Page 58 of Twice Bitten

“Gaston doesn’t read.”

I don’t know why I said it.

Silas snorted. “You’re right. Forgive me. Perhaps I’ll take my axe and go chop something in the backyard.”

Once the coffee was on, I gestured for Silas to pull up a seat.

“I know I’ve already apologized,” he said as he settled his massive bulk onto one of the bar stools, “but it bears repeating. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”

“It helps being alive,” I murmured.

“I’m sure it does.” He crossed his arms, the fold of his sleeve pushing up to reveal heavily muscled forearms and a peek of an odd, raised black line that traced his veins on one side. Silas noticed my attention and jerked the sleeve down hard enough to make me suspicious.

Was the mark a tattoo or something else?

He leaned forward, drawing my attention away from his arm. “If I or my people can ever do anything for you, please let me know.”

The pot beeped. I fixed us both a cup and pushed his over. “Cream or sugar?”

Heshook his head. “No. This is perfect, thank you.”

We took our coffee the same way. I liked cream and sugar, but I only used it as a treat. To many people, coffee was simple. Nothing could be further from the truth. Flavor could be extracted a dozen different ways, and I felt the best way to fully appreciate coffee’s particular flavor was to drink it with no enhancer.

We sipped in silence. Having Silas inside my house was odd, but I felt in no danger from him. The opposite, in fact. If Alric showed up and Silas was still here, I knew sitting next to the Shifter King was the safest spot in the city.

I’d be a fool to believe I was completely safe, though. He’d already apologized, and yet he was still here sipping my coffee.

Just like Alric, this male wanted something. So I curled my fingers around my mug and waited.

“Has the vampire been around?” He snapped his fingers. “Beckett, I think, Alric said.”

Not what I expected him to ask. “No. And it’s too much to hope he left town.”

“The Vampire Prime has a way of tracking down all his people.”

“Alric has neither confirmed nor denied Beckett is his.” I rolled my eyes just as Silas snorted. “He’s more apt to hold him over my head than deal with him.”

The Shifter King nodded in agreement. “He’s why I’m here, actually.”

I stared at Silas for a long moment. “I’m not sure I’m following. Did something happen?”

“I need to speak to the vampire. He seems enamored with you, and I was hoping if he came around again, you’ll contact me.”

My mouth fell open in stunned horror. “Beckett is a vampire. Why aren’t you asking Alric?” The nerve of this guy.

Silas had the grace to look embarrassed. “You nailed it thefirst time. We have a complicated relationship. Me asking to interrogate a vampire in his territory won’t go over well.”

“Let me get this straight. You want me to lure the vampire who attacked me here, to my home, so you canspeakto him?”

“I would not ask if the reason wasn’t of the utmost importance.”

“And my life isn’t important?”

Silas’s fingers tightened around the mug. “Of course it is. I realize what I’m asking, but you’ve proven adept at survival. I have no doubt you will come away unscathed.”

I stared at the Shifter King, fury sparking in my veins. Setting my mug down, I rose and headed to the foyer. The door opened before I reached for it—Edmund helping out.

“Get out,” I said quietly.