Other than the more obvious reasons, of course.
I work furiously to avoid my fingers getting stabbed by the sewing needle.
Did he hesitate with Seline?The hum of the machine fills my ears.Or did he inspect her too?
No, I can’t go there today. Because today is about getting ten new commissions done before my commissioner leaves at the end of the week.
And that commissioner has the loudest mouth in the entire state of Florida.
Lolita pestered Darius until she got her petite feet planted right in front of my sewing area. The little corner had transformed rapidly in a matter of days, including a few more sewing forms, a bookshelf overflowing with cloth, a dozen magazines, and books so dusty I had started coughing.
Allergies. In this economy? I don’t think so. I don’t need tosneezewhile Darius is feeding on me. That’ll get blood all over the carpet.
And my brand-new outfit.
Lolita is practically drooling over the handiwork of my teal tunic. She’s tossing around words likechic, magnificent,andboldwhile her twin cousins stand aside, yawning, looking bored. She’s waving her hands. She’s wringing her wrists. And then she’s flipping her red hair over her shoulder and bidding me farewell in a foreign language. The twins do the same.
Yes, they have red hair too. Long. To-their-bums long. It’s the oddest thing I’ve ever seen.
Darius clears his throat. I jump from the sewing machine and bump one of the forms closest to the window, sending it to the ground where it’s sure to crash. All that work, all those achy minutes spent pinning those stupid pieces of fabric in place are about to make my entire body hurt.
Nothing hurts more than watching my work get spoiled.
I cringe, bracing for the crash.
But the crash never happens.
Darius rights the form and then pats the severed part of the neck lightly. “Lolita is a demanding cousin. You’ll get used to her.”
“She’s…” I search the ceiling for the right word. “...charming.”
“She’s mouthy. She’s the reason Noctis is such a reckless kingdom.”
I frown curiously. “Who’s the king up there, anyway? And I mean, what’s the point ofkingdomswhen you already have clans?”
“Many of the courts have been modified over the years to be less rigid than their ancient counterparts. But having a leader, a council, and a general set of guidelines to running those individual clans is important. It keeps us in line.”
Except for the murderers, right?I tuck the thought away, locking it up in the shameful tower where every other dark thought is kept. I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. “I suppose it’s time for a feeding now, isn’t it?”
“No. Why do you say that?”
“Well, you rushed Lolita out of here pretty quickly.”
He chokes for a second, breaking once more the facade he typically holds. It’s actually funny. He seems like more of a person now than he ever has been around me.
Odd what such close proximity can do to people.
Erm, tocreatures.
Darius rolls one shoulder. “She left of her own accord.”
“After you glared at her the entire time.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” The right corner of his mouth twitches. Is he trying not to smile? Hard to tell under that fine stone masonry that makes up his demeanor.
I raise my eyebrows. “Sure you don’t. But you’re hungry.”
“I didn’t say as much.”