Allegiance(7)

“How are you going to check them?” I blurted out, staring at the staff who waited silently, not a shred of wariness on their faces. I don’t think any of them spoke English. Thank goodness.

Sofie stared back at me with an amused expression and when she spoke, it was as if she were talking to a child. “There’s only one way, Evangeline …”

“But …,” I stammered, stalling, “where do they put the tattoos?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know, but if they’re there, we’ll find them.”

Full-on strip search. My cheeks flushed.

“Evangeline, are you all right?” Mage asked, peering at me curiously.

“Yes, I … uh … ” They know, they can smell it on me. I’m a walking calamity! I leak secrets! “It’s just embarrassing for them, that’s all,” I explained, working hard to suppress my rising panic. In truth, I had no interest in watching an eight-act strip show of the staff. More, though, I had no interest in watching Julian dismembered.

“Oh, don’t worry. We’ll compel them. None of them will remember a thing,” Sofie said reassuringly, her eyes twinkling, her lips pursed as if ready to burst out laughing.

“But … can’t you just read their mood to see if they’re lying?”

Mage shook her head. “Back on Ratheus, the witches figured out how to mask that truth in some of their spies. I don’t know how, but we must assume the same is possible here.”

“You don’t need to be here for this if it’s that uncomfortable,” Caden offered. “We could go upstairs.”

Oh, my dear sweet Caden! “Yes!” I exclaimed a little too loudly, seeing our opportunity for escape. I peeled away from Caden without a second thought, darting forward to lock onto Julian’s arm, my fingers digging into his forearm, one hand grabbing his and squeezing it reassuringly. “We’ll be upstairs if you need us.” I began tugging Julian with me before anyone could speak, rushing up the steps. Please leave him alone. Please forget about checking him.

“Wait!”

My body stiffened at the sound of Sofie’s voice, and I knew Julian’s body was as rigid as mine. We turned in unison, slowly. Sofie’s focus was on Julian. Oh God, oh no … “Your room is across from Evangeline’s, Julian.”

I fought to stifle the sigh of relief.

“Thank you,” Julian mumbled.

I glanced over at Caden to see him watching us intently, his eyes narrowing slightly as they drifted over my hand. The one in Julian’s. Did this bother him? No, I dismissed it. He had nothing to worry about. Julian was like a brother to me.

“Caden and Amelie, I could use your help.” Sofie’s request broke the attention on Julian and me. “Amelie and Mage, please take the ladies. Caden, Mortimer, please take the men. Max, Gabriella, put fresh steaks on the kitchen counter.” Max wouldn’t argue with that. He had starved over the last month, first refusing to leave me to hunt in the mountains and then not permitted to hunt by the Tribe on account of him taking food away from their precious tigers.

“What about me?” Viggo asked with mock innocence, eyeing a young, brunette maid of no more than twenty-five. My stomach twisted in knots for the girl.

Sofie snorted. “You take care of the blood supply. I don’t want anyone running short on blood with humans around.” She turned and started down the hall to the left, but stopped and threw back, “a bagged blood supply, please.” No killing, she was warning him.

Viggo responded with a sigh of exasperation. “Always the drag, you Red Heathen … And what will you be doing, pray I ask?”

“Checking on a few things,” she answered vaguely as she walked away with long, quick strides, not turning back once.

I took this as my chance to scurry up the stairs, towing Julian the entire way, hearing Mage croon behind me in French, “Mademoiselles et messieurs, avec moi, s’il vous plaît,” Of course she speaks French. She knows everything …

Julian and I hadn’t uttered two words to each other since being rescued. I didn’t know what to say to him, given his secret identity. He was the enemy. The enemy who had saved me but the enemy who this group of vampires would tear to pieces if they found out. And Amelie … she may as well be fused to him, as smitten as she was. I recalled Caden once saying that vampire emotions were instantaneous and powerful. I was now witnessing it firsthand. I’d also have to witness the crushing after-effects when Amelie discovered what Julian was, when she’d need to detach herself from a corpse. My insides churned with the thought. This secret was better left hidden, and he needed to be reminded of that.