Influential Magic by Deanna Chase Page B

him.
    I flashed a smile, praying it looked sincere, and forced myself to walk into the room. The vampire energy swirled so strong my lungs seized in protest. My knees buckled. I clutched the back of a velvet settee and steadied myself. Either my gift was way the hell off, or the vamps had found a way to conceal their energy.
    Panic coiled in my stomach. What if my power was malfunctioning? And right after I’d caught the attention of the most powerful vamp corporation within five hundred miles.
    Worst. Timing. Ever.
    No. They had to be using a concealment charm. Their energy weighed me down like a two-ton anchor. But why? Did they know I could sense them? My wings twitched, ready for flight. It took every ounce of self-control to not spread them in a display of weakness.
    A teenage male wearing a custom suit rose from behind the mahogany desk and moved to stand in front of the behemoth mass of gleaming wood. He leaned back, oozing confidence and casual grace. The boy…no, not a boy at all. He was a vampire. An old one, judging by the way he commanded the attention of everyone in the room. He held his hand out in greeting. “Ms. Rhoswen. I am delighted you were able to accommodate my late invitation.”
    Amused. If I had to choose one word to describe his demeanor, it would be amused. As if I’d been summoned for sheer entertainment in a game of predator versus prey.
    I’d be damned if I was going to let him intimidate me. Boldly, I reached out and clasped his hand. A mind-blowing, icy numbness snaked up my arm. I ground my teeth together and forced myself not to flinch. Not even when he bent and pressed his cold, hard lips to my fingers.
    “What a pleasure it is to meet New Orleans’ most-prized faery,” he said.
    Prized? Since when?
    I gently withdrew my hand from his grip. I was desperate to clutch it to my chest but let it fall helplessly to my side. How long until the frostbite wore off? I tilted my head, considering him. “I’m sorry. I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced.”
    A knowing laugh escaped his wide, angular mouth. “Of course. Pardon my lack of manners.” He held out an arm to a gorgeous blonde, who slid easily into his grasp. “This is Pandora, and those two over there are Carter and Tanner.” The blonde nodded a hello, her attention barely wavering from her man. The other two vampires continued to stare at me, saying nothing.
    “And of course you already know Davidson.” His lips twitched. “I understand you two have history.”
    I raised my eyebrows but said nothing.
    He laughed. “Of course, that isn’t my business.” His tone implied it was very much his business. And just like that, the amusement faded, and his true colors shone in full spectrum: domineering, impatient, dangerous.
    David stepped forward. “Willow, this is my boss and maker, Eadric Allcot.” He gave a slight nod and stepped back.
    “You have nothing to fear, Ms. Rhoswen. You’re an invited guest. No harm will come to you this night,” Allcot drawled.
    This night. What the hell am I doing here? “That’s good, since I’m not really fit for consumption, as you probably already know.”
    The room went silent as my words sank in. It wasn’t exactly a secret I was the creator of Sunshine, a drink I’d created to discourage vampire bites. The potion made faery blood impossibly bitter and unappetizing. Too bad it didn’t work for humans; it might have saved David. Or not, since he’d asked to be turned. Allcot held my gaze. The intensity made my skin crawl and one wing twitched involuntarily.
    His laugh started as a chuckle, then blossomed as his companions joined in. “I knew I’d enjoy our meeting.”
    Tired of the theatrics, I straightened my spine and got right to the point. “Why did you summon me here, Mr. Allcot?”
    His smile disappeared as he narrowed his eyes. “Bored of me already?”
    Shrugging one shoulder, I dug my nails into the velvet settee. “I could say I’m dying to know what