A line of waiters came out a moment later. To my shock, they weren’t vampires. Their skin was too warm, and they didn’t smell nearly scary enough. I sniffed the air. Humans. My inspection sharpened as they moved, but they didn’t look abused. There were no visible bruises, at least.
They carried trays covered by metal domes on their shoulders, and they set each platter in the center of the table before unveiling it.
Maybe vampires didn’t eat food, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t cook. They’d roasted a whole pig. I watched out of the corner of my eye as the servers distributed the food. Everyone was served, including the vampires, and then Blaine stood and raised his glass. The contents were dark red. Probably wine. I hoped.
“Ladies and gentleman, members of the Vuk pack, welcome to our home. I’d like to take a moment and thank our guests. Not only for letting us show hospitality but for first showing us trust by leaving what was familiar and coming here. May your visit be pleasantly surprising in more ways than one. To peace.”
There was a collective murmur of agreement as we all lifted our glasses.
“To peace,” I murmured. I found Owen watching me from across the table and looked away.
Blaine returned to his seat, picked up his fork, and speared a piece of roasted pork. He brought it to his mouth and I held my breath, watching unblinking while he chewed and swallowed. I wasn’t the only one. Charlie let out a small gasp, tearing my gaze from the elder vamp and meeting her shocked expression.
“Did you see that?” Carter whispered beside me.
I caught Owen’s small smile before he ducked his head and dug into his own plate.
The food was delicious. I couldn’t deny that. The courses were endless and the servers prompt with refills of both food and drink. My mother had once taken me to a five-star restaurant for my birthday. I’d been amazed at not only the flavor but the creative way it had been displayed on the plate; like a work of art, I’d almost felt bad eating it and messing it up. This felt like that. Each plate served was its own creation, from the array of coloring to the placement on the delicate china. I ate slowly, not wanting to waste the one enjoyment I’d found in coming to the home of my enemy.
Throughout the meal, and the mandatory after-dinner drinks, I remained alert. My singular goal for putting up with the schmoozing my dad and Sheridan insisted on was to hopefully spot the vampire I’d come here to find. I searched the faces of everyone present, nodding and smiling as introduction after introduction was made, without really hearing any of it.
I scanned faces but never saw the man. I’d taken a break from my searching and hand-shaking to slouch against the wall in a dimly lit corner. I stared at the room without really paying attention.
My mind drifted to my mother again and that same birthday dinner I’d remembered earlier. I could still picture her that night. She’d worn a dress—something my mother rarely ever did—and her hair up. It was a simple bun but it had made her eyes bigger and I remembered thinking how beautiful she looked and wondering why I’d never noticed it before. Her beauty had been the simple kind. Her personality had matched; direct, to-the-point, but caring. I missed her so badly in this moment, my chest ached.
“I can see how happy you look from across the room. Try to contain yourself,” Carter said, slouching beside me.
“I’m tired,” I said to cover my reminiscing. “All this smiling and pretending I don’t want to kill them takes it out of me.”
His expression softened, and I knew he hadn’t bought it. He didn’t press me, though. I liked that about Carter. He let me have my space. “Where’d your sister get to, anyway?” he asked.
“Um…” I scanned the room for Charlie but I didn’t see her. I frowned. “I don’t know. She was just here.” I started to straighten, intending to go look for her. Carter’s hand on my wrist stopped me.
“Relax, I was testing you. I heard her say she was going up to bed like twenty minutes ago.”
“She left?” How had I missed that?
“I saw my dad walking her out. She’s safe.”
“Your dad?” I echoed.
“Brent tried but she complained and Dad didn’t want the bad press.” Carter’s mouth thinned. “I can’t blame her for refusing his help after that stunt he pulled at the Test of Strength.”
I nodded, my skin heating as I remembered. Despite allowing my victory, I was just as disgusted at the way he’d cheated her. “No matter which of us wins, he’s going to be removed from guard duty,” I said.
Carter met my eyes and I smirked. “I’m sure we can find some patrols that need running out near that sewer treatment plant Sheridan always insists has vulnerabilities.”
Carter shook his head, but didn’t argue.
I settled back against the wall, still frowning. I felt guilty for not noticing Charlie’s exit. I’d been so wrapped up in my own investigating I hadn’t watched her as closely as I should have. At least she was safe in bed. I went back to scanning faces and trying not to think of my mother.
A face caught my eye and I straightened from my slouch against the wall. It was a split second, nothing more, as the man passed outside the door, but I recognized him instantly. He was dressed more casually than the other guests and I knew he hadn’t been at dinner. Or invited here all.
“What is it?” Carter asked. I ignored him and took a step toward the door. “Regan?”
“It’s him,” I murmured. I began walking toward the door, slowly, trying to appear nonchalant. Carter followed.
“Him who? Where are you going?”
I stopped, huffed out a breath. Carter was drawing attention. I needed to slip out fast. And I didn’t have time for the full explanation. I gave him the shortest version of truth I could think of. “The day Charlie and I went into town, there was a man—a vampire—following us. I just spotted him here.”
I started walking again. Carter matched his pace to mine. “Do you think he wants to hurt you?” Carter asked.
“That’s what I intend to find out,” I said.
“That’s what we intend to find out,” he corrected.
I wanted to argue, to tell him to stay behind, but doing so would only draw more attention. And if I was being honest, I wanted the backup. I was tired of doing this alone. Instead, I bit my lip, nodded, and slipped out with Carter on my heels. I looked up and down the deserted hall without stopping. I headed in the direction I’d seen the man going. Left, toward the kitchen.
We passed several wait staff carrying trays of snacks and drinks as they headed toward the gathering we’d left behind. I continued up the hall in silence. Carter started to speak but I cut him off with a look. The back door I’d used earlier clicked closed just as we reached the kitchen. I rushed toward it with Carter close on my heels.
My heart pounded as we raced out into the night. The answers I’d been looking for since Mom died suddenly felt just within my reach. They felt attainable—if only I could catch this guy long enough to make him tell me. I wasn’t even sure when I’d started trusting his word, but I did. And I intended to make him talk.