“Vincent knew where you were.”
My face pinched together in confusion. “What? He knows where I am? How did he figure that out and can he tell me?”
“Because you were there.”
I shot up from the bed and waved my hands in front of me. “Hold up. How was I there? I’m here.”
Pursing his lips, Antoine stroked his thumb and forefinger over his bottom lip. “We have hired a witch to take your place.”
I gaped, my eyes suddenly burning with tears. “I just told you how I was feeling insecure about me being here and you guys were all over there and now you’re telling me that you hired a witch to replace me?” I stomped up to him and shoved a finger at his chest. “You are one sick bastard. It doesn’t matter who it is, does it? You just want someone to sink your fangs into, anyone would do!” I smacked his chest with my fist. “Here I am worried sick about you all and missing you like some kind of sap when you’re off getting your jollies off with Piper 2.0. Tell me. Is she prettier than me? Huh? Huh?”
Antoine kept quiet while I ranted, not even flinching at my blows.
“Are you going to say something or not you asshole?” I growled, wishing I had my own fangs to rip into him.
Antoine watched me with calm eyes. “Are you quite finished?”
I breathed heavily, sucking in more and more breath until I felt like I might pass out. “Not even close.”
“Then please...by all means...let me have it.” Antoine gestured toward me with a hand and then added on, “Actually, hold on a moment.” He walked over to the chair I’d been on and sat down, crossing one leg over the other. “Proceed.”
I stared at him with open horror, then clipped my mouth shut and turned my back on him. “Fuck you, Antoine. Just leave me alone.”
Silence drifted between us for a long moment and I thought perhaps he had actually left until he spoke again.
“We hired a witch to glamour herself as you to trick Vincent and the other hunters. In no way is she a replacement for you.” He continued talking to my back. “In fact, just the other day Rayne was two seconds away from killing her for daring to pretend to be you in a more personal fashion.”
Antoine paused, letting me take it all in.
“You think you’re alone in this,” Antoine’s presence filled in behind me, his fingers curling over my shoulders. My back stiffened at his touch. “You’re not. The pain and loneliness you feel. I feel it as well.”
“Only because you have to,” I bit out bitterly.
Antoine squeezed my shoulders lightly. “Even more so because I know how you feel. It rips me apart to know you are in pain and I am not able to be here to help you. If you think you are suffering alone in this then you do not know us at all. We suffer as you suffer. Perhaps even more so since we are unable to be there to protect our offspring.”
I snorted and turned around in his arms. “You call that an apology? Who told you to say that, Darren?”
An emotion flickered over Antoine’s face for a brief second before it was gone but I saw it.
“What? What is it?” I smacked him on the chest with my palm. “What’s going on with Darren?”
“It is nothing to worry about.” He brushed his fingers through my hair and kissed my forehead. “I should go. You need your sleep. I’ll get the information you gave me to Rayne.”
“Now, hold up a second.” I grabbed for him. “You can’t just leave me hanging like that. What’s going on with Darren?”
“Good night.” He disappeared before I could get another word out.
“Fucking hell.” I threw my hands up in the air with a scowl. “I’m missing all the good stuff.” I glanced at myself in the mirror once more and frowned. “Baby, trust me when I say this fucking sucks.”