High Society - Page 64

Titus nodded in agreement. “Benjamin is a dick.”

“I know. He just slobbered all over my hand.”

Titus clutched his chest. “I’m offended. He only shook mine.”

I slapped him playfully.

The rays of warm sunlight evaporated as the sun sank below the horizon. Titus noticed the dimming in the room. “Where do you think Abram is?”

“I’m not sure. I hope he’s still running from the sires we didn’t stake.”

“He’s strong now, stronger than anyone he sires. I think every generation is weaker than the one before it. That’s why Mary can cover up and be in the sun, but the vamps in our time would burn to death, covered or not.” Titus’s eyes kept flicking to Terah.

“Do you think she’ll try something?” I asked.

“I know she will. I’m just not sure when she’ll do it.”

My stomach growled.

Titus laughed. “Go fill a plate. If you’re going to dance, you’ll need the energy boost.”

“Who said I’m dancing?” I challenged.

Titus gave a lop-sided grin. “Enoch.”

Point to Titus. I would definitely dance with Enoch. All evening if we could. I had a lot to apologize for. I’d been feeling out of sorts since landing here. The emotional toll of everything that had happened, coupled with my unending headache, the Terah situation, Abram… made me forget what was most important in every time: him.

I strode across the room to the banquet table where Terah lingered as she poured herself some wine, and began filling a plate with every sweet thing I could find, along with a sliver of roasted hog. She gave me an evil look and then strode back to her seat.

“Would you like a glass of wine?” Asa said from beside me. “I’m pouring one for myself, so…”

“Sure. Thanks.”

I watched him pour it and took the crystal goblet from him.

“How long will all these men stay here?”

He blew out a breath. “With Benjamin, you never know. He’s visited before on his way to some great duty and lingered a week.”

“Wow.” I couldn’t even stop the word from falling out.

“I agree. He’s… something.”

Asa stood beside me as the musicians tuned their instruments. Someone played a melody on the piano while another pulled a bow over his violin’s strings. “The Brigadier General is coming over. He’ll ask you for the first dance, making the assumption that he deserves the honor of it and your company.”

“Oh shit,” I said under my breath, wishing Enoch would intervene.

“Dance with me,” Asa blurted, sitting his goblet on the table.

What? I didn’t want to dance with him, but it was a better option than Benjamin – which said a lot.

I put down my mostly-empty plate and wine, placing my hand in his outstretched one. He pulled me towards the musicians and past the pompous General, who looked offended. I glanced around the room. Titus was smirking. Asshole. But where did Enoch go? He was no longer in the room.

Asa smiled. “I wanted to offer a piece of advice regarding my brother, who has conveniently left the room, it seems.”

“Oh? What advice is that?”

He held my right hand aloft in the air and his other hand fell at my back. I was unfamiliar with dancing and tried to concentrate on following his lead. Thankfully, we just stepped in a square for the most part, so I didn’t fall or make a fool out of us.