“Stefan, remember what you just told me. He's trying to piss you off. Let's get this over with so we can leave.” I mentally implored him. He relaxed slightly before he spoke.
“I do not consider loving someone ‘playing with my food,’ Derek. In case anyone in attendance has forgotten Derek's indiscretion, let me remind everyone why it was necessary for me to have a discussion with him a week ago,” Stefan said, his voice devoid of any inflection as his eyes bored into him. Derek shifted uncomfortably under the weight of his severe stare. “You threatened to expose our kind when humans started going missing after being seen in your presence. Your ignorance and arrogance could have exposed our existence. Yet you sit before me and have the audacity to warn me of 'playing with my food'? Inkompetent rövhål!”
The room was silent for a moment and Stefan's words hung in the air. Derek rose and walked to the windows, turning his back to the room. To say there was no love lost between Stefan and Derek was an understatement.
“She's a psychic like you, yet she also has a talent for reading emotions. Is she able to read you? Or any vampires?” Lenora questioned, flipping her pale blond hair over her shoulder. She turned her head to the side slightly, as if evaluating my talent.
“No, I can't read Stefan's future or emotions. Or any vampire,” I jumped in to answer before Stefan could speak. The four vampires exchanged looks amongst each other.
“I have one more question. Stefan, you contacted Adolfo with concerns about changes in Josephine's body and the power of her abilities. Is this still something you are concerned about?” Nigel inquired. Out of this group of vampires, he had to be the most likeable and trustworthy.
Stefan nodded, running his free hand through his blond hair. “Yes, it is still a concern. Her punctures heal within minutes of me biting her. I deduced that it may be a side-effect of our blood exchanges.”
A hushed silence fell over the room. Disbelieving and curious looks were exchanged between the group.
“You willingly offered your blood to her and she accepted? Most vampires would never willingly exchange blood with a human, unless if you were choosing to turn them,” Sofia murmured in a mild, fascinated tone. She glanced between me and Stefan, then turned to look at Nigel.
“I did. It sort of happened in the heat of the moment,” I muttered hastily, averting my eyes to observe the pattern on the rug. I had no desire to explain the circumstance to anyone, let alone this group of vampires.
“Stefan, Josephine. Please leave us for a few minutes so we can discuss the matter. We'll send for you when we're ready.” Nigel waved his hand in dismissal.
Stefan inclined his head, leading me out of the large room. We walked down the hallway and entered a much smaller sitting room.
“Come. We need to sit and wait.” Stefan crossed the room and sat down on the couch, opening his arms for me to join him. There was nothing I needed more at that moment than to be close to him. I curled against him, my head tucked into the crook of his neck.
“I needed this,” I mumbled against his chest, snuggling closer to him.
“It is going to be fine, Josephine. Please do not worry,” Stefan whispered against my hair. I felt him place feather-light kisses where his lips had been.
“I know. I just feel like this isn't over, Stefan,” I murmured, leaning my head back to look at his face. He smiled down at me briefly before lowering his lips to mine. His kiss was gentle, slow and consuming. I could feel myself responding despite the situation we were in, my mouth hungry against his. He reluctantly lifted his lips from mine, chuckling lightly.
“I want you as well, Josephine. Let us take care of this business here and we can spend some time alone.”
"We can stay here in New York for a day or two. Just the two of us." His mental words caused desire to burn deep in my stomach when I thought of the things we could do in a day or two. I hoped that our time in New York didn't include sightseeing.
I nodded, placing my head back on his shoulder. My body was close to exhaustion due to the stress of the situation, the 20 hour flight and the time change. I needed a bath, a nap and I just wanted to wrap myself around Stefan and forget about judgmental councils of vampires.
A knock on the door caused me to jump and Sofia peeked her dark head in the door. “Please come back in.”
She led us back into the main room, my eyes sweeping over the vampires again as I waited for their decision.
Nigel spoke, his voice level and filled with authority. “We see no risk as to you being together. However, Josephine, we would like to ask for your assistance from time to time. You have the gift of seeing the futures of humans, which we cannot. From time to time we are faced with the problem of worrying about being exposed by humans. Your gift would be helpful on how to handle the human aspect of the issue.”