I was really going to have to explain that better to Thea later.
I wandered onto the terrace, taking in the view of La dame de fer and wondering exactly what to do next. I hadn’t seen Jacqueline in decades, and the fact she was here meant she expected to catch up. But I wouldn’t risk overwhelming Thea, not on the cusp of the Parisian social calendar. That was bad enough. But Jacqueline had something no one else in my life offered–what I needed most.
Perspective.
My parents were too caught up in the politics of the Rites to be trusted. Sebastian was too busy fucking everything that moved. And Celia had an annoying habit of dropping cryptic remarks and then refusing to elucidate what she was getting at. Jacqueline was as blunt as a sword’s hilt and as sharp as its blade. It was one of the reasons we got along. There was no time wasted on tiptoeing around the facts. She called me on my bullshit. I called her on hers. It worked for us. Most of the time.
The last time I’d seen her had not been one of those times.
“Your lovely companion is tired,” Jacqueline’s musical voice called as she escorted Thea back into the bedroom. “She needs a nap.”
“I’m fine.” But even as she said it, her hand snapped up to cover a wide yawn.
“I can see that,” I said dryly. “I should see you to bed.”
“It’s two meters away.” Jacqueline rolled her eyes. “She can see herself. She needs rest, not an overbearing vampire keeping her up.”
Thea’s mouth clamped shut as if she was holding back laughter.
“I left the two of you alone for five minutes, and you’re in cahoots,” I grumbled.
“Cahoots?” Thea repeated, giggles spilling out. “Okay, old man.”
I glared at Jacqueline, who held up her hands with wide eyes. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because she spent a moment alone with you, and now she’s calling me old man again.”
“You are old,” Jacqueline said with a shrug of her slight shoulders, earning more laughter from Thea. She nudged Thea toward the bed. “Rest. I need to catch up with Jules, but tomorrow...”
Thea nodded to some unspoken plan. If she had any lingering concerns about my friendship with Jacqueline, they weren’t enough to keep her from climbing into the bed and collapsing against a mountain of silk pillows. I moved to her side, past an increasingly amused Jacqueline, and leaned over her. “I’ll wake you at midnight. It’s the best time to see Paris. Now rest, pet.”
I brushed a kiss across her forehead, earning a soft sigh that only reminded me that I hadn’t brought her up here to rest. A spark of darkness flickered inside me, and I moved quickly away before my blood-lust took over and stole Thea’s chance to sleep.
By the time I reached the door, she was already snoring softly. Jacqueline joined me, lapsing into silence as we made our way to the fifth floor, which wasn’t a floor at all.
“I think you have the best view in the city,” Jacqueline said as we stepped onto the roof. Before, this was nothing more than a flat opening, devoid of any personality. Now it was filled with silk cushions in the colors of precious gems amid small tables meant for conversation. As usual, it seemed my best friend wanted me to make more friends. The whole space was clearly intended for entertaining.
“It’s why I bought the place,” I reminded her. “The market value will only increase.”
She groaned, even though she knew me too well to be surprised. “And it will be a lovely place to raise a family. Plenty of room for little vampires.”
“Not you, too.” The last thing I’d expected from her was pressure to marry. Whatever end of the spectrum my mother was on, Jacqueline usually took up residence at the other end of it. But it seemed the season was messing with even the most libertine among us. The next thing I knew, Sebastian would be planning my wedding. “Is everyone around me obsessed with the bloody Rites?”
“The Rites?” Jacqueline turned on me, crossing her arms, and glaring. “You think this is about those stupid rituals?”
“What else would it be about?”
She stared at me for a moment, studying my face as if looking for some clue. Just as I grew tired of being watched like a lab rat, she threw her head back and laughed. The sound of it filled the rose-colored sky.
“You really don’t know,” she said, her eyes gleaming wickedly as she finally got ahold of herself.
“What now?” I muttered. “If they’ve found some new archaic bullshit to–”
“Julian,” she interrupted, grabbing my shoulders and looking me directly in the eye, “you’re mating.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
THEA
A cool breeze drifted across my body, and I rolled over…into a sleeping vampire. I blinked dreamily as my eyes adjusted to the dark bedroom. My brain woke up in the process and filled in all the short-term memory bits still hazy from sleep. I was in Paris–in Julian’s bed. Warmth spread through me as I remembered, stopping when I reached the part where I found Jacqueline in his bed. I lifted my head and looked around the room, relieved to find we were alone.
Julian’s self-appointed best friend–as she had called herself in the bathroom–had been a bit of a shock, but she seemed nice. At least, nicer than most vampires I’d met so far.
But more than anything, I wanted to be alone with Julian. I’d only been here for a few hours, but already I understood why they said Paris was a city for lovers.
I watched him sleep just long enough it wouldn’t be creepy. His face was relaxed and peaceful, not caught in the lines of grumpiness or blood-lust that usually plagued him in equal measures. Like this, his beauty was mesmerizing. The primal masculinity that radiated from him was still there but entirely under his control. The sharp lines of his face softened with sleep, drawing attention to the perfect bow of his lips. Every ounce of me wanted to lean over and kiss him.
But I was pretty sure I should brush my teeth. Besides, I doubted it was a good idea to wake a sleeping vampire.
Slipping from my bed, I freshened up in the bathroom. I’d have to thank Jacqueline later for keeping it well-stocked. She might not have expected him to bring someone home, but she’d prepared it in case he did. There was extra toothpaste and mouthwash. Hanging on the back of the door were two fluffy black robes. She’d pointed them out to me earlier, eager to show me every treasure I had at my disposal. Maybe I was being stupid or too trusting, but I liked Jacqueline other than finding her naked.
Quietly, I discarded my clothes from traveling, which I’d been wearing far too long to feel comfortable in. I didn’t want to risk looking for my luggage, so I wrapped myself in a cozy robe and then tiptoed past the bed, holding my breath, and out onto the terrace.
It was quieter than when we arrived. The traffic sounds had faded into the background as most of the city slept. But another magic had descended in the absence of day. Glittering lights punctuated the midnight sky, and the Eiffel Tower glowed in front of me. There was something about being here that felt like coming home. That was silly, considering I’d never been here before. Even so, a beautiful ache cracked open my chest, and I found myself longing for my cello. I didn’t know how else to express the feelings building inside me.
“Beautiful.” Julian’s quiet voice broke the spell and placed me under a new one. Whatever magic ran in his veins only required one word to cast itself over me.
“Yes.” I sighed as he moved behind me and circled my waist with his strong arms. Melting against him, I admitted, “It’s the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen.”
