ght Veil wasn't on any tourist maps. Nestled between a tattoo parlor and an antique bookshop on a narrow side street in the French Quarter, its neon sign flickered only on certain nights, visib

reason the curse affects him more severely than other vampires." Lucas took a sip of his drink, watching me over the rim of his glass. "Such as what happened to the last witch who tried to help him." A chill ran down my spine. "And you know all this how?" "I serve on the vampire council. It's my job to know the prince's business." Something flashed across Lucas's face, a brief conflict that vanished so quickly I might have imagined it. "Lucien is... complicated. His motivations aren't always what they seem." "Says the vampire who mysteriously appears right when we're talking about him," I pointed out. Lucas smiled thinly. "Fair point. I'm not claiming altruism. The stability of the vampire community affects my interests too." Zoe placed another shot in front of me. "Lucas might be a pain in the ass with questionable timing, but he's generally not wrong about vampire politics." She cast him a look I couldn't quite interpret. "Unfortunately." "Look," Lucas said, his voice softening, "I'm not telling you to stay away from Lucien. That would be hypocritical, considering...." He stopped abruptly, glancing at Zoe, who became suddenly fascinated with wiping down the already-clean bar. "I'm just suggesting caution. The prince has survived centuries by being several steps ahead of everyone else." Before I could respond, the hairs on my neck stood up, a warning from my witch's senses. I turned toward the door where three vampires had entered, their auras dark and hungry in a way that made my skin crawl. Their eyes scanned the room before landing on me with predatory focus. "Friends of yours?" I asked Lucas quietly. His jaw tightened. "Hardly. Rogues who've been causing trouble lately." He set down his glass. "I should have a word with them." "No need," Zoe said, nodding toward the back. "They're leaving." Sure enough, the trio was retreating through the door they'd just entered, their expressions shifting from hunger to something like fear. I caught a glimpse of what had spooked them, a tall figure in the shadows outside, just visible through the window. Lucien. "Well," Lucas said dryly, "it seems the prince is keeping a close eye on his investments." I bristled at the implication. "I'm not his investment." "We're all someone's investment in this city," Lucas replied, standing. "The question is whether the return is worth the cost." He laid a bill on the bar that was far too large for a single drink. "Think about what I said, Isadora. And Zoe...." His expression softened fractionally. "Take care." After he left, Zoe and I sat in silence for a moment. "There's something you're not telling me about you and Lucas," I said finally. She shrugged, but I caught the tension in her shoulders. "Ancient history. Like, literally ancient, we're talking Prohibition era." She topped off my drink. "The more important question is what you're going to do about your vampire prince and his curse." "He's not my vampire prince," I protested automatically. "Honey, he just scared off three rogues without even entering the bar. He's either stalking you or protecting you, and with vampires, it's usually both." Zoe squeezed my hand. "Just promise me you'll be careful. I can't rescue you from a vampire stronghold, my voice doesn't work on them like it does on humans." I promised, though we both knew my version of "careful" often involved walking right into the danger I should be avoiding. An hour later, I said goodnight to Zoe and headed out through the back exit that led to a quieter street. The night air was thick with humidity, carrying the scents of jasmine and aged stone that made the Quarter feel timeless. I sensed them before I saw them, the same three vampires from the bar, waiting in the alley ahead. Without Lucien's shadowy presence to deter them, they'd grown bold again. "Lost, little witch?" the tallest one called, his New Orleans drawl at odds with the predatory gleam in his eyes. "French Quarter can be dangerous after dark." I summoned my magic, feeling it rise like electricity in my fingertips. "I know my way around. And I'm not in the mood for company." They laughed, spreading out to block my path. "We insist," said another, this one with a scar cutting through his eyebrow. "Our employer is very interested in meeting a Thorne witch." So this wasn't random. Someone had sent them specifically for me. "Your employer should work on his recruitment techniques," I said, backing up slowly. The protection amulet at my throat grew warm, activating in response to the threat, but it wouldn't hold off three vampires for long. "Now, gentlemen," c