Boys That Bite by Mari Mancusi Page B

he's also indescribably hot. And having an indescribably hot guy holding my hand and leading me blindly through the darkness is sort of sexy in a very weird way. Gah! I can't believe I just admitted that! When I'm done with this vampire nonsense, I've so got to get my head examined. After all, I do not think of Magnus in that way. I think of Jake Wilder, my prom date, in that way. Jake Wilder only. Not Magnus. Definitely not Magnus. After half an eternity, we finally reach the end of the never-ending stairs and I can hear Magnus pressing some computerized buttons. Like a key code or something. This vampire place has major security. A door slides silently open and we step over the threshold. Into complete luxury. I gasp as my eyes become accustomed to the dim light and I see what we've walked into. It's like a mansion. An underground mansion. With cathedral ceilings, floors made of marble, and the most elegant furnishings I've ever seen. I can see why they need Fort Knox-like security down here. It's a tomb raider's dream come true. Lara Croft would have a field day. "Holy hot spot, Batman," I whisper. Magnus grins. "Impressive, no? We vampires like our little creature comforts." I scan the room, taking in the velvet antique couches and gold-accented lamps. The Da Vinci paintings and crystal chandeliers. This place is like Buckingham Palace. If not more luxurious. "Guess you guys aren't putting any strain on the welfare system, at least." "When you live thousands of years, your investments tend to mature and pay off nicely." "Evidently." Rayne sure wasn't kidding when she said riches greater than your wildest imagination. Maybe this being a vampire thing isn't as bad as I thought. First, you have hot guys throwing themselves at you, then you have enough cash to buy every shoe Marc Jacobs ever made. Pretty sweet. Too bad there's also the whole blood-drinking and no-going-out-in-the-sun side effects. Otherwise, I'd definitely have to reconsider this whole thing. "Come on," Magnus says, interrupting my musings. "Lucifent is expecting us."
    8
    Lucifent—King of Vamps and Major Cutie Pie
    I follow Magnus across the empty hall, wondering where the other vampires are hiding. Or feeding. Gulp. The thought makes me walk faster to catch up to his long strides. We head down a long corridor, flanked by dim lamps. Nothing in the place is particularly bright, I notice. Probably hard on the vamps' eyes. At the end of the hall, we enter a lobby where a thin, blond woman sits behind a desk, filing her nails and looking bored. She looks like someone I know, but I can't seem to place her. "Hi, Marcia," Magnus says, addressing her politely. That's it! She looks like Marcia Brady from the The Brady Bunch. Heh. Marcia looks up, her eyes widening in delight as they fall on Magnus. "Oh, Magnus!" she cries, her voice high and flirty and American. "It's sooo great to see you! It's been way too long, my darling." Hmm. Guess this guy's not only hot stuff to us mortals. He's got vamp groupies as well. Go figure. I squash a brief pang of jealousy. Which is ridiculous. After all, blood mate or not, I so don't want to have anything to do with Magnus after we get this vampire thing sorted out. So if Marcia wants him, he's all hers, far as I'm concerned. I tune back in to the conversation. "It's lovely to see you as well, Marcia darling," Magnus says in his deep, baritone voice. "How have you been?" The vampire secretary blushes furiously. Man, she's got it bad! Marcia, Marcia, Marcia! "Very well, thank you," she says and then giggles. This is all making me feel like I want to hurl. "Uh, hello?" I interject, to stave off the nauseated feeling. "I don't have all night." Marcia shoots me an evil glare. "Who is this?" she asks, haughtily. "Another recruit? We are going bottom-of-the-barrel these days, aren't we?" "Excuse me?" I say, raising an eyebrow. "Would you mind repeating that?" Vampire or no, I'm so not taking this bitch's attitude. "Ladies, please,"