“We compel them to forget they ever met a vampire or that we exist at all. We aren’t interested in enslaving anyone.”
“But you use them for blood?”
“Only if that’s part of the agreement,” she said. “Some humans serve as lawyers or guards or accountants.”
I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea of a vampire’s accountant. It was just too mundane. “Wait, am I in thrall?”
“I think he’s more in thrall to you,” she said with an unladylike snort. “Which brings us to vampires having sex with virgins. There can be a problem,”
My eyes narrowed. Julian had very conveniently left this part out. “What kind of problem?”
“It’s like being under thrall but turned to eleven. The mortal is tethered to the vampire.”
“Until the vampire releases them?” I guessed.
“No. Death is the only release.”
My stomach flipped as I processed her words. This was why Julian wouldn’t take my virginity. “And he knew this? Why wouldn’t he tell me?”
I deserved to know. I need to know!
“I think he’s worried it will scare you away.” Her face screwed up like she shared his concern.
“But what if we slipped and accidentally…I wouldn’t know what happened until it was too late.”
“That’s less forgivable,” she admitted. “I suspect he’s relying on centuries of carefully cultivated restraint and a fair amount of self-loathing to keep that from happening.”
“Why even risk it?” Was I asking her or myself? “Why didn’t he just leave when he found out?”
“Sometimes, what we intend to do is different from what fate has in store. I think even Julian’s restraint is no match for destiny.”
“Destiny?” I shook my head with a laugh. “I’m not sure I believe in fate.”
“How long have you known Julian?” she asked. “A matter of days? A week?”
I nodded.
“A blink of an eye for a vampire and hardly any time for a human, even, correct?”
“Yes. I guess so,” I said.
“Now, answer one question honestly for me.” She leveled a fierce gaze at me. “Are you in love with him?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
JULIAN
Thea barely spoke on the drive home from shopping. She angled her petite body toward the window, watching Paris fly by in utter silence. Judging from the bags that made their way into the Bentley’s trunk–according to Jacqueline, these were only a small portion of the purchases–the trip had been a success. But Thea remained unreachable, even though she was sitting next to me.
I shot a quick text off to my best friend.
Did you break my girlfriend?
Three dots appeared and then disappeared. I waited, but no response came. Jacqueline and I needed to have a little talk. I’d expected her to fill Thea in on some of the more delicate particulars of vampire society, but exactly what had she told Thea?
By the time we arrived back at the house, I was beginning to panic. I went around and opened her door. Thea didn’t look at me as she climbed out. Instead, she rushed into the house, passing a confused Hughes, who shot me a questioning look.
“Have you upset Mademoiselle?” he asked. “I could arrange to have flowers delivered.”
“That won’t be necessary,” I said, starting up the stairs after her. I paused on the third step. “On second thought, yes. Flowers seem like a good idea.”
I went to the bedroom and found it empty. She wasn’t in the bathroom or out on the terrace. As I turned to look for her, some of the housemaids began carrying in the shopping bags.
“Shall we hang these?” one asked.
I nodded, too distracted to care what they did. They could cut them into tiny pieces and toss them about like confetti for all I cared.
She wasn’t on the rooftop. Finally, I made my way down to the library. I found her there, tucked into a window seat that looked out over a little alley below. It was the least scenic view in the house, but she stared out to something beyond the glass.
I approached her cautiously, worried she would run again. “Was it that terrible? I promise never to make you shop again.”
She glanced up at me, looking startled to find me standing there. “Shopping was fun.”
“That is the least convincing you’ve ever been, pet.” I sat next to her, but she shrank away as if she didn’t want me to touch her.
“The shopping was fine.” She turned toward me. Her green eyes were hard, glittering emeralds. “And the conversation was illuminating.”
“I see.” I clenched my jaw, wondering if I’d made a mistake. I’d known Thea would ask Jacqueline the questions she didn’t dare ask me. I thought I could guess what those questions might be. Maybe I had been wrong. Whatever she’d learned from my best friend hadn’t just upset her.
