First meeting…
Pengle’s enhanced olfactory sense could smell the warm, iron tang of blood on Poe’s injured skin, and he felt entitled. Most vampires were insulted by having to sup on cold refrigerated blood.
He was one of them. He especially resented the privileged few who imbibed warm blood through straw attachments each night. Like many, Pengle believed in the thrill and excitement of the hunt. It was an innate right of the undead and shouldn’t have been banned by the Council and irritating vampires like Kaleb Sainvire.
"You," Pengle bellowed, too angry to do anything but make a fist with his remaining hand. "You greedy-"
"Think what you want, Pengle, but she’s leaving unharmed." He turned and faced Poe. The girl still reeled from pulling the trigger on herself. Even in the dimly illuminated street, she was startled by the silver-gray intensity of the notorious vampire’s dark-rimmed eyes. Only the white line running vertically from the top of Sainvire’s upper lip to his nostrils interrupted her perusal.
Before Poe could make sense of what was going on, Sainvire spoke. His voice was purposely low so no undead could overhear. "The moped is behind a garbage truck. Second alleyway to your right."
Poe stared mutely at him or rather his cleft scar. She felt like she ought to belt him one but was distracted by his nice manners. The vampire’s mouth twitched in amusement. "Plenty of time to stare later, Poe. You’ve got to get out of here."
Her face immediately warmed. Without turning back, Poe ran, ignoring the wound in her thigh and the shards still embedded in her skin that burrowed deeper with every movement.
