Ruby’s back straightened as she zeroed in on the two dried splotches on the side of her tan, brushed suede ankle boots. She kept her expression blank until she came up with an excuse. “Well, shit,” she said, flicking her finger against the spots. “That must have…um…that must have happened last night. I was making meat loaf, and the ground beef probably dripped when I was transferring it from the package to the bowl.” Ruby re-crossed her legs. “And I really like these shoes, too.”

“Guess you’ll be shopping for more than a phone tomorrow then—huh?”

“Yeah,” Ruby said, her mind drifting back to Wednesday night. “I guess so.”

***

Amidst the rumpled satin sheets lie three bodies. All were female. All were naked, and all were sated. It had been three hours of non-stop sex, three hours of tasting blood and nectar, and three hours Bennett needed more than she realized.

It was rare Bennett let herself enjoy being what she was, reveling in the aftermath of feeding so freely, but surrounded by the walls of Max’s home, protected and unjudged by all, she had done just that. And Bennett felt bloody marvelous.

A standing offer she had seldom used, Bennett had shown up at Max’s house precisely at five, and after being greeted by her host, she chose two very willing participants and disappeared up the stairs. Their blood was delicious, and their bodies delightful, and now Bennett was ready to face the rest of her evening. After placing a light kiss atop the heads of her sleeping companions, Bennett showered and dressed, thanked Max for his hospitality, and then had Gus return her to Back Bay.

Until almost midnight, Bennett stealthily walked the streets and alleys. Thanks to her earlier evening activities, her hearing was now sharper than a bat’s, and her eyesight equal to that of an eagle’s. A drug dealer had already donated his money to a charity of Bennett’s choice, and a man abusing his wife would think twice before he ever abused her again.

Bennett had forgotten what it was like to be this honed, to be this keen to her surroundings, to the air, to the temperature, to the noise…to the heartbeats of others. Bennett smiled as she approached the park. She wasn’t yet the legend she once was. That would take something else. That would take a life, and Bennett didn’t need to end a life in order to take those belonging to Napoleon’s underlings. They weren’t worthy of that type of sacrifice…even though it wasn’t really a sacrifice. It was a blessing.

***