Bennett exhaled a long, audible breath. “There was a slight problem.”

“Yes, I saw it from across the room. That ex of yours latched onto your curator, and you apparently had to come to her rescue.”

“I would have done the same for you.”

“No, you wouldn’t have,” Ruby said, turning to Bennett. “Because both Desiree and Eliza directed several cutting comments toward me, but you didn’t have them escorted out until Lisa became their target.”

“I didn’t have them escorted out,” Bennett said, glaring at Ruby. “That was Max’s decision because Desiree broke a few rules, and my kind lives by rules. We protect our own. We protect our guardians, and anyone who can’t abide by those rules isn’t welcome in our homes.”

“And I suppose if I didn’t follow your request, or rather your command, I’d be sent packing, too?”

Bennett drew back her head. “I’m not following.”

“Look, I get that we’re only fuck buddies, and you’re the great and powerful vampire, but that does not give you the right to tell me what to do. You practically ordered me to join Gus and Cathleen like you owned me or something,” Ruby said, yanking off her necklace. “Well, you can stick this where the sun doesn’t shine because I don’t belong to you. And since it’s now abundantly clear your kind does whatever they want anyway, this little trinket offers me about as much protection as an empty gun, and you left me in a fucking room filled with your kind!”

Ruby threw the necklace at Bennett and turned to head down the stairs, only to be stopped by Bennett’s grip on her arm. “Wait. Please.”

“Why?” Ruby said, yanking her arm away.

“Because you’re right, and I was wrong. I shouldn’t have left you alone, and I shouldn’t have demanded you do what I asked,” Bennett said softly. “I have a history with Desiree and Eliza, and I know what they’re capable of. Nothing is below them, and since Des was locked on Lisa, I thought you’d be okay until I returned. I was just…I was just trying to keep everyone safe. That’s all.”

“But I thought the necklace was supposed to keep me safe. Or was that only a ruse, so I’d feel less anxious being surrounded by dozens of vampires?”

“It wasn’t a ruse, Ruby,” Bennett said, inching closer. “Max’s people are good people. You’re completely safe with them. Desiree and Eliza…those two are different. Their covens are different, their rules are different, their…their mindsets are different.”

“How so?”

“I think you saw an example of that earlier. Vampires like Desiree and Eliza are nothing more than ruffians. They like creating a ruckus because intimidation gets them off. They love to push buttons because if the response calls for it, they can attack.”