"Julian," I warn. "We're going to get caught."
"Doing what?" He raises an eyebrow.
I shake my head, partly in bemusement, but also because he's being so reckless. "Having this conversation is dangerous," I point out.
"I doubt this is the kind of place where the Mayor has spies."
"She has spies everywhere."
I try to ignore how close the two of us are, but between the two of us, the curtain, and the stone walls on either side, there isn't much space to move around.
"I don't think the nobles would be very happy with that..."
"Happy or not, she'll have spies here," I warn. "And it won't be who you think."
"The servants?"
I shrug. "Probably some of the nobles too. She has the power to promise them anything they want." From the whispers I've heard, spies have been paid off with pardons, trips out of the city, and money. There's nothing the Mayor of the City Of Blood can't buy. It's one of the things that makes this place so scary.
"We're here now, what do you mean about the blood?" he presses.
I grimace. "What have you been doing since you came to the city?" I ask. Hopefully, that will help me work out what he knows, and what he needs to be told.
"Not much. I've spent the past couple of years talking to people about my new business venture, but it hasn't gotten very far."
"So you haven't had much to do with the officials?"
He shakes his head. "Not yet."
I groan. This isn't good. But at least there's a chance I can keep him safer with what I can tell him.
"You know how they've been advertising this place?"
"They stopped about ten years ago. Someone put a block on the paradise for vampires line," he says.
Relief washes through me. That's a good thing at least. I suppose they could have started advertising again in the years since he arrived, but I don't think so. The outside can't like this place very much.
"You might have guessed that's a lie."
"I don't think anyone believes it," he agrees. "But there are still some advantages to being here. Mostly due to the people who are inside the walls."
Oh no. He came here for an investor. It's obvious enough now he's saying things the way he is. I hope he's not disappointed by what he finds.
"It's far worse than simply not being a paradise," I admit. "There's a lot of corruption. People die daily, vampire and human alike. Mostly in the cage fights, but there are also regular executions, and I'm sure there are other killings going on that never get to the public. The blood they serve at the Mayor's parties is supposed to come from a blood farm, where humans are kept and bled out until they die just to provide enough." My voice is barely above a whisper, but I still worry it's too loud. If anyone overhears me telling him this, then we could both be in danger.
"Are they paid?" he asks.
"No. I think the general belief is that they've been kidnapped and forced into it."
The blood drains from his face. "How is the Mayor allowing that?"
I shrug. "She's encouraging it. I'm not sure why." I suspect it's because she enjoys having the power over people, but I don't dare say that aloud. It's not worth my life to criticise the Mayor any more than I have already.
"What..."
Before he can finish his question, the curtain begins to move. My eyes widen and panic begins to set in. It isn't so much about being caught here, vampire balls are renowned for the trysts.
Which gives me an idea.
I grab hold of the front of Julian's shirt and pull him towards me. I press my lips against his. He doesn't respond at first, no doubt surprised I'm kissing him out of nowhere. Which makes sense, this isn't what we agreed to when I said I'd come with him to the ball.
After a moment, his arms snake around me, tugging me closer and deepening the kiss. My eyes drift closed and I find myself enjoying it in ways I didn't think were possible.
I'm dimly aware of light streaming in as whoever it is outside pulls the curtain back. They mumble an apology and drop it back into place, leaving us in the dark again.
Julian backs me up against the stone wall, and I let him. This is unlike any kiss I've had before. I've been missing out. One of his fangs grazes against my bottom lip and I groan. The temptation to pull away from the kiss and sink my own fangs into his neck washes through me.
And reminds me what we're supposed to be doing.
I push him away, breaking the kiss, but leaving both of us dazed. I touch my fingers to my lips, trying to ignore the tingle which lingers from his touch.
Julian's gaze bores into me, but I can't tell what he's thinking. That's unusual for me. I have enough experience that I can tell what men are thinking when they look at me. But not him.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't think of anything else to cover up what we were talking about," I mumble.
He reaches out and tucks a strand of stray hair behind my ear. "That's okay. We probably shouldn't talk about things like that here."
"So you were listening," I joke, but underneath the sunny words is a small quiver.
Why can't I stop thinking about the kiss?
"Of course I was. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I'm just not used to men listening when I speak." They're normally more interested in my other charms. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's what I'm paid for after all.
"Those men are missing out," he assures me.
"We should re-join the party before we have to fake the next step too," I suggest.
"There wouldn't be any faking needed if I'm involved." He winks.
I smother a laugh, along with the tingle which spreads all over my body. I wonder what it would be like to spend the night with him? Not as paid company either, but because I want to.
Maybe I'll ask him at the end of the night.
If I can pluck up the courage to do it.
Chapter 6
Julian's hand on my lower back is even more intense since our kiss. But I can't act on it. Not in a room full of other people.
"Is there anyone you want to talk to while we're here?" I ask.
He nods. "How did you guess?"
I shrug. "You wouldn't have bothered to come, and certainly wouldn't have asked for a date to join you if you didn't want to."
"Maybe I just want people to know I'm in the city."
"You don't. They already know." The city isn't big enough for that. News travels fast around here, and his presence isn't going to mean any different.
I pick up two glasses of champagne as another tray passes, then hand one to Julian. Our fingers brush against one another, and I look away before I give away my desire for him. I need to pull myself together, or I'm going to let my emotions show. Perhaps it's best if I talk to Lady Catherine about this when I get back to the Black Fan. She balances her work and a relationship at the same time. Though she doesn't take clients, so perhaps it's different.
I shouldn't have taken Julian up on his offer, it's only going to lead to problems. I sneak a glance at him.