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“Yeah, me too. But, uh, how does this have anything to do with Scott thinking Lucas got arrested?”
“Because he really did,” I say. “We went to talk to Scott, to tell him if he has an issue with me then take it up with me alone. He must have hit a silent alarm or something, and the cops showed up, blah, blah, blah, and Lucas didn’t resist arrest and instead went peacefully.”
“Was this after I saw you?”
“No, before.”
“But…when…how?” she stammers.
I bite my lip and look out the window at the front yard. Frost covers the lawn, glimmering in the light cast down by the lamp posts along the cobblestone path. I know what her reaction will be if I told her Lucifer flew in and saved the day, and I know I’m going to find it unfair to him. He’s helped me many times now, not including how he saved Abby’s life.
“I had some family help me.”
“Oh, you mean your dad’s side.”
“Yes,” I say, and it’s not a lie. “Everyone’s memory got altered except Scott. There’s no record of Lucas getting arrested. No body cam footage to go over. It’s like it never happened.”
“Wow. Well, that was a much more complicated response than I was expecting.”
“And that is what you should expect from me,” I say with a snort of laughter.
“You’re right. Everything is good, other than that?”
“Yeah, it is. And we’ve watched the ultrasound video at least a dozen times today. Thank you so much, Abby.”
“Of course, Cal. I’m glad I was able to get you in. I better go back downstairs or everyone will wonder what’s taking me so long. I said I had to go to the bathroom.”
“They’ll just assume you’re pooping.”
“Exactly. I better go. Love ya.”
“Love ya, too.” I end the call and take one last look at the yard, feeling compelled to stay by the window for some reason. My intuition has never failed me, and I see him as soon as I feel him. He moves impossibly fast, stopping just a foot before the line of protection that’s drawn around the house. It’s dark, and he’s just silhouette in the night, but I know what he is.
A vampire.Chapter 25Fuck.
“Ruby,” I call, hurrying through the house.
“Yeah?” she calls back.
“There’s a vampire in my yard.”
“You don’t know who he is?”
“No,” I say, jogging into the kitchen. “I fucking knew getting Lucas out of the house was a trap.”
She closes the book and stands, eyes wide. “You think that’s why the VC held a meeting?”
“Maybe? I don’t know. I suppose they’d have no way of knowing if I’d go with or leave the house or something.” I go through the kitchen and grab my boots and coat from the mudroom.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to see what that asshole wants.”
“No, you’re not,” Ruby says, shaking her head, sending her braids flying behind her back. The beads softly clank together as she looks at me sternly. “You are not going out there to confront that vampire. Not alone at least.”
“I knew you couldn’t resist.” I smile. “And I was going to stand on the porch.”
“The doorway. Play it safe. They can’t hold us spellbound, but who knows what else they have planned? If you really think this could be some sort of elaborate set-up, we need to be careful.”
“Oh, I know.” I pat my leg and make a kissing sound, calling both Binx and Scarlet. “Stay out of sight and only come when I call you, okay, girl? Keeping you a secret helps keep me a secret.”
By the way Ruby is looking at me, I know I’m speaking Enochian, even though the words come out in English in my head. Talk about weird, right? Scarlet moves to the side of the grand staircase, out of sight from anyone at the door but ready to spring into action if need be. I keep her collar on, keeping her in dog form. Even Lucas can’t really pinpoint what she is when her collar is on, and I’d rather not alert anyone that I have a hellhound unless I need her to rip something to shreds.
But I have Binx, and he’s just as fierce.
“Ready?” Ruby mouths when we get to the door. I give her a nod and use magic to open the double doors. The vampire is standing directly in front of us, unable to cross my warding.
“Impressive,” he says, holding up his hand. “This is much stronger than I expected.”
“I never disappoint.” I move to the threshold of the door, and Binx sits at my feet, growling. “Who are you, and what do you want?”
“I’m sorry for the intrusion,” the vampire says. “My name is Eamon, and I’d like to talk to you, Mrs. King.”
“About what?” I ask, taking in a steadying breath. I’m not going to let this undead asshole know he’s unnerving me. Binx jumps from the house to the porch, letting me know he can’t sense anything other than the vampire at the end of my cobblestone path. Regretting that I didn’t grab my coat, I step onto the porch and move to the top step. The vampire’s face is still cast in shadow, but now I can see that he’s tall, with dark blond hair that’s swept back from his face. I can sense that he’s old all the way from up here. Older than Lucas? I’m not sure. Physically, he looks like he’d be in his late thirties or early forties and is rather good-looking, which I take it he knows.
