the dark. Being able to survive sunlight meant he’d have more opportunity to find the key to breaking Voz’s hold on Adele’s soul. It didn’t mean that his afterlife would be all light and cheery.
Ronan pointed upstairs. “Can’t you get rid of her?”
“I assume you are referring to Sierra?”
Ronan nodded. “You’re in charge here—”
“No,” Nick corrected him. “The council is in charge. I’m not even the most senior member of the council. Pat Heller is. He’s been here in Vamptown the longest.”
“Were there vampires here when I lived here as a human?”
“Probably. You’d have to ask Pat. You could have asked him when he gave you the tattoo. Why didn’t you?” Nick said.
Ronan just shrugged and absently rubbed the back of his neck and the inked fleur-de-lis there. Instead of answering, he changed the subject. “Did Damon tell you that Sierra can’t be compelled?”
Even though it was pitch-dark, Ronan could see Nick nod.
“She’s not the only one. Daniella can’t be compelled either.”
“So human women can’t be compelled here in Vamptown?” Ronan was incredulous. “How does that work?”
“It wouldn’t work. Daniella is a hybrid,” Nick reminded him. “She’s part druid.”
“Then that’s what Sierra must be.”
“She’s not. We already checked her.”
“How?”
“You already know we have surveillance cameras all over Vamptown and in the buildings as well.”
“Right.”
“For some reason, we can’t get them to work well in this particular house. But we used the image we got of her entering the house and put it through our computers’ specialized heat sensor test,” Nick said. “If she had any druid or vampire blood, it would have shown up in those results. She’s human.”
“She’s not a normal human. I’m sure of it. Maybe she’s a witch or something. Do your computers show that?”
“No. But your neighbors are witches and they would know if she’s a witch. Damon checked with them the moment he discovered Sierra couldn’t be compelled. And she’s not a witch. But now that I think about it…”
“Yes. Now that you think about it?”
“Perhaps she can be slightly compelled. It’s not completely logical that she’d agree to let you stay here until her lawyer can be reached. I mean, what did you say your claim was to owning the house?”
Ronan tried to think back. Having a good memory was critical to a vampire but the fact that he’d been around for nearly a hundred years meant there was a lot of stuff in his head. Just as a vampire’s senses of hearing, smell, and touch were heightened, so too was his ability to remember. Which was more a curse than a blessing at times.
“No, I didn’t tell her why. I could hardly say that my family owned this house before World War One. Damon told her that the paperwork she has only applies to the house not the land but I didn’t go into details about my claim to the place.”
“So why did she agree to let you stay even if only temporarily? I doubt it was because of your charm.”
“It would be easier if she’d just leave.”
“We’re still trying to figure this out. She’s only been here a few hours. We’ll get to the bottom of it soon. Until then, just try to get along.”
“Getting along is not a vampire thing.”
“I am well aware of that,” Nick said. “I’m also aware that you haven’t told us everything about your vampire past.”
“And I never will,” Ronan said.
“Then tell me the parts that might affect us here in Vamptown.”
“There is nothing. I already told you that when you approved of my staying. You checked me out.”
“I know that you were an indentured vampire turned by Baron Voz. Vamptown has already survived a rival vampire attack followed by a demon infestation. We don’t need a Master Vampire coming down on us.”
“I put in my time,” Ronan said. “I’m no longer indentured. Check it out with Voz if you don’t believe me.”
“I