1 Chapter 2

“I thought you said you preferred when Cap was a vampire in Forever Avengers,” Connor said, moving around me toward Alec, which had felt like certain doom a moment ago, but I didn’t get the impression he needed my protection anymore. “Which is seriously cliché, dude. Branch out beyond your species, why doncha?”

“Well. At least someone’s paying attention,” Alec said with an appraising look at Connor, the same way he’d appraised my bedroom. “And I am branching out. Why do you think I want to finish the werewolf story? As my young protégé said, I’m Alec. And you are…?” He held out a hand, and when they shook, I marveled at how Alec’s skin was whiter than Connor’s.

“Connor,” he introduced himself. “I’m this sorry excuse for a vampire’s best friend.”

“Ah. I take it William didn’t get to give any lessons on discretion, then.”

“He didn’t get to any lessons period, way I heard it.”