Page 174 of Death is Familiar

Guess, I knew which one of us held more sway.

Once Todd and I were alone, I asked, “You okay?”

He looked tired. So very very tired as he signed, “Fucking. Strobe lights.”

†

Todd was eager to get out of sight and away from the fang ceremony, I could feel the itch to move beneath his skin like it was my own. Fortunately, he also knew his body well enough to understand it would take some time before being steady enough to get to his feet.

When he was ready, we eased him upright.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said before I wrapped one of his arms over my shoulder and started walking us around the mansion towards his car.

“I’m not made of sugar, Todd. You didn’t treat me as fragile before, don’t start now.”

“You never had to lift me before.” There was a pause as he collected the strength to say, “I’m heavy.”

“Yeah, well…” More of his weight settled on my shoulders. Holy hell, he was heavy and it didn’t help that we were still soaking wet. “What do you eat? Rocks?”

He snorted.

“Oh my god,” I tried to hold in a giggle, “was that a snort?”

“No.” He snorted again.

“Come on you, big lug,” my chuckling wasn’t making the task any easier, “let’s get you out of here.”

Todd’s energy was fading fast, and I realized just how much he’d been supporting his own weight as he relied on me more and more to keep us going. I wasn’t going to let us down. But I was going to allow us to rest before we face-planted on the ground.

We made it as far as the front lawn, before I sat him down on a stone retaining wall. Sure, the grass was safer, since it was kind of hard to fall off the ground, but if I lowered Todd to the grass there was a good chance I wouldn’t be able to get him back up again.

Hands on my hips, I caught my breath, taking the time to observe the mansion. Music still thudded from inside, interspersed every now and then with applause. The ceremony was underway, and all eyes would be on Lenore, Fawzy, and Carmen.

While Todd and I were otherwise occupied, I felt confident my meddling had evened the odds enough, that Fawzy wasn’t in insurmountable danger.

Even if, for whatever reason, the remaining suspect didn’t attempt to take Fawzy, I had a feeling Jezebel’s ongoing snooping, coupled with the odd behavior and text message history from the apothecary staff, were going to yield results.

I just needed to get Todd somewhere safe, comfortable, and into warm clothes first.

I rolled my shoulders, bracing myself to take Todd’s weight again. “Okay, I’m ready, let’s⁠—”

“Oof!”

Out of nowhere, Todd pitched forward, collapsing onto his hands and knees, a dark blur flying over the retaining wall, crashing on top of him.

“Todd!”

His already exhausted limbs giving out, I reached for him as a hand gripped my throat pulling me flush against a thick mass of man.

“Shut up. Come quietly, and this doesn’t go into your neck.” Something smooth and flat like plastic pressed against my jugular.

A woman dressed entirely in black straddled Todd’s back, pinning him in place—a woman I notably did not see in the surveillance footage. I’d missed one. There were five apothecary staff today.

Writhing and bucking, I pulled at the man’s arms, while Todd fought against the fatigue riddling his mind and body to dislodge the woman on top of him.

“Is he bitten too?” the man growled from over my shoulder.

“Can’t tell, it’s too dark, and his neck is covered in tattoos,” the woman replied, working to fold Todd’s uncooperative arms behind his back.