Two vampire guards flanked the massive redwood double doors, their black leather coats glistening in the dim hallway light. Their gazes were sharp, unyielding, and each was as still as a statue. Beside them stood Henry, the cantankerous old butler, guiding a small group of humans toward the entrance—two young women and a young man, all with downcast eyes and subdued postures. Their anxious expressions made it clear they weren’t there by choice.
A wave of instinctive protectiveness surged through me. There was no way I’d let them step inside and reach Jason. Without hesitation, I slid between the group and the door, reaching for the bronze knocker to lean on it in what I hoped was a firm yet casual pose.
“How’s everyone doing tonight?” I asked with a grin, feigning an easygoing charm.
Th
