I slowly turned around. Thierry stood directly behind me, his head cocked to one side and his expression neutral—although I could have sworn I saw a trace of amusement slide behind his silvery gray eyes.
“You’ve come back,” he said blandly, as though he hadn’t just overheard every word of my little rant.
“Just like a bad penny.” Then I frowned. Where did that expression come from, anyhow?
I’m not sure I even used it right.
“Did you want to see me?”
“Not particularly.” I was recovering my composure. Hey, it came and it went. Mostly, these days it went. “But I do need to speak with you.”
“Then perhaps you could have simply used the telephone.”
I sighed. “Hindsight is twenty-twenty. Now, not to sound like Joan Rivers or anything, but can we talk?”
“Of course.” He motioned toward his booth in the corner.
I shook my head. “In your office? I’d prefer something a little more private.” He raised an eyebrow and I glowered at his amused expression. “Not that kind of private.”
“Unfortunately, my office is in use right now for another private matter.”
Then I guessed the booth would have to do. I didn’t want to debate conversation locations for much longer. Just talking to Thierry was making me nervous, and not particularly in a good way. I wanted this over with as fast as possible, so I slid into the booth and George brought us over a couple of drinks. He winked at me before he left us alone.
“So,” Thierry said after a moment, “what is it you wish to speak with me about… in private?”
Was it wrong that I wanted to kiss him, even after everything that had happened? Rain kisses on his beautiful face and down his neck and along the edge of his oh-so-black silk shirt. Tuck his stray dark hair behind his ear and whisper how I felt about him, loud enough so only he could hear it?
Yes, it was wrong. It was very, very wrong.
“It’s about the hunters,” I finally said.
“What about the hunters?” He seemed surprised, as if he’d expected me to bring up another subject. What other subject could I possibly have to talk to Thierry de Bennicoeur about? Hmm, let me think.
“They’re planning something this year. Something big. Big enough that they believe that they can kill every last vampire in the city this time around.”
He pursed his lips. “Yes, I already know all of that.”
“You do?” Of course he’d know that. He was the master, after all. He probably just knew things through osmosis or that vampire telepathy I’d been hoping for.
“Was that all, Sarah?”
“No, that’s not all. I also have it on good authority that there’s a vampire who’s selling the rest of us out. Feeding information to the hunters.”
He took a sip of his cranberry juice and then placed it back soundlessly on the table. “And who are you getting your information from, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“You don’t believe me?”
“It’s not simply a matter of believing or not. It is a harsh accusation to say that there is a traitor in our midst. I simply wish to know who is telling you these things and what proof they may have.”
I felt the sudden urge to lie, or make up some outrageous story about where I’d heard the rumor. But I didn’t. “Quinn told me.”
Thierry leaned against the back of the booth. “Quinn.”
“That’s right.”
“The hunter who is now a vampire.”
“Thanks for the recap. Yes, that’s him.”
“When did he tell you this?”
This time I took a sip of my own drink before answering. George had been nice enough to bring me over a newbie special, heavy on the “special” rather than the “newbie.” I guess I was officially ready for the grown-up vampire drinks.
“Tonight,” I answered after a moment.
“Tonight.”
“You don’t have to repeat everything I say.”
“It helps me to understand you better. And when you saw Quinn tonight, where were you?
Did he search you out to give you this piece of questionable information?”
“No.” I struggled to keep my face as blank as his. “Actually, we were on a date.”
His expression gave nothing away, not that I expected it to. What, did I think he was going to leap out of his seat in a rage of jealousy? Not bloody likely.
“I didn’t realize that the two of you were dating.”
I shrugged. “You know what they say about opposites attracting.”
“Yes, that is very true. So, the two of you, is this serious? This relationship between vampire and ex-vampire hunter?”
“Well, we’re not planning on getting married, or anything like that,” I said with special emphasis on the married part.
“And you trust this… Quinn?”
Good question. Did I trust him? Not particularly. Did I think he was lying when he told me about the hunter’s plans? No, it was the truth. That much I had faith in.
“I believe him.”
“I didn’t ask if you believe him. I asked if you trust him.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Frankly, Thierry, I’m having a little trouble trusting anybody these days. Call me crazy.”
“And you decided that you needed to tell me this news. Why come to me?”