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I don’t know if he realises that he’s doing this, but his hand slides from my shoulder to my back, where he rubs small, comforting circles. As a huge, muscular officer who catches criminals, I can’t imagine he comforts his criminals on a regular basis. Even so, he might not know he’s doing it, but I certainly am, electric-like tingles emitting from everywhere he touches.
“You’re being sent to a halfway house. They will look after you there.”
That quickly douses any heat that was building between us as panic takes its place.
“Aren’t halfway houses for newly released convicts?” My voice is shrill and still slurred slightly thanks to the fangs I can’t seem to retract.
I really should have paid more attention to what Dorine said, as I appear to have missed the part where she told me I was going to a halfway house—with convicts. I’m going to be eaten alive there. Sure, I know that I am technically a criminal now, and that I literally ate someone alive, but even so, I am not built for that life.
His brow shoots up as he witnesses my panic, and despite himself, a smile tugs at his lips. He attempts to control it, the muscles in his cheeks flickering with the effort. “In the human world, yes, but you’re not a human anymore.”
He has a good point.
“This will be a place where they will assess you and help you adjust to your new life. Think of it like a boarding school for new paranormals. They will teach you to control your powers. If you adjust well, they will let you become a day patient, and you’ll be able to return to your flat.”
That does sound better than how I imagined it. My heart sinks at the knowledge that I won’t be returning home anytime soon. When will I get to see Tina? What about my job?
“I really can’t go home?” There’s a quiver in my voice that makes me sound like an injured child. I’m usually stronger than this, but Tina and my flat are the most important things in my life. She’s family, and together we created a safe place and made it a home. When you’re an orphan or foster child, having somewhere that is your own, that is a haven, is next to impossible to find, which is why it’s so important to me.
Wincing, the officer squeezes my shoulder again. Is he wincing because he’s worried I might cry, or is my show of pitifulness causing him physical pain?
“Not yet. I’m sorry.”
Staring up into his dazzling blue eyes, I sense that he genuinely means it. We’re having a moment, the air practically tingling between us, when the most delicious scent fills the air. I just barely manage to hold back a groan and turn to try and find the source of the smell.
“I’m suddenly not so upset about being assigned a baby vampire,” a smooth male voice calls through the room, causing the hair on my arms to stand on end. “You must be Emmy.”
If I thought Officer Hart was gorgeous, then this new male would be described as beautiful. He looks like he just strode off a catwalk, and I’m exceedingly jealous of his hair. Hanging down just below his collar, his golden brown locks are glossy and healthy. With his pretty face and long hair, you might think he would be considered feminine, but his broad shoulders, strong physique, and smooth, angled jaw indicates he is a hundred percent male.
“Zane.” Officer Hart becomes rigid beside me as he faces the newcomer. “What are you doing here?”
He’s clearly not happy with the new male, but is that because he interrupted our moment or because these two have a history? I’d like to believe the first one, but it’s obvious they know each other.
“I’m here to collect the new vamp.” The male, Zane, flashes a smile at me, a hint of fang showing at the same time. I’m pretty sure he did that on purpose, but boy did it make my heart flutter. This one is going to be trouble, I can sense it already. It also answers my question about what he is.
“They sent you?” Hart’s scoff of disbelief suddenly makes me worried about going off with Zane. Why is the officer so surprised about Zane being assigned to me?
“As penance for my sins, I have to mentor a vampire who is sent to the halfway house.” Pressing his hand against his chest, he bows dramatically as he speaks. “Today is that day, and here I am.”
He holds open his arms with a smile that makes me think of the words “ta-da!” Winking at me, he drops his arms, his eyes scanning me hungrily.
“What’s happening here?” I hadn’t meant to speak aloud, but the question is valid. I feel as though I’m having a fever dream, and nothing makes any sense.
The fight seems to drain from Officer Hart, and he faces me once more, rubbing a hand across his face. “Zane is going to be your mentor. He will help you adjust to your new life. He’s taking you to the halfway house.”
Sceptical, I raise a brow. I’m supposed to leave with a stranger who he obviously has a problem with, and Zane clearly has problems following the rules if he’s being forced to look after me as penance. Not to mention I don’t have a clue where this halfway house is, and I’m starting to stress out about the whole situation. I have no clothes or possessions except for what I am wearing right now.
“You don’t seem happy about that. Is there something I should know about him?” I whisper. Should I care what he thinks? After all, I only met him a handful of hours ago when he arrested me, yet something about the officer makes me trust him. Besides, I was always told to respect the police.
“Something you will learn is that vampires have very good hearing, young one.”
Shit. He heard me. Thankfully Zane seems to find it amusing, and when I glance over my shoulder at him, he’s smirking right back at me.
Officer Hart sighs and seems to remember that he needs to act professionally. “We have a history, and he’s spent a lot of time here in my cells, but he will teach you well.” The last part was said more like a threat, and I know it wasn’t aimed at me. “Look, take my number in case you need anything.” Reaching into his pocket, he fishes out a business card and hands it to me.
“What do you think I’m going to do to her?” Zane snorts and then shakes his head. “Scratch that, there are a lot of things we could get up to.” He flashes me a conspiratorial grin that causes my stomach to flip, and his eyes gleam with mischief. “Come on, let’s get you out of here.”
He holds his arm open, and I instinctively walk over to him, my pamphlets crushed in my fist. His arm wraps around my shoulders, and a zing of electricity passes through us. His eyes widen before he looks down at me with a predatory smile. When I glance over my shoulder to look at Officer Hart, I see him frowning.
