As Shadows Fade (The Gardella Vampire Hunters 5)

Before he could turn, there was a knock at the door and it opened. Verbena stuck her head in, eyes wide and blue. “S’sorry to interrupt, my lady,” she said. “But… Kritanu is calling for Monsieur Vioget. ”

Max felt Vioget’s eyes flicker to him, then to the door. As if Max had somehow arranged such an interruption. He tightened his lips. If anyone had arranged anything, it was Victoria. Not Max.

And if Vioget didn’t understand that, then perhaps he was not wholly prepared to handle Victoria.

Max looked at her, noticed that while she wasn’t looking at him , she was looking extremely innocent. Blast it. Blast her.

“Pardon me,” said Vioget, standing abruptly. He gave a little bow to Victoria. “Are you quite finished?” he asked.

She looked directly at him and replied, “For now. But I will be here if you wish to return. ”

Max blinked and nearly missed the sharp look Vioget sent toward him. He edged toward the door, ready to make his exit. Vioget stepped aside, quite willing to let him pass.

“Max. ”

He turned, his fingers tightening. Their eyes met, and he knew she wasn’t about to let him leave.

Vioget could delay no longer without looking the fool, and so he left, leaving the door ajar behind him. Victoria walked over and closed it, brushing against Max as she did so.

He steeled himself, remembering those moments in the carriage. She’d looked up at him, everything written on her face that he knew was also engraved deep inside himself. “What is it?” he said, his voice hard. Angry.

Why did she persist?

“Thank you for taking Wayren last night. I knew… you were the only one I could trust to do it. ”

“I was the one you had to protect. ”

“I knew you were the one who would succeed in bringing her back, Max. Vis bulla or no. We spoke last night. She told me she asked you to return to the Venators. ”

“I won’t. ” The words were out of his mouth before he could consider them.

“As she told me. ” She stood there, far enough away that he couldn’t reach to touch her-if he’d wanted to-but close enough that he could smell the remnants of her bath. “You don’t have to risk your life and become a Venator again. It matters not to me. ”

Max snorted. “I risk my bloody life every damn day, Victoria. As if that fear would keep me from the Trial. ”

“Ah, that clears things up for me, then. ” Her voice grew cold, and she turned slightly away. A damp curl clung to her bruised cheek. “It’s not fear of death. It’s that if-when –you succeeded in reinstating your Venator powers, then you would have no excuse to leave. No reason to hide. To shunt me off on Sebastian. Isn’t it, Max?”

He opened his mouth to speak, anger driving through him. He didn’t want to talk about this. “You should cut your hair. ”

She looked at him in surprise, but accepted the change of subject. “I’ve thought of it. It’s too long and dangerous. ”

That was not the response he’d expected. He didn’t like it.

Damn it to Hell. He didn’t like anything right now.

“Max, you’re right. As long as Lilith is obsessed with you, there is an added danger. ”

He narrowed his eyes at her, an uncomfortable feeling rising inside him again.

“So I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands. ” She smiled. It wasn’t a seductive smile, or even a pleased one. It was feral. Bestial. “Once I’m sure Wayren is safe, I’m going to find Lilith, and kill her. ”

Seven

Wherein Sebastian Swears Off Women

Sebastian did not return to Victoria’s chamber after all.

He thought to have had his mount saddled in order to take himself off to the rooms he let while in London, but something drew him back to the sitting room. He had a compelling desire to see if the Gardella Bible, about which he’d heard so much, was there. An odd thought, to be sure… It certainly wouldn’t be sitting out,