Page 92 of The Donor’s Dilemma

Well, there goes quizzing him about Cliffhaven. She sighed. It had been mere hours since she saw him, but the extra day she’d have to wait still felt like an eternity.

She was about to reply when another message came through.

And Viv's invited us to

SubRosa tomorrow. With Abe.

Just when she thought her day couldn’t get much worse.

Fucking wonderful.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Verity wondered if, maybe one day, she would be able to walk through SubRosa’s grand foyer, stand before the carved double doors and feel a burst of actual excitement, or happiness at least. Instead, as the two women, who Verity was convinced were identical twins, opened the doors letting light and music flood her senses, her heart sank, pulse racing for all the wrong reasons. Maybe one day she wouldn’t dread a day at the club, but this wasn’t that day.

Every other visit had been on their own terms, to an extent, but the fact that they were summoned to attend tonight made every step towards the bar feel like a step closer to the gallows. She hadn’t seen Abe since his surprise visit to the cafe, and in truth she no longer knew what to think of him. His warnings and offers sprang to mind. Would he really save her if she needed it? What was his problem with the Chapel brothers? Did he honestly want to help, or was it all just a game for a bored immortal with nothing better to do?

“Here we go,” Theo murmured against her hair before kissing her cheek. He pulled her into his side, hand rubbing her back in a failing attempt to comfort her as a suited vampire appeared in front of them.

The whole ride there, Theo had gone over his rules, as if she might forget not to accept drinks from strangers and coached her on safe words and etiquette around lords. The fact that Theo was technically a lord never played into her mind. Other people called him lord, but she hadn’t, not once. Right from the first time they met, all he wanted was to be called Theo, to be treated as the man and not the Lord. It was one of the things she liked about him, he was so much more than his title.

The same could not be said for many others, he had advised her, so tonight manners mattered. If in doubt of the right thing to say, just keep quiet. Or try to at least.

“Lord Chapel,” was all the vampire before them said before turning, assuming he’d be followed.

The club thrummed with people, as always, but as she scanned the dance floor Verity couldn’t help but wonder if the revellers were a little more spaced out than normal. Red light and fake fog filled the spaces between dancers, making it look as though they spun through a blood-stained cloud.

Theo gave her waist an extra squeeze as the table came into view. At least twenty people were sitting and standing, laughing and leaning over each other vying for one another’s attention. And sat in the middle like the sun around which the others rotated, grinning from ear to ear as he caught her eye, was Abe.

“Oh, my sweet Verity!” he called, jumping from his seat and moving around the mass to greet her.

Theo growled softly at her side, but for some reason she found that she didn’t feel particularly scared of Abe as he approached, arms open. In fact, the brief raise of his eye brow almost felt conspiratorial, like he was asking her to play along.

“Be nice,” she reminded Theo in a hushed tone before accepting a hug from Abe.

“Stunning as ever,” he said, turning to Theo, hand outstretched. “You’re a lucky man.”

Theo only hummed, shaking the Blessed’s hand and looking somewhat confused, as Viv appeared.

“Oh, I’m so glad you two could make it.” Verity wasn’t aware they had a choice. “Why don’t you go see your friend?” Viv said, gesturing to a booth beside the main table where a few humans sat, not important enough to sit with the grown-ups. Scanning the small group Verity paused when she spotted her “friend.” Sienna.

Over the past few days Theo had been working with Harris, discussing ways of moving the new donor plans forward. If they could get along after Theo attacking the other vampire, then surely, she could get along with Sienna. She couldn’t see herself being real friends with her, but having an ally tonight would definitely help. Besides, the awkward conversation would need to be had at some point, might as well get it over with.

Theo squeezed her hand again before nodding for her to join the other humans. Whether it was for her benefit or theirs Verity didn’t know, but again, she felt oddly grateful to Viv for saving her from having to interact with the other stuck-up vampires.

Sienna looked gorgeous, as usual, her silky black dress falling from the pussycat bow at her neck to skim every curve. A little more modest than Verity’s lower-than-usual neckline. Picking out a dress for the night had been a nightmare, all the more so because Theo was weighing in and wanted her dressed in a sack. He only conceded when Verity declared it was that dress or her birthday suit.

A hint of smugness tinged in Sienna’s smile as Verity slipped into the booth beside her. She leant over, hugging Verity and whispering in her ear. “I knew you’d come good.”

Verity levelled a deadpan stare at the other woman. “You could have just talked to me, you know. Instead of…”

“The drink thing wasn’t me,” Sienna protested. “Seriously, I have no idea…”

“I know it wasn’t you. Adam came to see me.” Verity left the rest unsaid.

Sienna nodded, pouring them both a drink from a chilled bottle. “I thought it might have been him.”

“What do you mean, you thought it was Adam? You just said you had no idea,” Verity said, trying to keep her voice low.