Blood, Sweat, and Tears (Blood Vice Book 6) by Angela Roquet

Author:Angela Roquet [Roquet, Angela]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-09-04T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

A white baby grand piano rested in the corner of the foyer near the entrance. Audrey sat in front of it, her fingers dancing lightly over the keys while Dante stood off to one side, his eyes closed and a blissful expression on his face.

Between that look and the heartbreaking melody, a lump formed in my throat. This was a siren’s song, and if I weren’t careful, I was sure I’d be dashed against the rocks of some unforgiving shore. But before I could decide whether or not slipping by unnoticed was even an option, the song ended, and Dante clapped his hands.

“Wonderful!” He sighed and touched Audrey’s shoulder, bringing a flush to her cheeks. She turned a deeper shade of red when her gaze snagged on me. Dante turned around to see what had caught her attention. “Ms. Skye!” He sounded surprised. “I didn’t see you there.”

“Oh? Well, I didn’t see you either,” I said, feeling foolish for the comment before I’d even finished speaking. “I just heard the tail-end of the song…”

“She’s very good, isn’t she?” he said, smiling down at Audrey.

“Wonderful,” I repeated his earlier praise. “Darkly does them right, huh?”

Audrey twisted her fingers in the lap of her frilly dress. Then she glanced up at the wall above the piano, and I noticed the portrait of Ursula.

“You’re rather talented yourself,” she said, offering the compliment with a timid smile.

“Yes,” Dante echoed. “The princess was rather proud of your rendering. She insisted that it be hung somewhere everyone could enjoy it.”

“Speaking of the princess,” I said, seizing the opening, “I have a lesson to prepare for. If you’ll excuse me, Your Grace. Audrey.” I mentally patted myself on the back for acknowledging the girl without making a face.

“Please,” Dante said as I headed for the south wing. “Allow me to walk you to your room. We have not spoken in some time. I would very much like to catch up.” He looked down at Audrey and touched her shoulder again. “I’ll leave you to break in your new instrument.”

Taking the cue, she smiled and went back to the keys, touching them softly as he crossed the foyer to join me. I swallowed and tried to smile at him, but my face wouldn’t cooperate. How had things become so awkward between us in just a week?

“You’re armed,” he said after we’d walked a short way down the hall. “I’ve been a vampire for one hundred and fifty-three years,” he added at my wide-eyed, guilty expression. “I can even smell the toothpaste you used earlier tonight. Minty.” He inhaled a deep breath.

“I just came from the basement range,” I confessed, leaving Murphy’s name out of it and ignoring the comment about my breath.

“Ah. I see.” Dante nodded and folded his hands behind his back. “Is that what’s been keeping you so busy this past week?”

“Maybe.” I shot him a sideways glance. “What’s your excuse?”

Dante made an affronted noise. “We acquired three new residents last week—one of which I intend to sire—and two others for the harem the week before that.

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