Page 86 of Fang Fatale

“It would end this.”

“No.”

The word lands between us like a locked door.

“Absolutely not.”

I look at him.

“Then what?”

He studies me for a long moment.

“You're forgetting what I was before I became a detective.”

“What's that?”

His voice is calm.

Almost gentle.

Which somehow makes it far more frightening.

“I'm a vampire, Birdie.”

A beat.

“Before I started taking contracts from people like Leland...”

Another.

“I used to eliminate people like him.”

The room goes silent.

Theo stops scrolling.

Even Trent lowers his book.

Alaric never takes his eyes off mine.

“He thinks he's the worst monster in this story.”

Another heartbeat passes.

“He hasn't met me yet.”

Oddly...

That doesn't frighten me.

Maybe it should.

Instead...

For the first time in years...

I feel completely safe.