Nina noticed how Samson sniffed and felt heat rush to her cheeks. If Luther had been able to smell Amaury on her even before they’d had sex, she could only imagine what Samson could scent now. Under his scrutiny, her face burned with embarrassment right down to the follicles of her hair. She searched for the hole that would surely open up right in front of her to swallow her up.

“Care to explain why you brought one of your women to my house?” Samson’s voice was sharp and unyielding.

One of his women?

She absolutely hated the sound of that. Sure, whatever they had wasn’t going to be anything permanent, but to be classified as “one of his women” made her sound like a slut. And she wasn’t a slut. Well, not really anyway. Her morals weren’t any looser that Amaury’s, that was for sure. Not that it seemed to be such a high standard to attain.

“She’s not one of my women.”

She could have hugged him for his defense of her morals. Nobody had ever defended her. Maybe he was truly a good guy.

“She’s Edmund Marten’s sister out to slay vampires to avenge her brother.”

Or maybe not. Amaury had decided to throw her to the wolves—after he’d slept with her. Perfect. He’d gotten what he wanted, and now he went back on his promise. Why had she believed him in the first place? Was she completely delusional?

“Well, that explains things. Yvette mentioned you were with a human,” Samson answered, his voice much more relaxed now.

“Figures.” Amaury let out a grunt.

Samson held up his hand. “She’s only doing her job.” He looked at Nina and pointed to the couch. “Shall we sit?”

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“Samson, darling, did you see the pregnancy book I brought down earlier? I can’t find it.” A petite woman swept into the living room then stopped in her tracks.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize we had company. Hi, Amaury.”

“Evening, Delilah. Sorry to intrude.”

Delilah’s gaze rested on Nina. Nina returned it. Was she a vampire too? She looked decidedly normal.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” She stretched out her hand. “I’m Delilah.”

Nina shook her hand.

“This is Nina Martens,” Samson said.

“Martens?” Delilah gave her a look of surprise, and Nina nodded.

“Edmund Martens was my brother.”

“Oh, dear. I’m so sorry.” A second later she found herself embraced by the pretty woman. Not knowing how to respond, she looked over Delilah’s shoulder and saw Samson’s and Amaury’s stunned expressions, until Samson’s lips finally curled up into a smile.

“Sweetness, you’re making our guest feel uncomfortable.”

Delilah released her and responded to her husband with a suppressed smile. “I get so emotional these days.” Then she looked back at Nina. “It’s just the hormones. Sit down. I’ll have Carl bring us some refreshments.”

Before she could turn back, a stocky man dressed in a dark suit appeared behind her.

“Miss Delilah, may I bring some cold drinks?”

“That’d be great, Carl.”

Minutes later they were all seated, drinks in front of them. Nina looked at Delilah as she sat close to Samson, her hand leisurely draped over his thigh, his hand stroking hers.

“Delilah, it appears that Nina knows we are vampires,” Samson said.

“Oh!”

“And seems bent on avenging her brother by slaying some of us.” Samson looked directly at Nina, giving her the feeling she was the bad schoolgirl being hauled in front of the strict principal of a reformatory school. Yet there seemed to be no menace in his voice. He rather sounded like he was mocking her. Did he not realize she could fight vampires? She’d killed one of them already.

“I think I’ve been able to convince her that we’re not the bad guys,” Amaury interjected. “But that’s not why I’ve brought her here tonight. We have a bigger problem on our hands than this little wannabe slayer.”

“Hey! I’m not a wannabe slayer!” Was nobody taking her seriously?

Amaury laughed off her protest.

“You promised me you’d let me take charge of this. And I will. So, no more slaying.” He took her hand and squeezed it before he looked back at Samson and Delilah. “Luther is in town.”

“Luther?” Samson shot up from his seat and started pacing.

“Yes. Nina found him. Or rather, he approached her tonight when she was looking into her brother’s death. He was at the Mezzanine.”




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