Page 41

That’s odd. He rarely comes to Le Vertige anymore. Too much noise, too many commoners for his liking. Even so, it didn’t bother him back then.

“Lara.”

I size him up. “Are you watching over me now?”

“Always.”

“Cute.”

His face doesn’t move. “They found the guards’ bodies. Scattered near the tracks on the Southside.”

Necromancers. Fuck.

“How did you find them?” I ask. “Someone tip you off?”

“We hired a witch to locate them.”

“And Julian?”

“Still missing.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

Lex’s jaw tightens. “I need to know who fucking did it. Vampire bodies left on the wrong side of the city is not a small thing.”

Before I can answer, Piro comes over to us, probably only to piss Lex off.

“I heard Marcus is hiding in his dungeon,” Piro says. “And now you have to run around town looking for his golden boy. What? You weren’t good enough to be his heir?”

Lex looks at him with murder in his eyes.

He could kill Piro. Easily. I’ve seen what Lex can do when he stops pretending to be civilized. I know what he is capable of. Usually, he ignores this kind of provocation, letting arrogance slide off him, because reacting would mean lowering himself. Tonight, his fangs press faintly beneath his upper lip. I also notice a scratch along his neck, half-hidden by his collar.

Marcus really must be furious.

Lex catches me looking and adjusts the collar of his shirt.

Piro takes a champagne glass from a bottle-service girl and passes close enough to insult Lex without touching him. Hard to tell which one of them is more desperate for their boss to loosen the leash and let hell break loose. Right now, everyone is walking on eggshells. I use this moment to disappear. Again, not my conflict.

I scan the club for Max. He should already be here. I text him again. Nothing. I move through the room, and ask Ezra if he’s seen him. He hasn’t. Weird to be ghosted like that, but fine. Succubi are not known for loyalty or attention spans.

By the time I finish my rounds, I’ve sold almost everything I had. I keep one portion for myself, which means I need to make it last until morning, or I will start ripping my hair out. I head to the bar for a drink, and Lex appears again before the bartender even gets to me.

“We didn’t finish our conversation.”

“How well did you know Julian?” I ask Lex off guard.

“Enough,” he replies. “Just a spoiled boy.”

“Did you notice anything extraordinary about him?” I press.

Lex’s eyes narrow. “Why are you asking, Lara? Do you know something more?”

“Maybe.”

“Then let’s go.”

“Where?”