Blood Bath & Beyond (34 page)

“Does the Ring know any of this?” I asked. “That you were, um,
intimately
involved with them?”

“Are you kidding?” He gave me a stunned look, then turned to Thierry. “If Franklin found out about me and Monique…he’d probably have me staked. And it was
nothing
. A momentary dalliance.”

Thierry let out a humorless snort. “You’re right. He wouldn’t be pleased. I believe you also had an affair with his second wife, if I’m not mistaken. During the Civil War?”

Owen took another sip of his coffee. “Whatever. It’s not like it’s relevant. Three vamps are now missing without a trace. That’s all I know. Now it’s your job to find out what happened to them.”

“And you?” I asked. “What are you going to do?”

“Whatever I like. As usual.” He gave me another leering look. “I can show you around town if Thierry’s too busy. It would be my pleasure to get to know you better.”

“I don’t think so,” I said. “You’re not nearly dour enough for me to spend more than a few minutes with. No offense.”

I heard another snort from Thierry’s direction. This one held way more humor than the last.

If he’d even been the least bit concerned that I’d be taken in by this shiny but vapid vampire, then he needed to think again. I mean, please.

“We need a suggestion for a hotel,” Thierry said. “Can you help?”

Owen had brushed off my dismissal without even an ounce of ill will, which I had to respect. His smile hadn’t even wavered. “Of course. But you don’t want a hotel. I know a great bed-and-breakfast that would be perfect for you.”

A bed-and-breakfast sounded wonderful, actually. I’d never stayed in one before. And Salem—witches or not—seemed like the perfect spot for a casual but fun honeymoon, even if we had to take care of some business as well.

“Lead the way,” I said.

Just before I followed Owen and Thierry through the swinging glass door, I had that strange shivery feeling again. I stopped and turned to look.

The pale, dark-haired man was back, and he stood a dozen feet away, staring at me. I met his black eyes directly and felt frozen in place by the coldness in his gaze.

“Soon,” he said, his voice deep and scary and as icy as his eyes. Then the corner of his mouth turned up into a sinister smile.

The next moment he disappeared into thin air.

I shuddered.

Yeah. That was definitely a ghost. And one that nobody else seemed able to see.

Lucky me.