2 Hungry, Hungry Hoodoo (6 page)

“What?” She sat up, covering her mouth. “How do you know?”

I told her what I knew to this point.

“Well, you’ll find him. You must be so worried.” She squeezed my hand.

“But now you see why I need to remember my past. Or things like this will keep happening.” I swallowed hard. I still hadn’t mentioned Jaron because I didn’t know what to say. “There’s more. I think I’m responsible for all of this.”

“What do you mean?”

I leaned in close to her. “I might have started the rebellion.”

Her brown eyes met mine, wide and uncertain. “Does Cheney know?”

“No.”

She whistled and sat back. “Holy crap on cracker. We need to get the others here.”

“No. They’re safer where they are.”

“Not for them, silly. For you. You’ve been keeping far too many secrets for too long. If you ever needed us, it’s now.”

I shook my head. “Not yet. We’ll visit Sy tomorrow after the coven goes home. Hopefully his friends have found something. I don’t want to involve any of you further, until I know for certain where I stand.” Kat frowned and looked like she was going to object. “Don’t say anything to anyone.”

She nodded. “Fine, but I don’t want to be a spectator in this. If you shut me out, I’ll start blabbing. And you know I like to talk.”

I gave her a quick hug. “I’m glad you’re here.”

The next day all the girls came for our regular practice with Gram’s Book of Shadows. They distracted me from the worry that ate around the edge of my mind. After we finished, I showered and dressed, getting ready to make an excuse to Cheney about why I needed to see Sy.

“Good, you’re ready.” Cheney pulled off his shirt as I walked out.

“I am. Did we have plans?”

“We’re meeting with Paolo tonight. I told you that, right?”

I shook my head. Seeing Sy would have to wait. Paolo was the closest thing to a leader the vampires had. If he and Cheney had finally come to an agreement on a time and place to meet, I had to be there. Paolo’s second in command, Corbin, insisted—I may have flirted with him a bit the first time we met—that I attend all meetings with the vampires, and Paolo had held firm on that point. Sebastian’s intel said the rebels were trying to recruit the vampires by offering them a seat in the fae court, but Cheney didn’t think the vampires wanted that. What they really wanted was to be part of the Hunt—something only Cheney, as the new Erlking, could offer them. I was informed in no uncertain terms by Cheney and Sebastian that my part in this was to sit by Cheney and look pretty—not talk. They were afraid I would either irritate the vampires or draw too much interest. I seemed to have that way about me.

I looked down at my jeans and hoodie, not exactly business appropriate. I turned back toward the closet.

“Where are you going?” Cheney said.

“I have to change,” I called back. I opted for black pants, a gold belted tank top, and a black blazer. I looked respectable and a bit queenlier. When I came out of our room, he was gone. I found him in the study talking with Katrina.

Kat looked up when I entered. Then she glanced down at her own jeans and sweatshirt. “Do I need to change?” she asked.

“No. We have to postpone tonight. I have a meeting to go to with Cheney. Is that okay?”

“Sure. I’ll find Sebastian and see what he’s up to. Or maybe catch up on some reading.”

“Do you remember where the library is?” I asked, coming to a stop in front of Cheney, so close that his legs touched mine. What can I say, I was an addict and he was my favorite drug. He was lucky I didn’t sit on his lap. “What were you two talking about?”

“I was telling him about my new and improved abilities.”

I smiled to cover the frown. All of my friends were slowly but surely changing, and it was my fault. I hated to see it happen. I didn’t want them to get hurt in any of this. Cheney stood up. “It was nice talking to you. I’m sure Sebastian will be more than happy to entertain you if you get bored.”

I waved at her. “We have a date with some vampires.”

The vampire lair was nothing like I imagined. I thought it would be dark and gothic with heavily draped walls, a chandelier perhaps, and candelabras … lots of candelabras actually. Oh, and a butler, too. So maybe I’d seen too many movies, because the “lair” was nothing like that. It wasn’t a gothic mansion, nothing had a grayish, cold tint, and there wasn’t a coffin in sight.

The nest was a Cape Cod-style house with three perfect white dormer windows, a manicured lawn with a trellis of pink roses, and a large porch that begged to be sat on with an iced tea and a good book. Now this was a vampire I had to meet.

Cheney’s knock was firm and quick. Almost instantly the door opened, revealing a tall, thin man with dark hair and a dignified posture. He smiled and his face lit up. “You must be the Erlking, and you must be Selene. Welcome to my home,” he said with a heavy English accent, which threw me for a loop. I expected him to be Spanish. He gave us a welcoming gesture.

Cheney bowed and I smiled. “Thank you. It’s wonderful meeting you.”

“And you, Selene. I’ve heard much of you from Corbin. He is quite besotted, though I fear his infatuation may be a hopeless cause.” He glanced to Cheney with an apologetic smile. “Corbin will behave himself. You have my word as a gentleman.”

The last time I met Corbin he fed on me without my knowing it because Cheney had failed to mention that vampires could feed by touch. Now Cheney took exception to everything about Corbin where I was concerned, but I was more confident I could take care of myself this time.

“Stealing her affections does not concern me. Feeding off of her is another story.”

“Not even a taste,” our host said stoically. “Now please come in. Dinner is almost ready. It’s a rare pleasure to have guests who actually eat food, and yet I’ve developed a passion for cooking.” He ushered us to the dining room where the table was elaborately set with service for eight. When we were settled, Paolo excused himself and hurried to the kitchen.

“This is weird, right?” I whispered.

Cheney squeezed my hand. “It’s all new to me.”

“He seems nice.”

“Pay attention and tread lightly.”

“Selene, love, how wonderful to see you again.” Corbin walked into the room with a smile, his eyes focused on me. “I would kiss your hand, but I’m not allowed to touch you.”

I stifled a laugh, knowing Cheney wouldn’t appreciate it. “It’s nice seeing you again, too. You remember Cheney?”

Corbin nodded to him. “You seemed a bit testy with our girl Selene when we last met. I hope you didn’t hurt her or we’ll have a problem, mate.”

Cheney gave him a cold glare. “I would never hurt—or feed on—her.”

Corbin turned his gaze back to me. “That was bad form. I apologize, love. But it did seem like you were offering.”

“Yes, well, this isn’t an awkward subject at all.” I made a face at both of them. How was I supposed to explain why I didn’t know how vampires fed when I couldn’t tell anyone I didn’t have a memory? Cheney’s hand rested on my knee. He of all people should know better than to bring it up.

“Selene’s quite right. We shouldn’t talk about anything that makes my guests uncomfortable,” Paolo said, walking in, balancing several dishes of food. Maybe it was just me, but I had the feeling he was either fattening us up like the witch in Hansel and Gretel, or he really wanted a non-vampire friend. Paolo disappeared back into the kitchen, only to return with even more food.

“Tuck in. Help yourselves.” Everything smelled wonderful, but none of the men made a move toward the dishes, so I did. I took a small sample of everything, not wanting to be rude. Paolo smiled encouragingly and served himself, too. Did vampires eat real food? Cheney and Corbin followed suit reluctantly.

“What do you do, Selene?” Paolo asked, watching every bite that entered my mouth, making me worry it was drugged or poisoned.

“I own a yoga studio,” I said automatically, not thinking about the fact it had burned down or that I was now queen of the fae.

“You say these things to torture me, don’t you, love?” Corbin said with a glint in his eyes.

Cheney didn’t react, probably trying to think of how to cover up my faux pas rather than worrying about Corbin. However, Paolo gave Corbin a look that could have withered flowers. He was a scary, scary man underneath the warm and fuzzy exterior.

“What about you, Paolo? What did you do before you were a vampire?” I asked. Cheney squeezed my leg in warning. I bit my lip. I forgot I wasn’t supposed to talk. “I’m sorry. Was that rude?” I asked immediately.

“Not at all. Very few people ask me about my human days, but I quite enjoy talking about it. I was a carpenter. It was my passion.”

“Do you still build?”

“Actually, I do. If you come with me, I’ll show you.”

“Oh …” I glanced at Cheney. I’d sworn I wouldn’t leave his side, but since I’d brought up the topic, it would be rude to say no. Political maneuvering was proving to be way too much for me to handle.

Paolo noticed my hesitation. “I swear by my life, Erlking, no harm will come to her tonight in my home.”

Cheney smiled diplomatically and nodded to me. I stood up from my chair, still not entirely certain this is what he had in mind. Paolo walked me to a guest bedroom and nodded toward the door. I went in, showing no fear or hesitation.

“You’re not frightened of me, are you.” he said, but it was more a thoughtful statement than a question.

“I have no doubt you’re very dangerous, but no, I’m not scared of you.”

He leaned against the doorjamb. “Why not?”

“I’ve done nothing to make you want to hurt me. You seem smarter than that.”

“Vampires do not need reasons. We are barely above werewolves, are we not?”

I pressed my lips together, then I took a breath before I spoke. “I guess that depends.”

“On what?”

“Your actions. Tonight you’ve been the perfect host. I would be far more nervous about being in a room alone with my human grandmother than you.”

Paolo laughed loudly, looking pleased. “This is my latest project.” He vaguely gestured at nothing in particular.

“Which piece?”

“All of them.” I looked at the bedroom set. It was marvelous.

“May I?” I asked, my hands hovering at the drawer of the dresser.

“Please,” he said, nodding encouragingly. I opened the drawer smoothly. It was built with masterful precision.

“This is beautiful.”

“I would hope so. I’ve been doing this for around a thousand years.”

I swallowed hard. I knew he was old, but that old never ever crossed my mind. I wasn’t sure what the appropriate response was. “I imagine the world has changed quite a bit in that time.”

“If you don’t count technology, surprisingly little.”

“How did you become a vampire?”

“I was made by my lover.”

Corbin had said Cheney was more his type than I was, so I took a chance. “And where is he?”

“He was killed.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, taking his hand on sympathy without thinking. Paolo looked down at our joined fingers. He didn’t move, but I could see something flickering in his eyes. He took a labored breath then let it out slowly.