“Yeah, yeah. Very funny.”
“It totally isn’t. How would you like to be plagued with panic attacks and feel like you’re about to keel over and die?” She thought about what she’d said and snickered. “Sorry.”
Chad shrugged.“Forget it, man. See how easy that is? I don’t get all strung out over little things.”
“Goody for you…and stop calling me, ‘man’”.
“Sorry. I have a hard time giving up the vernacular from my time. I miss it. You never hear anyone say ‘groovy’ anymore.”
“Thank goodness.”
“Look, I was trying to help you see there’s nothing to be afraid of, but if all you’re going to do is insult me, I might as well leave.”
Morgaine sighed. “I appreciate the thought, but it isn’t working. There’s a powerful vampire out there who’s gunning for Sly.” She grabbed three pairs of lacy underwear out of her drawer and threw them into the suitcase, forcefully. “I finally find someone I lo… I mean, like—a lot, and who likes me—”
“Ah! I caught that. You were going to say love, weren’t you?”
Morgaine slapped her hands over her face. Heat invaded her cheeks, but it was too late. Chad wouldn’t miss her blush, and she knew it.
He chuckled.“Look, ordinarily, I’d start razzing you right about now, but I’m really not that much of an ass. You’re a good kid, and I just hope you don’t get your heart broken.”
“Jeez, first you call me a man, now a kid. I’m neither one. Do you think you could just call me Morgaine?”
“You’re all kids to me. Hell, I’m even older than Sly. At fifty-six, he’s just a baby vampire. Who knows how old ghosts get? So, what does this other vampire want from him?”
She plopped down onto her bed. “I’m not sure, but it isn’t good. He’s obsessed. I’ve sensed his presence around our building almost every night.”
“Bummer. So how are you two going to get past him?”
“We haven’t figured that out yet.”
“Shit. Sounds like you need my help.”
“Your help?”
“Well, of course. Who else can distract him without getting themselves killed?”
Morgaine sat up straight and hope flooded into her again. “Do you think you could?”
“I can try. Maybe if I use my telekinesis to throw rocks at him, he’ll be too busy trying to figure out what’s happening to focus on you two slipping out the back.”
“That might actually work. We’ll have to disguise our scents though.”
“Easy. Just soak yourselves in cheap wine. You’ll smell like a drunk couple who scored a bottle of Mad Dog 20-20.”
She had no idea what Mad Dog 20-20 was, but if it helped cover their scents long enough to escape Vorigan Malvant, she’d bathe in it.
Stretched out on their sectional sofa with her head in Jason’s lap, Merry was readingWhat to Expect When You’re Expectingand Jason was reading a biography of Sandy Koufax. Merry had some questions her book wouldn’t be able to answer.
“Honey?”
“Mmm?” Jason answered absently.
“When will we know if our baby inherited your shapeshifter genes?”
Jason placed his bookmark between the open pages and set his book down. “Well, I imagine we’ll have to wait until sometime after he or she is born.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know that, silly. I mean, are there any signs we should be watching for?”
