I blinked and Draven was gone, whooshing air was the only sign of his passing. I could see him out the window, in the exact place the other vampire had been, sniffing the area, but then I blinked again and he was gone.
Vampires werefast!
Zian nudged me, and I came to my feet.
Henry and Tylen were both checking on Reece. She looked embarrassed at all the attention.
Tylen crossed to me. “I’m sorry this happened while you were on my island. Let me get this cleaned up and we can talk.”
I nodded, still dumbstruck from the fight.
My cell rang. “Hello?”
“You okay?”
I spluttered. “I think you have the wrong number.”
“Hilarious, Mia. I was swimming with Zian in the Leto pool and he suddenly ditched me and took off. And he was movingfast. I was worried.”
I could hear it in his voice. It made warmth blossom in my chest. I felt loved. “Call me back with video chat.”
He signed off and called me back, and I showed him the room of bodies.
When I flipped the phone back around to my face, Rhys’ face was pale, and afraid. “That vampire isn’t giving up, is he?”
“It doesn’t look like it. He must have tracked us here. Thankfully, Tylen has a ton of guards as well, and everyone helped fight them off.”
Rhys nodded, his swirly purple eyes looking thoughtful. “Did Zian get there in time?”
“Just barely. He shattered the window and came in like a spy in a spy movie, except way cooler!” I was a little enthused about this. Zian was a rockstar in my eyes.
Rhys laughed. “Only you, Starshine. Only you. Well, I’ll let you get to it. Come by the club tonight?”
“Do I get in free?”
“Nope. Not tonight. Penance for terrifying me.”
“Aww, come on! I’m the best friend! You’re supposed to let me in for free! I have to put up with your overly affectionate butt all the time!”
Rhys roared with laughter and signed off.
I growled and shoved my phone back into my back pocket. Reece was looking over at me with interest. “Elves!” I hissed to her. “Honestly, they think they’re the world’s gift to humanity.”
She smiled. “That’s because they’re treated that way by most. Elves are revered in our world.”
I patted her arm. “You’re sweet, Reece, but you have so much to learn about elves. There’s absolutelynothingto revere about them. They’re royal pains! They steal your hot water, kiss you when you’d rather kiss a skunk, and generally bug and annoy you until you want to run away to the circus.”
Reece moved closer. “Do youlikeRhys?” she whispered.
“No!” I protested. “Eww, he’s like my brother!”
She laughed. “Well, that makes sense then. And yes, elves are very affectionate. It’s fortunate they are, because they can also be a little proud.”
“Yeah, that’s not Rhys. He’s got no pride at all.”
Reece laughed, then sobered as Tylen came back. Still no sign of my employer.
Tylen grabbed one of Reece’s hands, and Henri glowered at him. They were too busy staring at each other to notice. I pulled Henri to the side by his suit-coat sleeve, and whispered, “I think she’s all good here, Henri. We should leave them be.”
