"Only because there's nothing for me to argue," she muttered, "since everything you've said makes sense...so far."
"Ah."
Spencer bit back a sigh of relief when her boss appeared to take this at face value. Thank God. Because honestly, those words of hers were nothing but an excuse. The truth was, she had lost track of all of her thoughts the moment she realized he was holding her hand. She had been working for him for years, and not once had she seen him hold hands with any of the woman he had gone to bed with. Not a single time, and so for him to be different with her...
She glanced down at the large, strong hand still holding hers in a grip that could only be described as possessive. Was it alright for her to hope?
The hand holding hers suddenly tightened, and when she glanced up, she was startled to find that they were already at the entrance doors of her apartment building.
Etienne felt her stiffen. "It's fine," he murmured.
"It really won't hurt you?"
"See for yourself." And then they were walking out into the light.
Several moments passed, and Spencer expelled her breath when it became clear that he wasn't going to spontaneously combust anytime soon.
"Lesson #1 for you then," he murmured. "The sunlight burns my skin, but it's more an irritation than anything else. It would take hours of exposure before it does some noticeable damage."
"Got that." Seeing Etienne's familiar red coupe parked ahead of them, Spencer absently tugged her hand free and opened the the passenger door for her boss.
A few moments later, and she looked up, wondering what the hold up was about. "Is something wrong?"
Etienne's gaze was once again filled with amusement. "You tell me."
Spencer frowned. "I don't..." And then it hit her. "Oh."
The grimace that contorted her face told him she had finally realized the same thing, and his lips twitched when she started fidgeting on her feet.
How terribly easy this girl was to read, Etienne mused.
"Um..."
"You would rather you continue working as my driver for now," he said dryly, "and aside from Kiernan, you would also prefer that nobody else knows about us. Have I gotten everything right?"
Thirty minutes later, and the two of them had reached a compromise that worked for them both. She could and would still drive for him, but he also had her permission to update key personnel about the change in their relationship.
After dropping her at his place, Etienne drove straight to a gated sprawling estate not far from his home. On paper, it had been registered as an exclusive clubhouse, and one whose membership requirements were so complicated and obscure no human could possibly meet all of them. In reality, however, it was the official seat of the Brethren, which was the governing body of Caro society.
A trio of boys in their late teens were already waiting for him by the foyer when Etienne's car raced up the driveway.
"Riyu. Luka. Stefan."
"Etienne."
Their greeting was courteous but economical, all of them aware of how time was of the utmost essence, and their meeting started soon after.
Stefan was the first one to speak. "Twelve other vampire attacks had taken place on the same night you were ambushed."
"Which makes it thirteen," Etienne said contemplatively. "Vampires are into black magic now?"
"At this point, we wouldn't put anything past them." Luka's tone was grim. "We've also reason to believe vampires have successfully infiltrated most - if not all - races."
"The underworld's also showing signs of restlessness," Riyu said quietly. "Something's clearly afoot."
Etienne nodded. "I'll let the old bloods know." And now, it was his turn to disclose information. "Here are the latest results of our experiment." He tapped Send on his phone to have the necessary files transferred through a secure network managed by his own team. A moment later, and the other Caros' phones started buzzing, and Etienne leaned back, knowing the younger men would want to skim the files right away.
Riyu was in a state of disbelief when he realized what the experiment's results were suggesting. "Sangferia? Virgin's blood? That's the secret weapon of our race?"
"Yes." And as soon as Etienne answered, he saw both Riyu and Stefan immediately turn to Luka, whose face had turned stoic. "Am I missing something?" Etienne had to ask.
"He is the only one among of us who's in a permanent relationship," Stefan murmured, "and his partner is - was - a virgin."
Ah.
"Did you drink it then?" Riyu asked bluntly.
"Yes." Luka's tone was stiff. "And initially, I had thought the added strength was because of what I am..."
Half-vampire, Etienne thought.
"But with these experiments, it's possible Caylie also happens to be chemically compatible, and that's why my strength has exponentially increased."
"Guess that makes it official," Stefan drawled. "If we want what's best for our race, we need to keep fucking virgins."
Chapter Nine
"The library, Ms. de Vries." Etienne's grey-haired butler opened the double doors with flourish.
"Um." She might not be living in Etienne's over-the-top two-floor apartment like Anderson did, but she had been to his place enough times to know her way around it.
"Miss?"
"You do remember I work for Mr. Hirsche, too?"
But Anderson only continued looking expectantly at her, and it took her a moment to understand that he meant for her to walk inside first.
Right. She shot the butler a scowl. "You know you're being ridiculous about this, don't you?"
Anderson kept looking at her.
"Oh, for heaven's sake...fine." She marched past the butler. "Happy now?"
"As a clam, miss."
Spencer scowled. Like boss, like butler. But she forgot her irritation soon enough when Anderson led her past the library's ceiling-high shelves and straight into a...secret room behind an alcove.
"Wow."
"You are part of the master's family now," Anderson said simply.
Just like the rest of Etienne's apartment, the secret room was regal and masculine, with leather couches, a massive stone table in the center, and mahogany shelves set against old brick walls. A sconce hung on every corner column, and twenty feet above them was a vast, antique wagon-wheeled chandelier.
"A bat cave for nerds?"
"I shall let the master know---"
"Sheesh, Anderson, you know I was just kidding." She then pointed to the pile of heavy-looking tomes on the desk, asking, "Anyway, are those the books Mr. H left for me?"
"Yes, miss."
Spencer made a face. "Can you please stop calling me that?"
"Of course. Would you prefer, being that our master is also a prince---"
"Don't you even dare."
"If, on the other hand, wedding bells are imminent---"
Spencer blanched.
"Maybe I should instruct the staff and have them practice addressing you as Mrs. Hirsche---"
"Shut up, Anderson. Just shut up."