His gaze shot up. “You’re what?”
“Mandatory service year. European vampires give a year of service to their Houses.”
“You aren’t a member of a European House.”
“I’m not. But Dumas housed me while I was in school, so I’m paying it back.”
He watched me for a moment, brows knit. “You’re volunteering for a year? That’s so unlike you, brat.”
I will not let him rile me up.“I told you a long time ago that I wasn’t spoiled.”
“You did,” Connor said with a sly smile. “But this is the first time you’ve had the evidence to back it up.”
“You’re hilarious.”
“That’s what the ladies say.”
I rolled my eyes. “Shifters supposedly have the pulse of the supernatural community. Are there any rumblings about the fairies? Murmurs about something they’re up to?”
“Rising fairy trouble?” he asked. “Aren’t you the one with the sociology degree?”
I was surprised he knew, and was flattered more than I’d have expected. “Have you been following my academic career, puppy?”
“Word filters down, brat,” he said, frowning at some bit of grime he couldn’t reach. “I haven’t heard anything specific, because we have a policy of noninvolvement. But there are some rumblings.”
“Of?”
“Unhappiness.” He unscrewed another part, cleaned that with the towel, screwed it back again. “Fear their magic is fading and they’re powerless to stop it. Fear they’ll end up like they were before—stuck in the tower.”
That matched Yuen’s thoughts. “And what do you think theyplan to do about that? Based on what little you know, because of that policy of noninvolvement?”
He smirked at my dry tone. “You aren’t any funnier than you were before you left.”
“Agree to disagree. Answer the question.”
“But you’re just as bossy,” he said. “And I told you—it’s just rumblings. Feelings. I don’t know anything about plans. If we’d known, we’d have told your father before things started.”
“What about Ruadan?”
He looked up. “What about him?”
“He seems... intense.”
Connor didn’t answer, just met my gaze evenly, waiting for me to say more.
“He approached me at the reception, after the parade.”
“He approached you? A bloodletter?” This time he wasn’t being sarcastic, but seemed genuinely surprised.
“Yeah.”
Connor rose, put the towel on the counter, then looked back at me. “What did he want?”
“He asked me about how I’d managed to be born. I didn’t get into the details.”
“That’s weird.”
“It was.” I shrugged. “Riley stepped in, and Ruadan scurried off. Which was fine by me.”