The Accidental Vampire(106)

problem of keeping you from losing her. And then keeping the council from demanding

her head." He smiled with mild amusement. "For a two‐thousand‐year‐old vampire

your lack of finesse in dealing with women is rather appalling."

"What are you going to do about this council?" Brunswick asked before Victor could

react to Edward's words.

Victor sighed, his shoulders slumping as he admitted, "I don't know what the hell to do

about the council. I've been trying to sort that out all week, but got distracted by…

things," he ended lamely. Most of the distraction was due to Elvi herself. Truly, an

immortal was useless when he first found his lifemate.

"Well"—Teddy shifted unhappily—"what exactly is it they're sore about?"

"We were sent here originally because of the ad in the paper and the rumors in

Toronto," Victor said.

Brunswick scowled at the accusation in his face. "Don't get all pissy with me. If it

weren't for the ad, you never would have met her. Besides, they can't punish her for

either thing. You already know that the rumors around the clubs are because of me

and Barney, and the ad was placed by Mabel. They can't blame her for that."

"Surely, he's right, Victor," Harper said. "They can hardly blame and punish her for

something others did."

"No," Victor agreed. "But they can blame her for other things. She isn't exactly living

quietly and doing her best to evade notice here. She's a celebrity, if only in this small

town, which they won't like at all. And she was biting mortals, and that's worse, that's

breaking our laws."

"She didn't know it was against your laws, surely they'd take that into account?" Teddy

argued.

Victor arched an eyebrow. "So you let go every mortal who claims they didn't know

they were going over the speed limit, or didn't know what they were doing was against

a law?"

"Damn," Teddy muttered, dropping his eyes.

"We'll figure something out," DJ assured the man quietly. "Victor's smart and powerful

and his brother is the head of the council. He'll sort it out."

Victor managed not to wince at this claim. He didn't have a single idea as to what to do

about it all. And Lucian may be his brother, but it didn't mean the man would show

mercy here. Lucian Argeneau had a reputation for being one of the most cold‐blooded

bastards on the continent, and with good reason. Victor's instincts were shouting at

him to grab Elvi and flee, hide, move to Europe maybe where the council might not

follow.

"Anyway," DJ commented, "that's why Victor doesn't want to order blood in. He's

trying to avoid any contact with the council or anyone close to the council until he

sorts out the safest way to present this matter to them."

"Yes, I understand now." Harper looked thoughtful. "So, we too are now forced to

depend on the goodness of these townspeople for our sustenance."

"And Elvi and Mabel," Edward pointed out. "Unless we'd care to get off our high horses

and help, Elvi and Mabel are the ones who will be singing for our supper… or kissing for

it as the case may be."

"No," Alessandro said indignantly. "They will not sing. I allow no woman to prostitution

herself for me. I will do the prostitution for my own blood."

"And I," Harper murmured.

Victor glanced at Teddy. "So? What can we do to help?"

Brunswick hesitated, his gaze sliding around the fairgrounds, and then turned away.

"Come with me. We'll go find Karen and Mike. They're on the committee for this

thing."

Victor started to follow, slowing when Edward appeared at his side to murmur, "Once

we've settled the issue of helping out, I think we should discuss how best to help you

win the fair Elvi. You don't seem to be doing very well on your own."

"He's right," Harper said from his other side. "We'll put our heads together and come

up with something. Don't you worry."

For some reason, their assurances only made him worry more.



Chapter Twenty





"Teddy just told me the men are running the pie booth," Mabel murmured, handing

her a bandage for the latest donor.

Elvi glanced at her with surprise. "I thought Karen was running the pie booth?"

Mabel shook her head. "Teddy says Karen and Mike are still out in the parking lot,

arguing about something. So the men took over the booth and are offering women a

kiss if they return with a bandage showing they've given blood."

Elvi's eyebrows rose. That explained the increase in women donors. It was usually

mostly men at her booth, the women sticking to going to the blood bank, but she'd