Page 162 of Eternal Surrender

Strolling leisurely through the exhibit, the two well-dressed vampires disappeared behind a black curtain. I headed after them, quickly entering the museum’s fifty seat theater, reassured to see we were alone.

Playing upon the large screen was the film Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead.

The two nightwalkers sat in the back row, and I edged along the one in front of them and sat.

Both of them were dressed in jeans and blazers, and they were easily two of the most ridiculously pretty twenty-something vampires I’d seen in a while. They’d easily pass for aristocracy.

The dirty blond sat forward. “William, we need your help,” he said.

I detected his sincerity but not so much in his dark haired friend who seemed impatient.

I locked on him. “How do you know who I am?”

“We saw you at Belshazzar’s,” the blond said. “With Marcus.”

I sincerely hoped it wasn’t the night I was covered in blood. “You know my name, how about you tell me yours?” I said.

“Raven,” the darker haired one gave his name, dismissing the way his friend had started. “Where’s Orpheus?”

“You assume I know?” I looked over at his friend.

“You’re well acquainted with Belshazzar’s.” The blond sat back.

I went quiet waiting for his name.

“Angus,” the blond said, sounding like he regretted telling me.

“Belshazzar’s closed down,” I said.

“On whose authority?” Raven asked.

“Orpheus, of course,” I replied flatly.

Raven seemed reassured. “We must speak with him.”

“Why?” I asked.

Angus became agitated.

“I’ll pass on your message,” I said. “What is it?”

“So he’s not dead?” Raven asked.

I gave a bored sigh. “You’ve interrupted my visit to the museum. Can we hurry this up?”

“You’re good friends with Lucas Azir,” Raven said. “As is Orpheus.”

“And Marcus,” Angus added. “Orpheus’s closest ally.”

I folded my arms. “What’s your point?”

“We can only assume you’re in contact with Orpheus?” Angus asked.

“He’s in Italy,” I lied with panache.

“How might we persuade you to help us?” Raven leaned forward and pouted, sending a wave of pleasure between my legs with merely a thought. He sat back and his lip curled upward triumphantly.

I used the same trick he’d just thrown my way, only mine penetrated his solar plexus and jolted a shocking frisson directly into his spine and downward, staying there, vacillating.