Demon Moon

“To Osterberg?” His screams had sent chills down her spine.
    He sighed. “No.”
    Of course not; Colin wouldn’t be overly concerned with that vampire’s death. Savi found she hadn’t been, either—not in comparison to her relief that the others had made it out alive. “To Paul and Varney, then. That’s why you mentioned hazard pay. Michael healed them?”
    “Yes.”
    She was silent for a moment; her imaginings might have been worse than the reality—but they might not be. “Dalkiel won’t allow us the advantage of the venom next time, will he?” And his humiliation would make him all the more determined to kill them both.
    “No.” His profile was starkly drawn against the piano’s black veneer.
    “Perhaps I made a mistake; I should have called the Guardians in immediately.”
    He turned to face her; his gaze was fierce. “No. If he’d sensed the Guardians’ approach instead of being distracted by ours, he’d have killed Paul, Varney, and Osterberg—and still he would have fled. Only his certainty that we posed no threat and his desire to torment us kept them alive. You acted exactly as you should have, Savitri; Castleford taught you well.” His throat worked before he seemed to shake himself. He flexed his hands over the piano keys. “I take requests.”
    She sighed and dug her spoon into her yogurt. “Nothing depressing.”
    “My exquisite fingering and magnificent voice will lift your spirits,” he said, and launched into a jaunty rendition of The Beatles’ “When I’m Sixty-Four.” When she protested she couldn’t eat for laughing, he segued into a lively minuet.
    She was scraping the bottom of her bowl when he abandoned the piano. He opened a violin case and lowered himself onto the opposite end of the window seat, his posture mirroring hers. The moonlight played over his features; he closed his eyes, tucked his chin against the instrument, and tore open her heart with a simple, poignant melody.
    Colin looked up as the last note faded; she stared at him, not bothering to wipe away the moisture shimmering on her lashes.
    “Is there anything you don’t do beautifully?”
    He slowly shook his head, his gaze never leaving hers. “No.”
    It was so easy to believe him; how much evidence had she seen? Silk damask whispered beneath her as she slid forward across the seat. The violin thudded against the thick rug, the bow scraping discordantly over the strings. His hands circled her waist as she scooted between his legs, lowered her head against his chest. She met his mouth in a soft kiss; and yes, he did this beautifully, as well. He didn’t demand more, but allowed her to melt into him.
    With a sigh, she lay her cheek against his shoulder, watching the half moon set over the houses across the street, absorbing the warmth of his solid length.
    Until she could bear it no longer.
    “Colin,” she said. “It’s killing me.”
    He pressed a kiss to the top of her head; though his body shook and amusement deepened his tone, he did not give voice to his laughter. “I’ll not believe it; you’ve been too distracted this evening to think of it overmuch. Let it alone, Savi.”
    “I won’t ask about the curse,” she said, looking up at him. “Even I know better than to mess with the symbols; I just want to know why you’re so certain you can’t transform anyone. Are you sure your blood would kill me?”
    “It’s a moot point, as your blood makes a transformation uncertain.”
    “I’d risk it; if I thought there was a chance that I could transform and drink your blood and stay with you, I would. Are you sure?”
    His head fell back against the cushions, and he stared up at the ceiling. “Yes.”
    The strong line of his throat called to her; she traced it with shaking fingers. “They all died?”
    “Yes.” His eyes closed. “One would have regardless, but the other two were young. Men in their prime.”
    “Three humans?” Her voice was rising; anger coursed through her. Not at him. Why did this have to be so fucking impossible? “The nosferatu drank your blood and are surviving just fine in Chaos. Has another vampire ever taken blood from you?”
    “Yes.” His fingers tightened on her waist, and he shook his head and continued before she could give voice to her surprise and question him. “Compared to the nosferatu, vampires are weak; they may as well be human. And the minuscule amount the nosferatu had does not signify next to what a partner would need.” His gaze