AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The driver doesn’t answer, but I honestly didn’t expect them to. They’re one of Lizzie’s minions, a bitten vampire who serves a bloodline vampire. Funny how vampire culture mimics capitalism so thoroughly, but she’s never appreciated it when I point it out. Bunny was really onto something with her rule about staying away from vampires.
“I’m not a liability,” I mutter. “And I don’t need saving.”
“Sure.” She snorts. “Whatever you say, Evelyn.”
I slump back against the seat, my brain sloshing about inside my skull. “I think I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
No, I don’t. I slide over and lay my head on her shoulder. “Fine. I don’t hate you.”
“I know.”
I poke her arm. Just when I’m sure Lizzie has no sense of humor to speak of, she lets little glimpses of it out. I’m nearly certain she’s making fun of me right now, but when I look up at her gorgeous face, there’s only a small smile curving her lips. In the darkness of the back seat, I can almost convince myself that her eyes have warmed a little, too. “I guess I should thank you for saving me from myself. Will orgasms work in payment?”
“Evelyn.” There’s fond exasperation in her tone. “Close your eyes and rest.”
I don’t know if it’s vampire magic or alcohol, but my eyes slide shut despite my best efforts to keep them open. Sleep flickers and flirts, finally sweeping me away into its dark embrace. It’s almost enough to convince myself I feel Lizzie’s fingers stroking soothingly through my hair.
CHAPTER 2
Evelyn
“WAKE UP, EVELYN.”
I lift my head from the pillow and blink at Lizzie. My head pounds in time with my heartbeat and my mouth tastes … well, best not to think too hard about how bad my mouth tastes. “I need a toothbrush.” I look around, recognition rolling over me in waves. I’ve been here only a few times; I recognize the large bed with its absurdly high thread count and nice down comforter. I’m still not even sure if vampires sleep, but Lizzie does nothing halfway. The bedroom is a luxurious dark oasis. Too luxurious for my tastes. Too dark. But I can appreciate it in small doses.
“Why am I in your bed?” I sit up and have to press my lips together to keep from being sick. “Why did you bring me here? You should have just sent me home.” I have a vague memory of her carrying me into the house and tucking me in with her usual capable briskness. It might warm my heart if I didn’t feel so nauseous.
Of course, then she promptly ruins it. “So you could choke on your own vomit and die alone? I don’t think so.” She waves a hand. “It doesn’t matter now. There’s no time. You need to go.” Her expression is cold and her voice remote, not even a hint of the warmth I’ve gotten used to. There’s definitely none of the softness she showed me last night.
Silly to miss something I’m half-sure I imagined in the first place. I shove my hair out of my face and try to focus past the hangover making me want to burrow back into the bed and not move for another few hours. “Why? What’s going on?”
“This thing between us ends. Right now.” She looks away, her skin so pale it’s almost translucent in the moonlight streaming in from the open window. “I just received word that my mother is on her way. She’ll be here soon.”
Suddenly, I’m not worried about my hangover. Lizzie might have a soft spot for me, but her mother has an even more fearsome reputation than she does. If she finds out her daughter has been sleeping with a lowly witch, she’s liable to yank every drop of blood from my body.
Damn it, Bunny was right. I never should have messed with vampires.
I happen to like my blood right where it is, so I jump up. My stomach sloshes in a worrying way, but I don’t have time to be sick right now. I start throwing my clothes on. “How long do I have?”
“Not long.” She sounds almost bored. Like I’ve been a fun toy she’s amused herself with, and now it’s time for that toy to be discarded.
No reason for that to sting. I knew what this was when I let her seduce me in that club all those months ago. Silly me for getting sentimental. But last night felt … different. Or maybe that was the tequila making me silly and sentimental. Lizzie brought me back here because I was making a fool of myself—not because she actually cares.
If she cared, she wouldn’t be standing idly by while my death approaches.
Gods, but I’m a fool. I actually started to fall for her. I yank on my boots and tie them quickly. “If you’d just let me go home, this wouldn’t be an issue.”
“Just another mistake in a long line of them.”
Well, fuck, that definitely stings. I drag in a breath, trying to think past all the emotions swirling with leftover tequila in my system. I can focus on my bruised heart later. If I don’t get away, Lizzie’s mother might rip it right out of my chest. “You have to get me out.” Lizzie has the same powers as her mother—as the rest of her family. She can protect me long enough for me to run for my life.
“I don’t have time. I have to meet her when she arrives.” She drags off her clothes from last night—from earlier tonight?—and sets about dressing in a clean outfit. Fool that I am, I can’t stop myself from mourning each inch of skin covered by her plain button-up dress. I’ve never had a lover quite as physically perfect as Lizzie, and what she can do with blood heightens every sexual encounter we’ve had.
And she … took care of me last night? Even though I know better, I can’t help thinking about that soft moment in the car. I didn’t imagine it. I swear I didn’t. I hesitate, my heart pounding. Maybe I was wrong about this being nothing. Maybe … “Come with me,” I blurt.
Lizzie lifts a brow. “Evelyn.”
