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"Give me the lowdown on decorum. I need to know what not to do."
"Good idea. Formality among the vamps is never to be taken lightly. If they were responding to my question, the invitation would have been addressed to me. No, they want to see you for some reason. Don't trust any of them, but you can't refuse to show up. Nobody can refuse the Emissary."
I fingered the invitation, my stomach lurching. Decadent vamp scene didn't sit well with me. And bloodwhores sat even worse. My mother had been a bloodwhore and it had gotten her killed.
"Rhia said something about me being careful around Lannan," I said.
Leo bit into his toast, and chewed thoughtfully. After a moment, he swallowed and said, "I don't like talking about them. They employ me and I have to be careful in dividing my loyalties. But she's right. Lannan Altos prefers his bloodwhores with dark long hair, muscled, and . . . to be blunt . . . hot. You have the look he'd go after."
Hot? Me? I blinked. I never thought of myself in that category. But it would sound like a come-on if I protested. "Wonderful. Just what I need. Some creaking, ancient lecher after me. One with fangs, no less. "He's going to get a surprise if he tries anything. I don't swing that way."
"You're in for a surprise. Lannan is a golden boy. If I swung his way, it would be hard to resist but I'm straight and under Geoffrey's protection, so he can't touch me. Hey, you have anything to wear to this formal shindig?"
I stared at him. "Dude, I just got in from LaLa land, I've lived on the road since I was six--more or less. Do you think I have anything appropriate?" I didn't have time to think about shopping, not with everything going on. But Leo wouldn't let it drop.
"Then let's get going. You were the one invited, you have to look good. I've got a tux they bought me just for these occasions. And I know Rhiannon has some pretty dresses that will work. Finish breakfast. We're going shopping."
Staring at him like he'd just grown another head, I finished my eggs and toast, and silently followed him out to the car.
"I hope you realize I'm not about to spend all of my money on some shiny ball gown," I mumbled.
Leo shook his head. "Don't sweat it. I'll expense the cost. Geoffrey will approve." And just like that, the vampires were buying me a fancy new dress.
After she got home from work and spent a few minutes with Leo, Rhiannon joined me in my room. We had three hours before we had to be at the party and both she and Leo were insistent that I had to dress the part.
"What does one wear to a vampire soiree?" I held up the little black dress I'd bought. It was short, sophisticated, and could pull off cocktails or dancing without a problem. Speaking of cocktails, the thought of what might be on the beverage menu made me a little queasy.
"That's nice--what is it? Silk?"
I nodded. "Leo wouldn't let me buy anything cheap."
"It's got a sweetheart neckline. Hmm," she said, a thoughtful look on her face. "Whatever you do, don't bring attention to your neck. No flashy necklaces or chokers. Not a good place to accentuate."
She smoothed the velvet skirt and top she was wearing. "How do I look? Okay?"
"Okay? That green sets off your hair and turns you into a torch. You're gorgeous. You look Old World beautiful." I paused. "Hey, Leo warned me about Lannan. I'll be cautious. I'm nobody's bloodwhore. Ever."
"I know this is hard." She paused. "How much do you hate them, Cicely? And is it just for what they did to your mother?"
I glanced up at her, trying to figure out how to explain. "I don't. Not really. Krystal was a grown woman and she made her own choices, as stupid as they were. The truth is I don't hate vampires. I just don't trust them. No matter how many safeguards you put into place, they're predators and they can lose control. And when a vamp loses control, you're toast."
"Is that how you feel about Grieve now?"
I winced. "I love him . . . but can I ever trust him? I don't know. He's in the court of the enemy. They rip people to shreds. They feed on life energy as well as blood. When you think about it, the Indigo Court is far worse than the Vein Lords. Vampires you can reason with to an extent, and they're willing to make deals. I don't think the Indigo Court Fae are quite so civilized."
I held up the braided red leather belt I'd bought. "What do you think about this belt? I still don't know what shoes to wear."
"The belt's great. Wear these," she said, hunting through my mostly empty closet and holding up a pair of patent leather ankle boots with padlocks. "Cute. Very fetish. They'll go over well."
"I love boots." I slid them on, zipping up the sides and fastening the padlocks. Testing the stilettos cautiously, I hung the key around my neck, then stood to buckle the belt around my waist. "How do I look?"
Rhiannon gasped. "Gorgeous! You look so hot! You need makeup though." She paused, then added, "I never thought I'd be looking forward to a vampire's party. Hell, I never thought I'd ever be attending a vampire's party. Leo leaves me out of his job affairs and that's pretty much the way I want it. But if they can help me save my mother, I'll go." She paused, her words soft. "Life's changed for good. There's no going back, is there?"
I shook my head. "No, there's no going back."
"Do you think Myst is going to kill Heather?"
The question was so plaintive, so unexpected, that it drained the energy out of me and I slumped on her bed next to her.
