Drawn to the Vampire (Blood and Absinthe, Book 4) by Chloe Hart Page A

flung open the door, said something in French, and withdrew. Luke stood back to let Kit go through first, and she stepped over the threshold into what looked like a small study.
    “Luke!”
    The man hurrying towards them sounded delighted, and Kit had an opportunity to observe him as he kissed Luke ceremoniously on each cheek.
    He was small and dark and ordinary looking, with thinning hair and round, wire-rimmed glasses. He wore a yellow silk dressing gown and quilted slippers, and when he’d risen to greet them he’d left a pipe, a sherry glass, and a small leather-bound book on the table beside his chair.
    “And who is this radiant creature?” he asked in flawless English, turning towards her so swiftly that Kit took a backwards step.
    “This is Catherine Bantry, of the Bantry Fae clan,” Luke said formally. “Kit, this is Daro, an old friend and a powerful magician.”
    “My dear,” Daro said, taking her hand and raising it to his lips, kissing the air just above her fingertips.
    “Um, hello.”
    “I see you’re in one of your courtly moods,” Luke said, not sounding very pleased. “May we take a seat and tell you why we’re here?” he asked, pulling Kit away from Daro and steering her towards the chintz sofa in one corner of the room.
    “Of course, of course,” Daro said smoothly. “No need to stand on ceremony.”
    He followed his guests and sat down on a chair facing the sofa. He crossed his legs, adjusting the folds of his dressing gown over his paisley silk pajamas, and placed his clasped hands carefully on his knee. “Tell me all about it, my dears.”
    “It’s the Père-Lachaise portal,” Luke said. “We need to know the next night it will be open, and we need a coin of passage.”
    Daro regarded them thoughtfully. “The portal to the underworld? Oh, my.” His black eyes slid over to Kit. “Lost someone down there, have you?”
    “My brother.”
    “I see. Well, it’s very noble of you to go down after him. Dangerous, of course. I imagine the other Fae disapprove of your quest.”
    “They’re not thrilled about it, no.”
    “An independent spirit. Still, you’re not entirely alone. You’ve found yourself a powerful ally. Have you fallen madly in love with him yet?”
    He asked the question lightly, and Kit knew she should answer in kind. But her temper flared and she snapped “Of course not,” before she could stop herself.
    Luke laid a hand on her shoulder as if to calm her, but she pulled sharply away and glared at both men.
    “Touchy,” Daro commented, his eyes glinting with amusement. “I imagine you have your hands full with this one,” he added, glancing at Luke.
    “You have no idea,” Luke muttered as Daro turned to her again.
    “It’s only a matter of time, you know. Women can’t seem to help themselves. You’ll fall into his arms just like the rest of them.”
    “I’m not like the rest of them, and I have no intention of falling into his arms.”
    Daro looked surprised. “But why ever not? I’m sure the experience would be a pleasurable one. If the rumors I hear are true…”
    Kit opened her mouth to speak, her eyes flashing, but Luke beat her to it.
    “That’s enough,” the vampire said, his voice low and dangerous. The tone raised the hairs on the back of her neck, and she wasn’t even the one he was using it on.
    “Kit and I have a business partnership and nothing more. If you’d care to assist us, I’ll be happy to pay your usual fee.”
    Daro didn’t seem in the least intimidated. If anything, he seemed pleasurably surprised.
    “Why, Luke! If I didn’t know you’d better I’d think you’d actually fallen for—”
    Luke moved faster than Kit’s eye could follow. One moment he was sitting beside her; the next he was standing over Daro’s chair with his hand around the other man’s throat.
    “Luke!” she cried out sharply, but the vampire wasn’t paying attention to her.
    “I’ll pay you five hundred above your usual price, provided