“And what does concern me? You sought me out.”
“I am curious about your biology. About how you managed to cling to this plane when all others before you failed.”
I presumed he meant the fact that I’d been born, which hadn’t been up to me. But most people didn’t know the entire story—how my mother’s biology had been enhanced by a binding spell created by Lulu’s mother, Mallory.
My parents had explained it to me when I’d been old enough to wonder why I didn’t have any other vampire children to play with. For everyone else, there was speculation—that I was an adopted human, or played by a very well-paid actress, or part of avampire-medical conspiracy to create a new race of superbeings. A fang in every bassinet. Which would have been nice, because I’d have had more kids to play with.
“It wasn’t up to me,” I said, not interested in sharing the details with a stranger.
Ruadan didn’t look convinced by the answer. “We were both of us born in an Age of Magic.”
“Were we?”
“We made ourselves.”
Now I was just lost.
“Ruadan.”
The word was sharp, a warning delivered by someone behind me.
I glanced back and found Riley, arms crossed and brows lifted, a flat expression on his face for the fairy.
“What do you want?” Ruadan asked through clenched teeth, disgust plain in his eyes. He did not like shifters.
“I need to speak with Ms. Sullivan,” Riley said.
Ruadan’s mouth thinned into a line, but he maintained control, inclined his head, then looked at me. “Bloodletter,” he said, the word like a vicious promise, then strode away.
“That guy is creepy as fuck,” Riley said quietly when he was gone.
“He’s a weird one,” I agreed.
“What’s his deal?”
“He asked me about being born. As a vampire, I mean.”
“He looking to date a vampire? I thought he was with Claudia.”
“So did I. Which made it weirder.” I smiled up at him. “Thanks for the interruption.”
“You’re welcome. I’d never say you needed rescuing, but figured I could do you a solid. I owe you one since I never made it to Paris to visit.”
“You owe me a big one,” I said with a grin. “I accept Leo’s gift cards and Auto credits.”
He patted down his suit. “I don’t have either of those.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out an old-fashioned butterscotch candy, offered it. “I don’t know how long this has been in there, but you can have it.”
“I’m not even a little bit tempted.”
“Yeah, that’s probably a good call.” He grinned. “This is a borrowed suit.”
I narrowed my gaze at him. “Were you going to tell me that before or after I ate it?”
His smile was slow and lazy. “Probably after.” After a careful glance around, he dropped the candy into potted plant.
“Typical Riley.”
“I play to type. You gonna be in town long enough to get in a game night?”