Once Burned

ot Dracula,” I said with a faint smile as I turned around. “Vlad Tepesh, former voivode of Wallachia and the most arrogant, deadly, frightening man I’ve ever met.”
His lips curled with disdainful amusement. “Compliments won’t sway me any more than the word please, Leila.”
“You take those as compliments?” Gretchen was incredulous.
“Of course.” His smile bared his fangs. “She named all of my best qualities.”

“Yes.” Vlad’s voice was pleasant. “Tell him the next time I see him, I’ll rip off his head and make a new toilet out of it.”

Vlad could at least pretend to care that my neck was in danger of becoming a Capri Sun

I got up, walked over to where he sat, and then slapped him across the face as hard as I could. Maximus looked like he was going to have a stroke, but nothing changed in Vlad’s expression except a bright red handprint that quickly faded

It’s too cold for you to be out dressed like that. Go back inside. I’ll join you in a moment.”
“What, after you finish shish-kebobbing Maximus for no good reason?