Vampires of Shanghai (Hollow Empires Book 1) by Katherine Mercer

Author:Katherine Mercer [Mercer, Katherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mercerized Books
Published: 2026-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

20

The next evening, Mina rifled through the Vasas’ kitchen before the others were awake. Undercabinet lighting gave just enough illumination to read the names on the bottles she pulled out of the floor-to-ceiling wine cooler. She set the one with the fanciest French label on the marble counter before going to the fridge to find a suitable snack to bring. It only felt polite, not showing up empty-handed two nights in a row.

Something about being around the human felt like being fully alive and awake in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time in this city. Like things were possible. What things, she didn’t know. Going back for a second night might clarify exactly what his allure was. Maybe she could scratch the itch, figure out what this human’s game was, then, satisfied with that knowledge, go back to her normal Shanghai existence. That was the hope, anyway.

The cavernous refrigerator was packed with an astounding quantity of cheese. Mina sniffed her way through half of the cellophane-wrapped bricks before picking a semisoft Manchego. Wine and cheese were customary offerings, she posited. Mina couldn’t remember the last time she’d attended a BYOB event.

“Pray tell, älskling, what in the world are you doing up so early?” August asked blearily, cinching the belt of his paisley robe. He swiped a Moka pot off the counter and scuffled his way to the sink of the expansive kitchen island, before unscrewing the top and filling the base with water.

“I have a previous engagement to attend to. I’ll be back in a few hours,” Mina replied.

August’s eyebrows shot up when he caught sight of the bottle underneath her arm.

“Good God, girl. Are you trying to rob me? Do you know how expensive that is?”

“Put it on my tab.” Mina waved him off. As if he didn’t have an entire cellar full of dusty bottles besides what was in the kitchen.

Vasa caught her by the arm as she tried to pass. “Tell me where this appointment is that requires you to bring your own libations. Is it something your mother would approve of?”

Her nostrils twitched as she wrenched her arm out of August’s grasp. “What does it matter? Are you going to tell on me?” She meant her words to be cutting, but even she could hear the hint of fear in her voice at the unspoken threat of Lian.

“No, my dear.” August pinched the bridge of his nose. “I simply wish to know. Seeing as you won’t tell me, I insist on you being back by midnight.”

Mina blinked in disbelief. “You’re giving me a curfew? Who exactly do you think you are?”

August looked unperturbed. “My house, my rules. Timeboxing your outing minimizes the trouble you’re liable to get into while under my care. Otherwise, you’re welcome to return to Zhang Manor.”

Under his care? Mina glared her disagreement.

A waft of espresso floated through the kitchen as August assembled his coffee gadget with oily, deeply roasted beans.

With a frustrated sigh, Mina muttered, “Fine,” before tromping out of the kitchen.

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