Page 93
Chapter 24
“Annabel told him.”
Laria made this announcement as she burst into Alessandra’s bedroom, where she and Charlotte were putting the finishing touches on their costumes. Alessandra had insisted they get ready together so they could catch up on everything from the week.
“When?” Alessandra turned from the mirror, her black cape swishing around her feet. Charlotte couldn’t wait to see what Kenton thought of her friend’s choice of costume.
Laria’s eyes widened as she whistled. “Whoa! You ladies look great.”
“Did you tell Kenton?” Alessandra asked.
“I did. But I don’t want to bother my brother with this now—”
“So what exactly happened?” Charlotte smacked her lips together.
Alessandra sat on the edge of her bed as Laria launched into the story.
“I’ve been tailing him—”
“We know,” Alessandra said. “I’ve seen less of you than Charlotte this week.”
“Well, this afternoon, he finally asked his grandmother about the journal. I have to say, I’m a bit surprised he listened to Tyler instead of Torr.”
“What did she say?” Alessandra interrupted.
“That the journal contains information passed down from generation to generation about a bloodline of people from Scotland with special abilities called the Cheld. She never used the word ‘vampire,’ but she said they were the only defense against ‘the immortals.’”
“This is really bad.” Alessandra stood and began to pace the room.
“It’s not good,” Laria agreed. “But she’s kept the information to herself so far. Besides, from the way Zach reacted, he’s less than convinced. If their family was entrusted with the knowledge of vampires, it seems like much of the details have gotten lost in translation.”
“Think about it.” Alessandra stopped in the middle of the floor. “What would people say if either of them went public with their story without proof?”
“They’d think they’re crazy,” Charlotte offered.
“Exactly. And after weeks of digging, we haven’t been able to come up with anything solid to prove what happened here back in the 1800s.”
“Of course, Zach will likely tell Tyler.” Charlotte put her lipstick into her small black purse.
“Who will hopefully think the grandmother is as batshit crazy as Zach,” Alessandra concluded.
“Does this mean you’re off Walsh duty?” she asked Laria.
Laria fluffed out her blue and white checkered shirt. “This Dorothy is very much off duty. She plans to forget all about the Walsh family for the night. What about you, Charlotte?” she said, looking her up and down. “I’m guessing you have a plan?”
Remembering that Laria was, in fact, Torr’s sister, Charlotte felt a surge of nerves. She took a deep breath before answering. “The plan is to stay dry. Hopefully, it’ll stop raining. And be warm enough that I don’t freeze to death—”
“So you can snag a certain wayward vampire?” Alessandra asked.
She didn’t know if Torr would change his mind, ever, but she’d realized something over the past few days. She didn’t want to live without him.
She loved him. Fiercely. “Yes . . . if he’ll still have me.”
Laria let out what could only be described as a squeal and charged toward her, throwing her arms around her shoulders. “You are going to make the most splendid sister-in-law.”
Laughing, she disentangled herself. “I haven’t actually spoken to him yet, so any talk of weddings is a bit premature.”
“Just you wait,” Laria said, sounding quite certain. “I know my brother.”
