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Flipping back the covers and sliding off the bed, I pad over to the bathroom door and push it open. The space is completely empty. Exhaling on a sigh, I head inside and close the door behind me. After using the toilet, washing my hands and face, and brushing my teeth, I head back out into the bedroom in search of my phone.
After digging through my bag, I find it completely dead and groan. I pull my charging cord from the bag and plug the device in. Setting it on the nightstand, I let it charge while I dig through my suitcase for something to wear. Picking out a pretty green sundress and a strapless bra, I get dressed while my phone starts to chime again and again. I close my eyes for a moment and breathe deep.
I already know who’s been blowing up my phone while it was dead. Steph.
I sent her a text from the airport and told her I was headed to the West Coast for an impromptu vacation with Jesse. I hated lying to her, but there’s no way I could’ve told her the truth. Whether she knows it or not, she is a witch, and that means those closest to her––other than me––are witches, too. If I tell her the vampire king is on his deathbed, and she tells the wrong person…
No. I couldn’t take the chance that the witches would use Franklin Belloy’s illness as an opportunity to finally take control of the vampires. And I made that decision before I even knew the illness was caused by a witch’s spell. I’m even more relieved I went with my gut and decided to keep it to myself.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I pick up my phone and open my text thread with Steph to read the messages she’s sent.
Steph: Did you land yet? Text me a picture of the Pacific.
Steph: Oh, and Beverly Hills. I need to see if it’s as gorgeous as it looks on T.V.
Steph: E? You okay? I haven’t heard from you…
Steph: You’re probably just busy with that hunky vampire, but please, take a second to text me. This is how half the true crime shows I watch start out.
Steph: Eden Mallory Walsh.
Steph: If you’re not dead, I’m going to kill you.
I quickly tap out a response to apologize for the radio silence and let her know I’m okay. Within seconds, my phone rings with a video call, and I smile as I tap the screen to accept it.
“Needed to see for yourself that I’m alive?” I ask with a smirk.
“Anyone could send a text from your phone to try to make me think it’s you. I needed to see for myself that you’re safe and hear whatever reasons you have for not checking in. I’m listening. Make them good.”
“I’m sorry, Steph,” I say sincerely. “With all the excitement, I forgot to charge my phone, so I didn’t get any of your texts until just now. I wasn’t ignoring you on purpose.”
“I guess I forgive you,” she says slowly, studying my face on the screen. “Hey, are you okay? Like, for real?”
“Yeah,” I say, nodding. “Of course.”
“Are you sure? You seem a little…off.”
She knows me too well, and is far too intuitive for her own good. Pasting on a smile and hoping it looks natural, I unplug my phone, stand, and spin slowly so Steph can see Jesse’s room in the background.
“I’m in a beautiful place with my hot vampire boyfriend,” I say, my smile widening. “I’m having the time of my life.”
She nods thoughtfully. “You’re probably just exhausted from all the sex.”
“I mean…you’re not wrong,” I say with a grin.
The bedroom door swings open, startling me, then Jesse appears, pushing in a rolling cart topped with silver domes.
“Listen, Steph, I have to go.”
“Oh, is he back? Turn the phone around. Let me see him.”
I look at Jesse with questioning eyes, and he nods. I guess now that he’s back here with me in tow, the secrecy surrounding his identity and whereabouts is moot. Besides, there’s no way Steph will know who he is just from seeing his face.
Nodding at Steph, I tap the icon to flip the camera to the rear-facing lens and point it at Jesse as he approaches. His lips curl up into a sexy smile, then he stops and gives a little wave.
“Steph. So nice to finally meet you. Well, sort of,” he says, and I can see Steph visibly shiver at the sound of his deep voice.
I tap the icon again to flip the camera back to me, and Steph mouths, “Wow.”
