Free White Lies: (The Uruwashi Series #4) by Christina Moore

So, whatever this was all about, it wasn’t him—for a change. How… refreshing.
    “If you just want to dance, I’ve got to tell ya, my card is a little full, pal.”
    Wren’s face was disturbingly stoic as he took a swing at him, but there was a world of thoughts behind his brown eyes. No, brown and blue, the one behind the Phantom mask was blue. The vampire gave Tristan one last jab for good measure, this one a little more serious as it grazed Tristan’s arm and nicked the back of his hand.
    He hissed but refused to look at the cut. It didn’t feel deep, just a light warning. “All right,” Tristan said carefully and gave Simon a little shove to stay back when the fae tried to move around him. “You have my full attention.”
    Wren lifted his chin. “Do I?”
    “Wren! Wren!” The troll was hollering again.
    The vampire visibly tensed, his face showing only the slightest shift into annoyance. Ash could take lessons from the dude, he was so dry. Then again, Tristan hadn’t really seen much of stoic Ash since she’d come out woman. Since she started being herself.
    “You repulsive, vulgar insult to the senses,” Wren mumbled and then raised his voice. “I have told you on numerous occasions, Oogui, not to address me. I am not your Master nor your friend.”
    “But, Wreeeeen,” Oogui whined in that deep, manly timber.
    “Enough!” Wren shouted, and yet, strangely, his expression never changed with his raised, angry voice.
    Desmond had moved up behind the troll and let out a growl. Oogui gave a surprised cry when Desmond sprung, landing on Oougi’s back, clinging to him like a monkey. The troll cried out in anger and spun so hard it sent Desmond flying. He landed, only to jump to his feet immediately.
    Wren moved, making Tristan flinch and turn to face him again, focus only on him. “Disgusting beast, really. She seems to have taken a liking to me and calls me Master.” His brow knitted. “I’d never keep such revolting company.”
    A sudden shout from the temple steps drew the group’s attention. “Uruwashi!”
    It was one of the kitsune, bleeding and panting in her human skin. Tristan cringed when he saw the surprised look on Wren’s face, the look of recognition at the careless shouted word. Simon, feeling nervous, grabbed ahold of Tristan’s sleeve. Dammit, did she have to call him that?
    “That one is the vampire in the news! He is the one who drinks and drowns the humans!”
    Tristan felt himself go cold. That was the reason why Desmond had showed up in Greece. Tristan couldn’t read the article himself, but Mamoru had given him the cliff notes. A string of human deaths had been ruled as murder since not only were they obviously drowned despite no presence of a water source, but they were also drained of blood. It had the signature of vampire all over it. He hadn’t heard a thing about the case since they arrived back in Japan and frankly, had forgotten about it.
    But, no matter his Master’s House, this vampire was only a vanilla. He had no water-based powers. He wouldn’t be able to drown the victims. Not unless there were two of them…
    “Uruwashi?” Wren said looking startled. “They died out circa 950.”
    That’s right, they died out during the Heian period. Interesting enough, that was right about the time Yuki was made a vampire. Was it a coincidence that the Uruwashi were all murdered around that same time? He wondered some nights.
    Tristan ground his teeth. “Hey kid,” he said in a low voice to Simon. “You need to find someplace else to tremble.”
    Simon shoved Tristan. “I’m not trembling and I’m not a kid. I’m older than you!”
    He made a face, attention still fixed on Wren watching the show quietly, a tiny smile on his lips. “That might be true, but you still have to get the fuck out of my way.”
    “Fuck you!” he shouted. Surprised, Tristan tore his gaze from Wren and looked down to Simon. He was positively fuming, cheeks brightened with soft blush