The Night House by Rachel Tafoya Page B

that’s watching him, including us humans. When he reaches the head of the crowd, his gaze finds Finn in the back.
    “You may escort the humans out now.” His voice easily covers the distance.
    Finn gets one of his guys to stand at the entrance to the guest lounge so none of us can get back in. Alex and I stand at the end of the hallway trying to listen in.
    “What do you think they’re talking about?” Alex presses her ear against the wall.
    I shrug. “Probably which vein yields more blood.”
    “Gross.”
    My legs ache from the hour spent standing, so I sit on the floor, holding my knees against my chest. I become acutely aware of how many sets of teeth are in the other room. I don’t think I’ve been this close to that many vampires in my life.
    “You ever think about leaving?”
    Alex’s smile fades. She sinks down beside me. “Every second of every day, Bee.”
    She forces her smile back on me, but I can see straight through it. What else could she have said? No, I love it here? I love getting bitten by vampires? I love what I’ve become?
    We all know that’s not true.
    It’s then that the doors to the Night House are shoved open, letting a cool breeze inside. Finn’s guy straightens up as a scrawny little vamp scurries down the stairs. He wears a rumpled suit much too large for him. The stench that comes off him is putrid.
    “Sorry, this is a private event.” The guard steps in front of him.
    “Great, great,” the vamp ignores him, staring at us. “I’ll only be a minute.”
    “You don’t understand,” the guard rumbles. “You have to leave.”
    “No, no, no. Finn knows me. I’m a regular. I just need a little blood, and I’ll be out of your way.”
    His eyes twitch. He keeps moving his hands in and out of his pockets and straightening his jacket, which only makes it more wrinkled and ridiculous. He’s a wreck.
    Is that how people see me?
    The guard’s face deadens as he realizes what he’s dealing with.
    Alex leans over to me. “Smell that? It’s garlic, like that other vamp.”
    Twitchy’s head snaps up, and he locks eyes with Alex. Just as the guard reaches for his shoulders, he darts past him down the hall and then he’s in Alex’s face.
    “You’ll do.” His grubby hands snake out and start wrapping around Alex’s upper arms.
    “Don’t touch her.” I shove him, like the idiot I am.
    He wheels around on me and pins me against the wall, fangs out, dripping with unused nauth. “You want some too?”
    I do. I really do.
    “That would be a bad idea.”
    Jeremiah’s voice. He’s standing behind Twitchy, hand around his throat. Twitchy’s already bloodshot eyes look like they’re going to pop out of his skull. Jeremiah spins him around so he can see his face. Or at least that’s what I thought, but Twitchy takes one look at Jeremiah’s shiny blue pin and pales.
    “I didn’t know you were here, sir,” he stammers.
    Jeremiah is not pleased. “You will leave this Night House right now, and you will never return. Is that understood?”
    “Yes, sir,” Twitchy says.
    Jeremiah smiles. “Then go.”
    Twitchy flies out of the place in a flurry of apologies, more frightened than ever.
    “Alex, are you okay?” I touch her shoulders.
    “Um.” Her eyes are on Jeremiah, so I face him.
    His gaze is firmly on the wall above my head. “Garlic. Disgusting.” There is so much disdain in his voice it feels contagious. He straightens his sleeves. “Bianca, would you please follow me? There are people who wish to meet you.”
    Jeremiah walks off. I can barely stand how much I hate him. Almost as much as I want nauth right now.
    I force myself to check on Alex. “Are you—?”
    “I’m fine, babe. Don’t keep him waiting.” Alex squeezes my hand with an uneasy smile.
    I go after Jeremiah.
    He leads me into the nearest private room. It is all deep blues and smooth sharp surfaces inside. The two vamps I recognize sit idly, the male in black robes who spoke to everyone, and the