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“It’s a living. Most of the jobs here in the pack are labor.” She wrinkled her nose. “Not exactly my style.”
I laughed. “That’s so true. You’re a lounge baby.”
“Duh, you’ve seen my room.”
“I’ve slept in it now too.”
She beamed. “Aren’t the sheets amazing? I just want it to be an oasis for sleep.”
“Honestly, yeah.” I grinned playfully. “However, the soundtrack could use a change.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Honey, you snore.”
She sat up sharply. “No, I don’t.”
“Yes, you do. You snore like a trucker going a hundo down the highway.”
“You’re a menace. You should definitely sleep at Dad’s with that attitude.” She winked. “Then you’ll have to deal with his snoring.”
I tapped my nails against the tumbler. “That’s probably why I shouldn’t go on this trip.”
“Are you saying you wouldn’t adore a snore-filled adventure with your dad’s best friend?”
I’m saying I might enjoy it too much, I thought. Heat flushed my cheeks as I watched Eric tip his head back and wipe the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. So much muscle glistening under the sun made me want to—
Kiara snapped her fingers in front of my face. “I can see you’re not thrilled about this.”
I shook my head. “It’s not that. It’s just—” I blinked a few times before turning to Kiara. “I don’t know your dad very well. I used to know him, but not anymore.”
“He’s not exactly the social type.”
“Is there a reason for that?”
She sullenly observed her laptop and then slowly shut it. After setting it aside, she sat with her legs crossed under her knees. “My bio donor broke his heart. He’s been chasing after this ghost of her, trying to find something to give him peace…I think.”I reached for her hand, providing a comfort I knew was sacred to us both.
She squeezed my hand. “What about you?”
“Me?” She laughed. “I was too young to remember her. She left when I was like three years old.”
“I’m sorry, Kiara. You mentioned her a few times, but I don’t remember all the details.”
She smiled gently. “I don’t expect you to remember those things when you have your own life. And shit, you lost your mother earlier than me. That’s way more painful.”
I clasped her hand firmly. “Honey, this ain’t the pain Olympics. We might have different stories about our mothers, but that doesn’t make either one more painful than the other.”
Her smile wavered slightly, touched by what appeared to be relieved tears. “Yeah, I think you’re right.”
“I know Eric doesn’t like vampires. Maybe I should be the one to deliver the necklace.”
“No, your father wants you both to do it.” She swept her hand under each eye to wipe her tears, then sniffled and smiled wide. “I think it means a lot for Dad to do it, even if he doesn’t understand the instructions.”
“I don’t get them either.”
She tapped her thumb against my knuckles. “Did your father ever mention this vampire before?”
“No, he rarely talked about his past. I know about Ander from my studies of vampire clans. I had to be equipped with that knowledge because we had such a wide customer base. But…”
