Gavin, as if in response to Matthew’s thought, got himself a sharp glance when he lifted a palm to his forehead and closed his eyes. Matthew could only shrug, albeit mentally. What was he supposed to do? Try and fight the vampire? Refuse? Make a scene?
Matthew attempted to rekindle their previous, unfortunately one-sided conversation. “My mother says that a name can make the man. Mine is Matthew.” He craned to look behind him as Dali secured his right arm to the rungs of the chair with the shirt-rope. “Did you know that? My name, I mean? It’s Matthew. Matthew Dietrich. The first name means ‘gift of God’ and the surname means ‘powerful people.’ Or ‘strong race.’ Something like that. I’m not, in either case—strong or a gift from God. Although I imagine to my parents I felt like one. They ne
