Gary wrinkled his forehead in thought. “You know, they have several chapters. In Europe, mostly around the Transylvania area. Romania. Places like that. These guys were Southerners—Florida maybe. I think Florida. In any case, they were much more scientific about everything. They wanted each of us there to provide them with any factual information on anyone who might be a vampire. People we knew who were always pale, who only went out at night. Those who were extremely intelligent, who seemed to be mesmerizing, who were always secretive about their lives and activities.”
“Did any names come up?” Gregori asked.
“A few, but none of them really seemed like the real thing. None of us knew anyone remotely resembling what they were describing. We were making jokes and naming friends until we realized they were serious.”
The waiter arrived, and Gary hastily scanned the menu while Savannah and Gregori ordered. Gary found himself ravenously hungry. When he would have ordered everything in sight, it occurred to him that Savannah and Gregori probably wouldn’t mind sharing their food. Looking up, he caught Savannah grinning at him, that impish, starry-eyed smile that was making him feel a part of a family unit. Like he belonged with them. He was no longer an outcast, poked fun at by those around him.
She reached out to him, hesitated, then dropped her hand into her lap. “You catch on fast,” she praised him.
He felt the flood of acceptance from both of them. It was interesting that he could tell it was from both. Gregori reached over, took Savannah’s palm, and pressed a kiss into the exact center. Je regrette, mon amour, but it seems I cannot overcome certain failings.
There is no need for you to apologize, lifemate. We both are learning to live in the other’s world. I don’t find it necessary to touch others to be happy.
Gregori brought her hand to the warmth of his mouth a second time, the molten silver of his eyes caressing her intimately.
Gary cleared his throat. “Enough of that stuff.”
A brief smiled softened the edges of Gregori’s mouth. “What else did these men have to say?”
“I thought you could read my mind,” Gary ventured.
Gregori nodded. “That is so, but if I were to examine your memories, I would know them all. Out of courtesy, respect for you, I do not. All of us have things we would prefer to keep to ourselves, painful or embarrassing moments we need not share.”
“Even between the two of you?” Gary was beginning to really like the Carpathian. He also realized that whatever it was the couple shared was unique.
“It is different with lifemates,” Savannah answered him. “We are two halves of the same whole. What one feels, so does the other. There can be only truth between us.”
“The men from Florida.” Gregori brought them back to the discussion at hand. Keeping up a wavering haze between Savannah and the rest of the patrons in the restaurant was energy-draining for her, but every time he went to take it over, she resisted. He could see that her pride was at stake. For some silly reason, she wanted to prove to him she was a capable Carpathian. He would only put up with the nonsense so long. Her care came first. Savannah tossed him a murderous look and withdrew her hand just as the waiter arrived with their dinners.
Gary waited for him to leave before he continued in a low voice. “Two of the men told us to look for certain types. Someone whose family traced their eastern European ancestry back hundreds and hundreds of years, often with an estate that has been in the same family just as long. That kind of thing. They threw out a couple of names and occupations. One was some singer with a huge following who only appears in public at night and won’t sign a contract with a recording studio. They say her voice is mesmerizing, haunting. They said if you hear her sing, you can never forget the experience. They seemed very interested in her.”
“This woman could be in danger. Who is she?”
Gregori shook his head at Savannah’s question. No Carpathian woman would ever be allowed to run around unprotected by the males of their race. It had to be a human target whose eccentric ways had caught the eye of the society.