back to me. "If that's what you're getting at. I came to New Orleans to escape the nightmare of my past, not to cause trouble for you or your coven. Meeting Brogan, getting a job with Lizzy...I didn't plan either of those things, they just kind of happened. And I certainly didn't know you knew each other. But I swear to you, on my family's graves, that I mean you no harm." I looked at each of them in turn. "Any of you."
Killian studied me for a long, terrifying moment. No one spoke. Even Wiggles was silent, watching the exchange with his little ears turning this way and that like he was trying to hear what we were saying.
Finally, Killian gave a slight nod.
"Aye, I believe ye,” he said gruffly. "But ye’ll forgive me if I don't entirely trust ye yet."
A little of the tension left my shoulders, and I inclined my head in understanding, keeping my expression carefully neutral as I said, "Of course. I'd expect nothing less."
Killian's acceptance, however grudging, was a vital step. But I knew I still had a long way to go to earn the trust of these vampires.
Especially if I wanted their help to finally put an end to Marcus. Because no matter what Brogan told me earlier, I was still better off with them than alone. And, apparently, Marcus had messed with them before. So perhaps they knew more than they were letting on?
Killian took a seat on one of the stools at the island, and I resumed my place at the table, Brogan coming to stand behind me with his arms crossed over his chest like a bodyguard. Lizzy raised her eyebrows at Dae in question, but he just shrugged and leaned against the counter on the other side of the island.
"How long have ye known about us?" Killian asked me. "About what we are?"
"My people tend to believe in the myths others would dismiss, therefore I'd already heard of the legends about your kind. Of course, I took the stories I heard with a grain of salt, not believing, but notnotbelieving. At least until I wandered into your club and saw with my own two eyes."
"I have to admit, the fact that ye figured us out so easily is making me rather nervous."
I hurried to reassure him. “I’ve been at your club nearly every night since I arrived in New Orleans. I've watched the customers and how your people handle them. I don't think you have any reason to be nervous. They're having fun and they're there for the show. That's all. Besides,” I glanced between him and Dae. “If anyone was watching too closely, couldn't you just make them forget?"
Much as they did when they took women into the private room at the club. I suddenly wondered if Brogan, or any of them, had already done that to me. It hadn't occurred to me before now, but it was very possible.
Killian's eyes flicked up to the man standing behind me as he answered my unspoken question. "As Brogan should've done with ye.”
"That was the plan until we were interrupted by Dae, and then Marcus," he answered from behind me. "Though it wasn't a problem until now."
A stab of betrayal ripped through my chest. He was going to make me forget tonight? Forget what? The club?Him?
"I think we should stick to that plan once we have all the information we need from her." Killian spoke as if I wasn't sitting right there.
"No!" I shot up from my chair. "No," I told Killian more calmly. "Por favor. Don't mess with my mind. The memories I have aren't all pleasant, but they're mine, and I'd like to keep them."
"Why?"
The simple question took me aback. "Why?" I repeated.
"Yes." He shifted on his stool, crossing his arms over the cream-colored sweater he wore with his black jeans. "Why should we allow ye to keep your memories? Memories that could now endanger my family."
Think, Esme. Think!"Because I can help you kill Marcus. I just can't do it alone."
"How?"
Shit. I'd walked right into that one. "I…I…."Shit. "I can share what I learned about him when he targeted me and my family recently. Surely, that has to count for something."
Killian's voice held a dangerous edge. "Why should I care what happened to yer family? Or what happens to ye, for that matter?"
Lizzy shot him a look, and he lifted his hand toward her before she could say anything. Narrowing her eyes, she sat in the chair beside me and carefully lifted Wiggles onto her lap.
The vampire got up from his stool and came to stand directly in front of me, forcing me to look up at him. "Why should I risk myself and my familyfor ye?”
"Because it's not just about me. Because I want to stop him before he kills anyone else." My hands clenched into fists at my sides. "He's already taken everything from me. I won't let him hurt more people. He'll come after you, too."
"We don't know that.”
