Page 79 of Immortal Unveiled

Kim heard a beep, then a click, and Wesley opened the door inward, holding it open for them. “Ladies first.”

Kim entered the room, Manus and Wesley on her heels.

The enormous room looked like an old-fashioned lounge in a fancy hotel, elegant yet comfortable and cozy with numerous sitting areas, a bar, a fireplace, and a big buffet toward the other end of the room. Pretty light fixtures hanging from the high ceiling threw a soft glow over the guests. The place was packed. Men were dressed mostly in dark suits while women wore cocktail dresses and evening gowns. Several kids milled around in one corner, where a play area was located. Soft music emanated from hidden speakers, and fragments of conversations drifted to the entrance, where Kim stood frozen.

She couldn’t tell who of the assembled were vampires, witches, or humans. Everybody was behaving in a most civilized way and showed no outward signs of their nature. No wonder humans didn’t know of the existence of vampires. If they looked and behaved like humans, how would anybody ever suspect them?

“Ready to mingle?” Manus suddenly asked, his mouth close to Kim’s ear.

“Have fun,” Wesley said and waved at somebody in the crowd, then paved a way through it and disappeared.

Kim turned her head to Manus. “How can you tell who’s a vampire?”

“I just can. Every creature has a specific aura, but only preternaturals can see it.”

“Every creature except a demon.”

Manus laid his hand on the small of her back. “Let’s forget about demons for a couple of hours. You’re too tightly wound right now.” He lowered his voice and brought his lips closer to her ear. “I know a good way of relaxing you, but I’m afraid that’s not an option right now. So, how about a drink and enjoying an evening with friends instead?”

Kim had to smile. Leave it to Manus to realize that she was stressing out and needed a short reprieve before resuming the impossible task of searching for the book the demons wanted so desperately. “I think I could do with a drink.” Then she remembered Wesley’s words. “Nothing red though, okay?”

Manus took her hand, and they walked farther into the room, where he flagged down a waiter with a tray with ready-made drinks.

The man pointed to the various glasses. “Champagne cocktail? Whiskey? Martini?”

He didn’t point to the fourth choice, which was a red liquid in a tumbler. Kim’s eyes were drawn to it. Was this blood as she suspected?

“First time here?” the waiter suddenly asked in a low voice.

She nodded automatically.

“Don’t worry, all the waiters are vampires. They won’t offer you anything you’re not supposed to drink.”

“Thank you.” She swallowed away her embarrassment for having been so obvious. “I’ll have the champagne cocktail, please.”

He handed her the glass while Manus reached for the whiskey. “Thanks.”

As soon as the waiter was out of earshot, Kim whispered to Manus, “I feel like a fool. Please tell me when I’m staring, will you?”

“Just relax,” he said calmly.

“Easy to say for somebody who’s used to us,” a deep voice said from behind her.

Kim spun around and stared at the face of a tall man with a ponytail. But it wasn’t the ponytail or the intrusion in their conversation that made her shrink back but the long, deep scar that ran from his chin to his ear, marring his face. Shock paralyzed her. The man met her eyes. They reminded her of somebody, but unfortunately her brain had frozen too.

All of a sudden, he looked past her to Manus. “I think you’re meant to tell her now that she’s staring, Manus.” Then he winked at her. “Don’t worry. Everybody does it. I don’t mind.”

Manus reached past her, extending his hand, shaking the scarred man’s. “Gabriel, good to see you.”

“Likewise.” He released Manus’s hand. “Won’t you introduce me to your human friend?”

“Of course. Gabriel, this is Kim. Kim, this is Gabriel, Ryder’s father.”

Now it suddenly clicked. That’s who Gabriel reminded her of. “You have the same eyes as your son,” she said, extending her free hand to shake his.

The contact was pleasant. She’d always thought that a vampire’s touch would be cold, but it wasn’t.

“Thank you, Kim. I hope he’s been behaving,” he now said with a glance at Manus.