Page 13 of Curiosity Killed The Vampire

The blood helped, but not enough. I still felt the tightness in my throat, the ache of something I didn’t want to name. I set the empty glass aside, slipped on my leather jacket, and tucked my blade into its usual place at my hip.

My phone buzzed against the table.

A message from Manu.

Julian and I found something. Meet us in the conference room.

Finally, something useful to focus on.

I crossed the room, grabbed my gloves, and opened the door—only to nearly collide with the last person I wanted to see.

“Stalker much?” I snapped, the words out before I could stop them.

Con stood there in the hall, hands tucked behind his back, the picture of composure. His expression didn’t change. “I was just coming to get you,” he said. “Manu has a lead.”

I blinked. “I was just headed down.”

His mouth curved in that infuriating half-smile. “Excellent. We’ll go together.”

I muttered something under my breath and stepped past him into the hallway. The scent of him—cedar, smoke, and iron—clung to the air, distracting in a way that made my pulse stutter.

We walked side by side down the corridor, the quiet between us stretched taut. I could hear the low murmur of conversation from the floors below.

“How did the training go?” I asked finally, the words sharper than I intended.

Con glanced at me, brows lifting slightly. “Lilah needs more vigorous training,” he said. “Her technique is solid, but she overestimates her endurance. The twin fledglings were more of a challenge.”

Something in my chest twisted. I stopped mid-step and turned toward him. “Did you tell her that?”

“Of course,” he said simply, as if the question puzzled him. “She can’t improve if she isn’t aware of her inadequacies.”

I almost choked, half a laugh escaping me despite myself. “Jesus, Con.”

He looked at me, clearly confused by my reaction, but I could feel the corner of my mouth pulling into a reluctant smile.

“You have the most brutal way of motivating people,” I said.

“Honesty isn’t brutality,” he said dryly. “It’s efficiency.”

We resumed walking, the tension between us easing just enough for me to breathe. For a fleeting second, things felt almost normal—like the countless times before when we’d crossed these halls, trading words and unspoken understanding.

The main staircase opened into the foyer, golden light spilling across the polished stone as the last of the sun vanished behind the horizon.

We threaded our way through clusters of vampires and headed toward the conference wing.

I could hear the hushed tones of conversation even before we reached the door—Manu’s voice, smooth and quick, layered with Julian’s quieter tones.

Con reached the door first and pushed it open. The scent of old parchment, dust, and ozone from the artifacts inside met us immediately.

Manu was already seated at the long obsidian table, his phone and a half-unrolled map spread out before him. Julian hovered near the projector, his thin frame backlit by the glow of the display screen, blond hair falling into his eyes. Both of them looked up as we entered.

Con gestured for me to step inside first, his hand brushing the door aside for me. His touch didn’t linger, but the warmth of it followed me into the room.

“Let’s hear what you’ve found,” I said, pulling my jacket tighter around me as I took my seat beside Manu.

And as the lights dimmed and the map flared to life across the screen, I tried to focus on the work—the mission, the clue, the next piece of the puzzle—but I couldn’t quite drown out the echo of Con’s voice in my head.

She can’t improve if she isn’t aware of her inadequacies.