She smiled at him and it was obvious that she wasn’t going to answer his unasked question. Her exquisite features were a carefully constructed mask of innocence though he had to look away from the intensity of her questioning stare. He didn’t even know if it was Annie sitting there or the vampire queen. He had yet to meet Anakatrine though he had heard plenty about her.
Deciding that it was most probably Annie given their surroundings, Pietro opted not to push for answers. No one ever knew what the beautiful redhead was truly up to, he doubted even Caleb did some times. “What can I get you?” he finally asked, shooting her a quick smile.
“Red wine please.” Rhianna brushed her red curls over her shoulder and turned to survey the early patrons already beginning to fill up the bar. “Looks like there’s going to be a large crowd tonight. I wonder why that is. I didn’t think this place pulled in crowds like Karpathia’s.”
“Word has probably spread that there’s a freak show in town,” Pietro answered setting her drink down in front of her. He couldn’t hide the bitterness from his tone.
She sighed, turning back to him. “You’re probably right. Sometimes I despair of our kind.”
He had expected a lecture and was surprised not to receive one. He didn’t know Rhianna as well as most of their inner circle did but he was aware of her high empathy level. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask but then he realised that she was setting him up to do just that. That sparked his irritation and he held his tongue out of pure stubbornness.
“So, where’s Caleb? I didn’t expect he would let you out of his sight any time soon.”
It was Rhianna’s turn to watch him speculatively for a moment before she smiled and sipped at her wine. “Ancient Council business, he will be along later.”
Pietro wanted to laugh at her feigned innocence. He was well aware that anything Rhianna Armand did… well there usually was some reason behind it. He decided to call her bluff. “Exactly what is it I can do for you, Annie?”
Her smile turned enigmatic and there was a twinkle in her lavender eyes as she beamed at him. “Perhaps the question should be what can I do for you, Pietro?”
It was hard not to smile back and he conceded defeat with a rueful shake of his head. “Okay, what can you do for me?”
“Well I can let you know that Cassia is going to be okay, for one, and I can sit here with you while you become accustomed to the inevitable scrutiny you’re about to be subjected to.”
The relief at her words was palpable. He didn’t give a rat’s ass about being stared at, but having some positive confirmation that Cassia would recover from his absence felt like a burden being lifted from his shoulders. Pietro couldn’t put a finger on why he was so concerned about the wolf, after all, it wasn’t as if he was her mate. No, they had just scratched an itch, and while the sex between them had been nothing more than that… it had been amazing. It was natural to be concerned about her; he had always been considerate to the women who’d graced his bed. Add in the fact she was Alexei’s daughter, and his concern was totally justified.
“I’m glad to hear that, Annie, about Cassia. I don’t need my hand being held though.”
Rhianna laughed, causing a few heads to turn in their direction. “Oh, Pietro, you are so very male. As if you would have the first inkling of what you truly need.” She sipped at her wine again and when her gaze connected with his there was something very old hidden in their lavender depths. “I believe I will wait for Caleb here, none the less.”
A vampire sidled up to the bar before Pietro could answer, the male sitting on a stool beside Rhianna. He was an elder; beautiful as most of their kind was, but clearly so new to the area that he couldn’t detect danger when it was staring him in the face.
“Whatever this little beauty is having and mine will be a beer.” He slid money onto the counter, dismissing the bartender and focusing on the petite redhead. “I knew I made the right decision coming to this godforsaken place. If I’d known the scenery was so exquisite I would have come sooner.”
Rhianna let her gaze roam lazily over him, acknowledging that some women would find him quite a catch. Silvery blond hair and clear crystal blue eyes painted a pretty picture but he couldn’t hold a candle to Caleb. “That seat is taken, my friend.”
“Really? I don’t see anyone but old scarface here.” The vampire’s lip curled in distaste as he spoke, though he didn’t spare a glance at Pietro. “Surely you don’t find those blemishes attractive?”
A chill seemed to fill the air as Rhianna’s eyes narrowed and the smile that had been on her face melted away. “On the contrary there is nothing more beautiful than the mark of true courage. Every line that speaks of pain and suffering, every tear that tells the world one has suffered but conquered despite that… to me that is something to be revered and respected above all else.” Her gaze turned from the man at her side and she smiled at Pietro. “This seat is still taken.”
“You know, you’re very snooty for a Youngling. I think someone needs to teach you some manners.” The amorous note had vanished from the vampire’s voice to be replaced by a hard edge.
If he thought his words would concern her, he was sadly mistaken. Instead of cowing Rhianna, she laughed softly. “And you truly think you are the one to do so? Believe me, friend, many much better than you have tried. I suggest you go enjoy your evening elsewhere before you regret your decision to sit here.”
“Who’s going to make me, Youngling? You? I hardly think so.”
Pietro moved without thinking. The entire time he had listened to Rhianna’s conversation with the other male his protective instincts had kicked into gear, his ire rising with each passing word. This fuckwit thought it was acceptable to hit on Caleb’s mate? He thought it was safe to ignore Pietro’s presence because he had some visible scars on show?
Pietro vaulted over the bar at supernatural speed, slashing his talons across the other vampire’s face as he did. In less time it took a heart to beat, he was squarely between Rhianna and the vampire now lying on his back on the floor. “Get out!”
The vampire was too stupid to pay any heed. He sprang to his feet, throwing a punch and kicking out at the same time. Pietro deftly avoided both, landing his own punch in the vampire’s face, the force of his blow propelling the other male across the room to land in the midst of a crowed table.
People scattered in all directions as the bartender stalked to the stunned vampire and lifted him from the floor by his neck. “If you want to keep your head I strongly suggest you get the fuck out of here now and don’t ever come back,” he hissed through clenched teeth, giving the vampire a rough shake for good measure.
Pietro tossed him towards the door and glared at the rest of the room as the wounded vampire beat a hasty exit. “And that goes for anyone else who thinks to challenge scarface. Spread the word. Pietro de la Rios is back and this bar is his. Anyone who thinks differently will answer to me!”
Stunned silence filled the room for a long moment and then everyone went back to what they were doing. The wait staff hurried over to clear up the mess, Pietro’s gaze cataloguing the entire room until he was satisfied that he’d made his point. With a shake of his head, he turned back to Rhianna to find her smiling as she watched him.
“Can I have another glass of wine, please? On the house I think… seeing as you spilled my first glass when you vaulted over the bar.”