The silence hang over the room. There was no breathing, no heartbeat, except for mine. I could feel it, fast and hard, in my chest. The subtlest tremors that ran through my body. I wondered if Avarice could feel them too, somehow, hear them with her vampire hearing, smell my anxiety with her vampire smelling… Damn, I had to ask JJ if vampires had vampire smelling.
I couldn't read her thoughts from Avarice's face—it was an impassable mask. I could only wait, and wait, and wait until I saw her move. Oh so slowly she lifted a hand to shake mine. Her palm was cool and dry, making mine feel even sweatier in comparison, and I felt relieved when Avarice didn't make the handshake any longer than a single touch.
"Agreed," Avarice said. "Now we must negotiate the details."
