Vampire King of New York (16 page)

“No, but I could use a cup of tea.”

They walked to The Trie Café and made their way to the counter. Max ordered two teas and two brownies. He paid and went to find a secluded table for them, away from the others. Shivering, Evelyn sat down to wait, while he went back to the counter. He returned with a tray and placed her tea in front of her. “Drink this and you’ll feel better.”

Evelyn placed both hands around the cup and drank her tea. Max moved his chair beside hers and draped his coat over her shoulders.

She sipped the tea. The hot liquid made its way, warming first her face and then steaming out to her other parts. Max always made her think of her other parts.

“Feeling better?”

“Yes. Thank you.” She took another long sip. “This place is beautiful, so calming. Thank you for bringing me here. I know you must have work to catch up on after all this mayhem.”

He sipped his tea. “I’ll manage another time. Right now I just want to have fun with you.”

“What’s your idea of fun, Max?”

He grinned, and he was adorable when he grinned. “Being in bed with you.”

“Shh.” She looked around but no one appeared to hear them. “When you’re not in bed with me.” The crimson burn was on her cheeks, she just knew it.

“I enjoy being with you, Evelyn, wherever we are.” He paused, and while he was looking directly at her, she fixed her gaze on a work of art.

“Where next?”

A crash made her jump, and Max leapt in front of her. The sound came from the kitchen and was followed by yelling and a multitude of apologies.

“It’s time we left.”

It was still raining when they entered the car, and Vincent closed the door. Seconds later, he eased the limo into traffic and they were off.

Evelyn couldn’t help bursting out laughing. “I was expecting a savage to come flying out of the kitchen at us.”

“Yes, we have gotten a little skittish.”

“Where are we going next?”

“The Metropolitan Museum of Art.”

“That’s a great place.”

“You’ve been there?”

“Yes, very often, and to the Museum of Modern Art too.”

He frowned. “Vincent, stop the car.” The limo sharply headed over to a curb, and Max flung open the door.

They were in the heart of Chinatown. “Come on.” He helped her out of the car and they entered a shop. It was just the kind of store that Evelyn loved. She loved the fabrics, the tea sets, the black lacquer furniture with inlaid gold. She stood mesmerized by the koi pond in the center of the store, in their colors of white, gold, orange, and black that shimmered just beneath the water. Tiny birds sang in a large cage nearby.

Max came over to her. “You want to put a koi pond in Laura and David’s apartment?”

“No, they’re just great to look at.”

“Well, I have something that’s also great to look at.” She turned toward him and he placed a gold dragon bracelet on her wrist.”

She gazed down in wonder at the dragon with its ruby red eyes. “It is good luck,” said the sales woman.

“Max, I can’t possibly accept such a gift.”

“I wish you would. Besides you could do with some good luck. Does it fit you?”

Evelyn jiggled her wrist. The woman came out from behind the counter and checked the bracelet. “There, that should fit better now. Both parts must clasp.” Then she looked at Evelyn and her eyes widened. “You are Telkhine.”

Evelyn didn’t know what to say. “I-I …”

“Thank you for bringing the rain to a hot city.”

“I-I …”

Max whispered in her ear, “Just say you’re welcome.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Would you like me to put the bracelet in a box?” the woman asked.

“No, I guess I’ll wear it.”

“Then I will put the box in the bag for you.”

Evelyn accepted the bag, and arm in arm with Max, walked outside and down a narrow street. They entered a theater and sat in the back. Puppets danced and battled across the stage, while the drama was narrated in Chinese. Evelyn was having the greatest time, and it wasn’t the gift or the play or the places. It was all Max.

After a crowd of children rushed past them, they managed their way out of the theater and Chinatown. They walked to Grand Street Station and raced down the stairs to the subway station. He swept her up and leapt over the turnstiles holding her in his arms and landed on the other side, then set her on her feet again. Then they ran down the corridor. Evelyn was almost out of breath when he stopped, tapped on a wall, and it slid open. “I’m going to show you something not on the tours.”

They stepped inside the wall and it closed behind them.

“Max, I’m not good with closed in spaces.”

He fumbled in his pocket, removed a flashlight, and turned it on. “Does this make you feel better?”

The corridor was very close. Max kept his arm around her and moved her in front of him, handing her the flashlight.

“Max, what are we looking for?”

“Oh, just a place not on the tourists’ maps. Keep walking.”

Evelyn tried not to think about being underground, but it crept into her consciousness. “Max.” She shook badly. Too much had happened and her reserve of courage was shaky.

He turned her around and kissed her for a long time. Her tongue brushed against his fangs and he moaned. Knowing those fangs were there bolstered her courage. When she stepped back from him, Evelyn felt more balanced, stronger. She remembered how Max said lifemates could help each other.

They continued through the corridor until Max stopped. “It’s here.” He tapped on the wall and it slid open.

A tall black man stood in the doorway. Evelyn saw past him into a large cavernous room. “Why, Mr. V., welcome home to New York.” He moved out of the way to allow them to enter.

“Thank you, Jake.”

“Your usual table is ready.”

The art nouveau décor was in gold, black, and red. Everything stylized with angles and curves. Couples on the dance floor swung to big band music. They were seated on red leather chairs. The waiter came by and bowed. Actually bowed!

“Your Majesty, it’s good to see you in the city.” He leaned close to Max. “Evil things have been happening,” he whispered.

Max patted him on the shoulder. “I know and it’s being taken care of.”

The man looked relieved. “Thank you, sir. Thank you. Now what can I get for you this evening.”

“Randolph, we’ll have the Lobster Thermidor and your best champagne for my lifemate and a blood ale for me.”

“Will do, your Majesty. Immediately.” He bowed and backed away.

Evelyn waited until the waiter had left. “Does everyone bow to you?”

He shook his head. “No. The Arnhem Knights don’t usually, but some of the populace does.”

“Do you want people to bow to you?”

“No, but customs are hard to break. He was just showing his respect and I appreciate that. I did start it all.”

She sighed. “I guess I can’t imagine how you managed to create the Arnhem Society way back then. There were no blood donors, no blood banks. What did you do?”

“I hunted game a lot, and it was a world teeming with game.”

The waiter arrived with the meal. He poured the champagne first for Max, and after receiving approval poured a glass for her. Then he placed the blood ale in front of Max.

The Vampire King of New York nodded, and the man bowed and left. Evelyn had gotten used to Max and just didn’t think of him in that way.

“You’re not expecting me to bow to you, are you?”

“Never.”

Evelyn took a sip of her champagne.

Max’s fangs descended when he raised his glass to drink.

She was fascinated by his fangs and couldn’t look away. He demonstrated a lot of self-control in not biting her last night when he was in pain, and her blood could have helped him. He could have bitten her in the middle of sex but didn’t.

Couples continued to spin around the dance floor, their movements almost hypnotic. Everything from the chandeliers to the gold and black floor shimmered in her eyes.

“You’re very quiet. You don’t like your lobster?”

Evelyn hadn’t noticed she had stopped eating.

“No, it’s delicious. It just … I mean, this place is only for vampires, isn’t it? I’m the only human here.”

“That’s true.”

“But they eat human food.”

“This establishment is primarily favored by vampires over a hundred, so they are eager to eat human food in addition to blood.”

She returned to eating her food and watching the dancers. When she was done, she patted her mouth and placed the napkin on the table. The champagne was delicious.

“You look nervous?”

“I’m in an all vampire world. What human wouldn’t be nervous? They’ve been staring at us.”

“I’m sorry about that, my dear, but you are a very special person and they’re curious.”

“Curious about what?”

“They’re wondering how long I will allow you to remain human.”

“You’re reading their thoughts?”

“Of course, I am. I’m the oldest vampire here. Don’t worry they can’t read my mind.”

She reached for her purse. “Max, please, let’s go to the surface.”

“Certainly.”

They got up and moved through the room, back to the door. The waiter stepped in front of them. “Was everything to your satisfaction?”

Evelyn put on her sweetest smile and kept her thoughts cheerful. “It was delicious. Thank you very much.”

“Ah.” The man relaxed. He looked to Max, who smiled and nodded, before taking her hand and leading her into the corridor.

She started getting that closed in feeling again but didn’t want to mention it. He stopped, and she stumbled ahead of him.

“My Evelyn, you’ve gone past the entrance.”

“Oh.” She stepped back.

He tapped the wall, and the door opened. She was grateful to be on the stairs leaving the subway. When they emerged into the open air, she welcomed the rain on her face.

Lightning flashed, as they entered the limo. “Laura’s with the storm.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll take you home if you wish, to practice.”

Evelyn leaned back into the upholstery and sighed. “No. That’s okay. It’s frustrating for me to practice when nothing happens.”

“Last time flames came from your fingers.”

“That was Laura’s power coursing through me and my body interpreted it, but it wasn’t my power.” She sighed. “I have no powers. On second thought, maybe you should take me home.”

“You’re angry with me.”

“No, I am concerned. Max, you will not tell me what to do, even though you are a king. If I want to remain a human, then you will have to live with that.”

The limo arrived at David’s too quickly. Evelyn was still trying to sort out in her mind what she wanted to do. Because he is king, they will expect her to change and they would think him weak or less a king if she didn’t. She didn’t want to be a vampire. She didn’t want to die before her time.

Vincent held the door open with one hand and held an umbrella over her with the other as she climbed out.

Max hurried after her. “I had more planned for our date.”

“I think I need a little time to think, Max. Okay?”

“If that’s what you need, I’ll come in with you.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

Evelyn went into the house leaving him on the front step. Her hands shook when she put her key in the lock, but she didn’t have to turn it. Laura opened the door.

“Oh, God, look at you. You’re soaked.”

Evelyn hugged her sister and began to cry. “I need to talk to you.”

“Come on.” Laura went with her to the kitchen.

“I don’t want to be a vampire, but Max is the king. What will people think if I don’t …”

Laura held up her hand. “Stop right there. It doesn’t matter what people think.”

“If I stay human, I’ll be a burden on him.”

“Did he say that?”

“No.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “No, he wouldn’t.”

Laura patted her on the back. “I had a lot of similar feelings before I met David, even after.” She sighed, gently rubbing Evelyn’s back. “When I first met David, I was completely entranced with him. Then when I found out all the things I could no longer do, I hated him. Really hated him for making me a vampire.”

Evelyn sat up and wiped her eyes. “But you got over it.”

Laura smiled. “I put him through hell and back. We almost lost each other, but we made it. I realized how much he loved me.”

“I want you to tell me about that hell stuff some time. Dad told me part of it, but I want to hear it from you.”

“Okay.” Laura reached over and flattened Evelyn’s hair. “I will, but right now I guess you might want to look at the pros and cons of your relationship with Max.”

Evelyn shook her head. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I don’t always think clearly where Max is concerned.”

“Give it a try.”

“I feel great when I’m with him.”

“Now what about a con?”

“He makes me crazy when he calls me ‘my Evelyn’. It makes me feel like I’m property.”

“When male vampires find their lifemates, they are very possessive. Finding a lifemate is rare. When they say mine or my, they don’t mean they own you. It’s an endearment. It means they love you and would die for you.”

A soft rapping on the door caught their attention. “May I come in?” David asked from the other side of the door.

“Come in.”

“Did you know that Max is standing outside in the rain? He hasn’t moved since you left him there.”

“Oh, no.” She ran to a window and looked out. There was Max illuminated by a streetlight with the rain pouring around him.

“Being a vampire, he doesn’t get wet,” Laura said.

Evelyn moved away from the window. “No, but he’s sad and I can feel it.” She turned toward her brother-in-law. “David, I just can’t talk to him right now. I can’t.”

“Okay. I’m not going to pretend to understand.” He kissed Laura on the cheek. “I’ll be out for a while.” He grabbed his coat from the hall closet and left.

A few minutes later, Evelyn could feel Max moving away from her. “They got into the limo and left.” Laura remarked, watching from the window.

Evelyn hugged her sister. “I don’t know why I can’t just accept everything.” She broke down and cried.

David didn’t say anything for a while. The car rolled along, and Max wasn’t inclined to break the silence.