First Drop of Crimson
Chapter Twenty-one

After a nice long shower, Denise came down the stairs. On the first floor, several people she'd never seen before scurried around, preparing things for whatever event Spade had scheduled tonight, she guessed. Now Spade could consider it her going-away party, because she intended to be on the first plane tomorrow, headed to wherever Bones and Cat were. All she needed was the number where to reach them, but for that, she needed Spade, and this Mediterranean house was as big as it was beautiful.
"Have you seen Spade?" she asked one of the people who passed by.
"Who?" the young man asked, balancing an overflowing tray and giving Denise a look that said it was heavy.
"Never mind," she murmured. With Spade's hearing, if she really wanted to find him, she could just yell out his name. Even amid all the commotion and the rest of the people talking, he'd hear her. Still, that seemed rude in the extreme, so she settled for looking through the first floor of the house. It was gorgeous, with marble throughout, huge windows overlooking a harbor in the distance, crystal chandeliers throwing elegant sparkles in the light, high ceilings, and archways leading to more fabulously decorated rooms.
But for all its beauty, there was no tall and dark vampire amid the pale, tasteful decor. Denise didn't want to bother anyone else by asking for him, so she went outside. If the car they'd arrived in was there, she'd know Spade was still here, somewhere.
There were several cars in the long driveway. Delivery vehicles, it looked like. The cynic in Denise was shaking her head at all the food and spirits being carted in. This was a vampire party, after all. They ate from arteries, not hors d'oeuvre trays.
After a quick search of the grounds that revealed only exotic flowers, plants, and a few really nice statuettes, Denise went back inside. The activity seemed to have kicked up in the last twenty minutes, judging from the increased bustle of people.
"Denise!"
She turned in relief at Spade's voice, but that faded when she saw him. He strode toward her, brows drawn together, handsome face wearing a thunderous expression.
"Why would you wander off without telling me?" he almost snapped.
She bristled. "Since I'm not a child, I don't consider walking around outside as 'wandering off.' And I was looking for you, by the way."
The tightness left his face. "Didn't mean to bark at you. Just got worried when no one seemed to know where you were. Come on, you need to get ready. There's not much time."
He took her arm, gently propelling her back up the stairs. Denise didn't reply until they were back in her room, even though with all the noise in the house now, she doubted anyone would hear her except Spade.
"I told you before; there's no need for you to have this party. If it's too late to call it off, I understand, but I don't even need to come downstairs. You can just eat, drink, and be merry without me. We don't need to worry about looking for Nathanial anymore."
Spade rolled his eyes. Actually rolled them. "If you think I'd let you martyr yourself on my behalf, then you don't know me. And you should know me enough by now to at least know that."
"Oh, but I'm the type of person who should let you get killed, or at best, kill a bunch of people for me?" she flared. "Things changed. Neither of us knew what Nathanial was involved in when this started. Even when we found out, I didn't fully understand all the implications behind it, but I get it now, and I said it's over."
He stared at her as if contemplating whether she meant it. Denise didn't blink. She wasn't making a fake offer just to assuage her conscience later. She would not let another man she cared about die because of her.
"You're right, it is too late to cancel this evening," he finally said. "And it would look odd if I didn't greet my guests with my lover at my side, since I invited them to meet us both specifically. You don't know vampire etiquette, but that would be considered quite rude. Might even cause issues for me later."
Her bullshit alert was going off, but Spade's expression was bland, offering her nothing. Maybe a no-show tonight from Spade's supposed girlfriend would ruffle feathers.
The knowledge that after tomorrow, she'd never see Spade again was like a kick to the gut. Despite her best intentions, she'd gotten in way over her head emotionally with Spade. Why oh why was Spade the only man to inspire feelings in her she thought had died with Randy?
"All right," Denise said at last. "One more act, if it'll help."
He smiled, something glinting in his gaze. "Oh, it will indeed."
Spade stood in the alcove on the first floor, concealed by shadows, watching Denise as she came down the stairs. Ravishing, he thought, taking in the dark lavender gown hugging her upper arms while leaving her shoulders bare, the deep decollete, fitted waist, and full skirt swaying with her steps. It was late eighteenth century, modernized with a zipper instead of multiple tiny buttons, and made of the finest Italian silk. With the diamond and amethyst necklace, matching earrings, amethyst-studded clips securing her hair, and the long, white gloves that came to Denise's elbows, she looked like a queen.
He stepped out of the shadows when she reached the bottom, taking her gloved hand and kissing it. "You're incredibly beautiful."
She flushed. "Thank you." Then she laughed. "I'm getting a flashback of that scene in Titanic with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet at the grand staircase, but considering the ending, I guess that's not a good omen."
Spade drew his mouth away from her hand, but didn't let it go. "Not to worry. The only icebergs here are tiny ones served in glasses."
Her eyes roved over him in obvious enjoyment of his matching eighteenth-century attire, but then skidded away when he caught her gaze. An invisible wall seemed to be erected around her even though he still held her hand.
"So, what's the agenda for tonight?" she asked in a businesslike manner, squaring her shoulders.
Take stock of Web. See who his associates are. Have you naked in my arms before sunrise. "Just appear madly enamored of me, and that should suffice."
She smiled almost bleakly as she tucked her hand in his arm. "Will do."
Spade wondered at her abrupt switch in mood. Was she still cross with him for snapping at her earlier when he couldn't find her? Or was she glum because she believed she was destined to be chained forever to her brands? That must be it, he decided, giving her a sideways look. Soon enough she'd realize he had no intention of resigning her to such a fate.
"We'll greet our guests as they arrive, and then it will be the usual drinking, dancing, and socializing you'd expect from any party. Even though I don't expect unpleasantries, try not to be without me or Alten near you."
As if summoned, Alten appeared, wearing a modern version of a tuxedo and a white mask around his eyes.
Denise let out a small laugh. "What's with the mask?"
Spade pulled out a lavender and crystal creation with combs to anchor in her hair. "This is a masquerade ball, didn't I tell you?"
"No, you didn't," she said, taking the mask and turning it over in her hands. "The whole outfit is so pretty. Who am I supposed to be?"
"Marie Antoinette. And I'm King Louis XVI."
She gave him a pensive look. "They were both executed."
Spade leaned down, brushing his mouth near her ear. "I have no intention of letting history repeat itself with us, darling."
And he didn't. Denise would not suffer the same fate Giselda had by an untimely death. He'd keep her safe. This time, he wouldn't fail.
Denise took a step back, putting more distance between them, her smile a little forced as she focused on Alten.
"And who are you supposed to be?"
Alten grinned, bowing deeply to Denise. "Casanova, of course."
Denise tried to remember names by matching them with their masks, but she quickly realized that with so many people, she'd never get them all straight. For an impromptu ball, Spade had sure managed to fill a room. Or several rooms, to be more accurate.
The only person aside from Spade and Alten that Denise knew she wouldn't forget was Web. He'd almost glided into the house, a tall man with a jet and crystal mask covering tawny hair and a face that was handsome, from what Denise could see of it. His costume was also black, with crystals tastefully accent ing the edges of his sleeves, shoulders, coat, and pants. After Spade made introductions and she'd accepted his compliment on her dress, she asked him about his costume.
"A cosmic black hole," Web explained, his mouth lifting in a smile that was polite and challenging at the same time.
Something deadly and unstoppable; of course Web had chosen that to meet his potential new vampire neighbor. She supposed coming as the largest cock of the keep would have been too obvious a statement.
"How fascinating," Denise said. She even sounded sincere.
The woman with Web, whom Denise pegged as a vampire simply because no one could breathe in a dress that tight, didn't look pleased when Web announced that he hoped Denise saved him a dance. Spade had laughed and said he'd try to let her away from him long enough, but underneath the smoothness of his voice, he didn't sound pleased about it, either.
As the evening wore on, Denise kept reminding herself not to focus on Web and who was with him, and not to keep searching for Nathanial's face under every partial mask of every male in the room. What was the point? She'd made her decision to quit looking for Nathanial. And then tomorrow she was leaving, never to see Spade again unless he happened to drop in on Cat and Bones while she was also around. That thought actually bothered her more than being branded for the rest of her life. Despite knowing better, she'd let herself fall for him. It took the eve of her departure for her to truly realize how much he'd come to mean to her. How could she fake being a happy couple when her already-battered heart felt like it was breaking again?
Tonight couldn't end soon enough.
At least the food was delicious. Plus there was so much of it, even Denise was stuffed after her second helping. The party was spread out over the entire ground floor and the second floor, where the ballroom was. After seeing several vampires stop by one of the parlor rooms upstairs, then come out with notably pinker complexions, Denise realized Spade offered a different sort of buffet up there. She wondered if he had special humans lined up as snacks, or if there was just a plasma version of the champagne fountain that flowed downstairs. She decided not to find out.
Alten sat next to Denise, since for the past hour, Spade had been sweeping around the room exchanging pleasantries with Monaco's undead elite. She knew it was useless torture, but she kept looking for him among the crowd, his dark head so easy to spot since he was taller than almost everyone in the room. Spade looked stunning in his vintage formal wear, a complicated knot like a silk waterfall at his neck, resplendent embroidered navy coat, matching pants, waist sword, and knee-high boots.
Wow had been her first thought on seeing him dressed that way, followed immediately by Don't drool. Even now, watching him, Denise couldn't help but lick her lips.
"Denise."
She blinked, returning her attention to Alten. "Sorry, what?"
His mouth quirked when he followed her gaze to Spade. "I asked if you were enjoying your filet mignon."
"Oh yes. Delicious," she replied automatically, and took another bite.
"Good. Enjoy it while you still can."
That turned Denise's attention fully to him. Had Spade told Alten that she was leaving tomorrow? "Why do you say that?"
He shrugged. "Food doesn't taste the same after you turn into a vampire."
Denise almost choked on her steak. Alten instantly began clapping her on the back, but she waved him off, swallowing her bite and then taking a hefty sip of champagne.
"Why would you think I'd do that?" she managed, voice still a little hoarse from the steak nearly lodging in her throat.
Even with the white mask covering half of Alten's face, she could see his expression was dumbfounded.
"Because you're with Spade," he replied, his tone signifying that this should have been obvious to her.
"So?" Denise said, and then remembered that no, she wasn't really with Spade, which made the whole topic moot.
Before Alten could reply, Spade swept up to their table, his mouth set in a tight line.
"Have better care next time," Spade said sharply to Alten before bending down to encircle her from behind. "All right, darling?" he murmured, kissing the back of her neck.
It's only an act, Denise reminded herself. "I'm fine - and it's not his fault I didn't chew my food before swallowing."
Spade exchanged a glance with Alten that she couldn't read. Then he rose, holding out his hand.
"Come, dance with me."
With her fragile emotional state over him, Denise didn't want to, but considering their charade, it would look odd if she refused. She nodded, letting him draw her to her feet.