I put my hand in my pocket.

“Which you are not,” she murmured.

“Of course I am.”

“You have not been available since you were twelve.”

She sighed as I tried to stuff the band down out of sight, then she veered past a table where the lone occupant was watching her two friends at the bar. The women had left assorted flotsam and jetsam behind, including what looked like a collar for a pursedog.

Cassandra snagged the band, and brought it over. It turned out to be a leather bracelet studded with spikes. She lifted my wrist and snapped it over the hottie bracelet.

“Oh, that’s so much better,” I said.

“Biker bitch or hottie hoochie, it’s your choice.”

I left the bracelet on.

I texted the number Aaron had given us for Eloise. At the end of the bar, a tiny girl with platinum hair bobbed out from behind a throng of suitors. She waved frantically. The guys gave us a onceover, and seconded the waving.

“Absolutely not,” Cassandra said.

“Agreed.”

I motioned for Eloise to join us and went in search of a table. As we cut through the throng, a balding guy in a suit lurched over to Cassandra.

“Hey, doll, can I buy you a drink?”

She brushed past him. “Do you see what I mean? I’m the catch-ofthe-day for temporarily single men of a certain age.”

“Hey, at least someone thinks you’re hot. Even without the wristband.”

I walked to a single guy taking up a whole table, forlornly searching the crowd for someone to share it with. When he saw me coming, he straightened and popped a breath mint.

“Hey,” I said, smiling as I crouched beside his table. “My friend over there really wants to meet you, but she’s shy. Do you think you could go and say hi?”

He scanned the packed bar. “Where?”

“Over there, behind those people. Brunette. Short skirt. Stiletto heels. Just wander over. She’ll notice you.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

“No problem.”

He vacated the table. I slid onto a chair.

“Cruel,” Cassandra said as she took a seat.

“No, a creative manipulation of human gullibility and desperation. I thought you’d approve.”

“Never said I didn’t.”

Eloise finally made it to us.

“Sorry to drag you away from the guys,” I said. “We didn’t think this would make a good public conversation.”

“Don’t worry, I gave out a few phone numbers.” She giggled. “One of them is even mine. I figured we’d need to talk in private, but thought maybe you girls would like to have a little fun first. A couple of them were really checking you out. Did you want a drink? We’ve all got our wristbands, right?” She flashed hers, then looked at our wrists. Her dark eyes widened. “Oh, my God. I’m so sorry. That’s wrong. Just wrong.” She leaned over and whispered, “Barry’s on the door today and he can be very picky.”

“So we noticed,” Cassandra murmured.

“I’m Eloise, as I’m sure Aaron mentioned.” Another giggle. “Is he as hot as I’ve heard? Because I’ve heard he’s really hot, and he sounded hot.”

“I’m Savannah,” I said. “As I’m sure Aaron mentioned as well.”

“He said who was coming, but the music was real loud and I couldn’t hear. Savannah, you said?”

“Savannah Levine.”

She nodded, but gave no reaction, like she’d never heard of me before.

“And this is Cassandra,” I said. “Cassandra DuCharme.”

Eloise’s mouth opened and closed, like a fish out of water, her eyes huge. “Did you say—Cassandra? Like the”—she lowered her voice—“head vampire Cassandra DuCharme?”

“She prefers Queen Vampire,” I said.

“Oh, my God!” Eloise squealed. “Cassandra DuCharme!” She pumped Cass’s hand. “It is such an honor. I thought it was cool getting to talk to Aaron, but this is amazing. Best. Day. Ever.”

Okay, now when a supernatural knows who Cassandra is and doesn’t know who I am, we have a problem. Not that I care whether anyone recognizes my name, considering it’s because of my infamous parents if they do. The problem is that while most supernaturals would leave the city to avoid contact with a vampire, there are . . . others.

“I met Josie a couple of years ago,” Eloise said. “She is such a hoot. We went out drinking. Well, my kind of drinking, I mean, not hers, though I wouldn’t have had a problem with that.”

“Good,” I said. “That’s a very open attitude. So, about Anita—”

“And when I was in Toronto last year, I tried to meet Zoe Takano. Everyone said she hangs out at this bar. Miller’s. Only she wasn’t there and they wouldn’t help me find her, and I think I had the wrong place, because it was so grungy.”

“No, that’s Miller’s.”

“She must have just been away, then. I really wanted to meet her. Is it true that she”—she lowered her voice again—“likes girls? That’s what I heard. And she’s really cute. She’s Japanese, right? I think Japanese girls are so pretty. I don’t, you know, swing that way. But for a vampire?” She grinned. “I’d totally make an exception.”

Cassandra inched back. My phone vibrated. I checked discreetly and saw that I had a message—from Cassandra. How badly do we need to speak to this woman?

I texted back, Wondering the same thing.

“So, Eloise,” I said. “About—”

“Do you think I might get to meet Aaron?” she said. “I was hoping he’d come out himself. Of course I’m completely thrilled to have you, Ms. DuCharme, but if both of you could have been here, I would have died. I have this thing for vampires.”

“Really?” Cassandra murmured.

“Me and some friends—supernatural friends, of course—we love vamps. I’ve met more than anyone else. The next thing on my list is to, you know . . . party with one.” She waggled her eyebrows suggestively. “That would be so hot. Do you think there’s any chance I could meet Aaron? Maybe later?”

“No,” Cassandra said.

I leaned forward. “Between us, I’d strike vamp-screwing off your list. Ain’t gonna happen. It can’t. You know that, right?”