Free Blood Vengeance (Blood Curse Series Book 7) by Tessa Dawn Page A

grabbed her rolodex and the charger for her laptop, and sank down into the plush leather chair behind her smooth mahogany desk, wondering when she would see it again. And what would her life be like then?
    She blinked away the inner turmoil before her eyes could fill with tears, and then she drew her cell phone out of her purse and hit the pre-programmed button for Brooke.
    The phone rang four times before the beautiful, brunette queen of the house of Jadon answered. “Tiff, is that you?” Brooke sounded positively tormented.
    “It’s me,” Tiffany said, getting the perfunctory greeting out of the way.
    “Oh gods,” Brooke exhaled, not bothering to hide her concern. “It’s so nice to hear your voice.”
    “Yeah, yours, too.”
    There was an awkward pause before the queen finally asked, “So… how’s it going?”
    Tiffany sighed. “How do you think?”
    “That well, huh?”
    “Just peachy,” Tiffany said. “Last night he made me alcoholic beverages, and I had four in a row.”
    Brooke gasped, and Tiffany could almost see her recoil in her mind’s eye. “Ramsey got you drunk?”
    Now this made Tiffany laugh, inside . If Brooke only knew; Tiffany had gotten herself drunk. “Completely blitzed,” she said, “and then he threw me on the floor and ravaged me against my will.” She didn’t know why she said it; it just seemed like a clever way to break the ice.
    Brooke inhaled sharply. “ No ! No? He didn’t .” She took the phone away from her ear. “Napolean!”
    “I’m kidding!” Tiffany rushed the words. “ Just kidding. ” Sort of. Oh hell, that was all she needed : Napolean to confront Ramsey, and Ramsey to confront her. And what was with this run-and-tell-hubby-stuff anyway? What was the king going to do about it? “Sorry,” she whispered.
    “Not funny,” Brooke said wearily. “I’ve been out of my mind with worry.” And then, in the background: “No, sweetie. Everything’s fine. Really. It was just a miscommunication. Yes, I’m sure. Thanks anyway. Love you .”
    Yikes , Tiffany thought. Really dodged a bullet there, especially if Brooke was throwing in ‘I love you,’ just for good measure . “You know better than to even hint that you’re upset about something to that vampire,” Tiffany said, preaching. “You have to stop doing that, Brooke. Seriously. If we’re going to talk, you can’t do that.”
    “If we’re going to talk?” Brooke echoed.
    “ When we talk,” Tiffany reassured her.
    “And you have to stop making up such horrible stories about Ramsey. I mean, I know he’s a bit harsh, but Tiff, that was quite unsettling.”
    Tiffany grew quiet.
    A bit harsh?
    “Tiff?”
    She rubbed her face in her hands and tried to force some fake cheer into her heart. Couldn’t do it.
    “ Tiff? ”
    “I’m here.”
    Brooke sighed. “Oh, Tiff, I’m sorry. You’re right. I shouldn’t have said anything to Napolean just now. I overreacted… especially when I know you so well.”
    “Meaning?”
    “ Meaning, whenever you lead with snarky jokes and inappropriate humor, it means you’re dangling on the edge. You’re not okay, are you?”
    “I can’t go there right now, Brooke. I honestly can’t.” She fought to keep her voice steady, and Brooke waited about two or three seconds before regrouping.
    “Okay… so… where would you like to go, then? You lead, and I’ll follow.”
    Tiffany managed a faint smile, truly appreciating her friend’s words. “Are we okay?” she asked sheepishly.
    “You mean you and me ?” Brooke asked. “Always, in my mind, but you tell me. The last time I saw you, I know you were rattled. We both were. And I know you felt like I should’ve given you my keys, and maybe I should have—I don’t know—but like I said, we were both so rattled.” Brooke took a deep breath, like she was trying to avoid mixing up the order of her words. “And I’m sure you aren’t happy that I told Napolean about your wrist, that you were Ramsey’s