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She arches her brows and murmurs, “Oh, well, people do age so well these days,” her gaze is still fixed on Edmond. “In my day, if you made it to thirty-one with all your teeth, it was considered a huge victory.”
“You certainly have teeth,” Edmond mutters darkly, though he seems calmer now that he’s seen I’m not bleeding.
Priscilla’s musical laugh tinkles through the air. “I’m lucky I was turned at only sixteen.” She shifts her gaze my way, fluttering her baby blues. “Talk about a baby.” She pats her cheeks. “Didn’t even have the chance to lose my baby fat before a dashing vampire swept me away in the most passionate blood kiss.” Her bow tie lips tip down at the edges. “But you wouldn’t know about that, would you, dear?” She turns back to Edmond, propping her lacy hands on the stiff fabric of her full pink skirt. “Why haven’t you been feeding on her during sex, Edmond? Don’t you want her climaxes to be as delicious as possible?” She wags a finger his way, “I didn’t teach you to be selfish in bed, young man.”
“Priscilla, please,” Edmond says, motioning toward the carnival games set up not ten feet behind us. “There are children present. Not to mention my fiancée. This conversation is inappropriate.”
She glances over her shoulder. “Oh. But I thought humans were sex positive these days.” She winks at me. “I’m sure Cassandra doesn’t mind me speaking frankly. We’re all adults here and orgasms are important. Aren’t they, darling? I mean, his cock is lovely, but paired with the fangs…” She brings her gloved fingers to her lips. “Chef’s kiss.”
I tip my head to one side, torn between the urge to laugh and to kick this little beast in the shins.
But though in that pink, bow-covered gown and matching hat, she might look like a cross between a plantation-era Southern Belle and a possessed china doll, the memory of Edmond’s lesson in the library is too fresh for me to underestimate the danger she poses to me and my family. She could literally make me do anything—even stake Edmond in the heart if she decided that would be amusing. The charm he gave me will hopefully keep her from killing me, but other horrors are still on the table. With a gift like hers and zero humanity left in her ancient soul, she may be the most dangerous being I’ve ever met.
But for some reason, I can’t keep from laughing, a deep belly laugh that seems to take everyone by surprise. Edmond’s eyes widen and for the first time, Priscilla’s mask slips. I catch a flash of unadulterated hatred burning in her eyes, but it only makes me laugh harder.
It’s actually kind of a relief, to see that she’s as horrible as I feared, and that laughter makes her angry.
But I have to rein it in before I really piss her off.
“Sorry.” I suck in a breath and swipe at my tearing eyes. “You’re just so funny.” I motion to Edmond. “Why didn’t you tell me she’s as funny as she is gorgeous?”
He circles Priscilla, coming to stand by my side. “Clearly an oversight.” He takes my hand before glancing back at his maker. “I hope you’ll forgive me, Priscilla.”
“Of course,” she says, tinkling again, her laughter making Edmond’s hand tighten around mine. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must circulate. There are so many new faces since the last time I was here. It’s delightful, really. How quickly we’re growing. Don’t you think so, Edmond?”
“Delightful,” he echoes.
“Yes,” she says, her lips curving in a “cat who tortured the mouse for hours before finally granting it the sweet release of death” smile. “It will more than make up for any unexpected losses we might suffer in the coming years.” After that final bomb has been dropped directly on Edmond, she wiggles her fingers. “Ta-ta for now, young lovers, but I’ll find you again. Don’t you worry your pretty heads about that.”
She sashays away, tailed by two massive men in black suits and dark glasses I hadn’t noticed until they swooped in to follow her across the lawn.
I shake my head and exhale. “Is it just me or did those guys come out of nowhere?”
“That’s their gift. Invisibility at will,” Edmond says grimly. “And why she hired them as protection. Her enemies don’t see them coming until it’s too late.”
I swallow and force another smile. “Well, that’s terrifying.”
He touches a gentle hand to the small of my back. “If you need a moment to collect yourself, I can watch Amy.”
I shake my head, keeping my grin firmly in place. “Nope. I’m not going to let her ruin this night.” I lean into his chest, tipping my face up to his as I add in a softer voice, “Or any other night. Want to go do the cake walk? Amy insisted we wait for you. She thinks flying monkeys are lucky and wants to ride on your back.”
He exhales and his lips curve in a real smile. “There’s nothing I’d rather do. Aside from watch Priscilla sail away into the sunrise as soon as possible.”
“She will. Keep the faith,” I say, and then I kiss him, sweet and deep, promising with every brush of my lips against his that I’m not going to let him go without a fight.
And that fight starts…right now.
Chapter Fourteen
CASEY
The party is a raging success, a gem of a night with perfect autumn weather, the smell of fecund leaves cozy in the nose, and laughter and yummy treats in abundance.
Amy wins the cherry cake she had her heart set on and Edmond happily totes the massive thing around with us all night so she can show it off to her friends. She fills her trick-or-treat bag with candy, plays Go Fish at least a dozen more times, and runs wild in the bouncy house with four older girls, who are sweetly careful not to bounce on their little friend.
They’re also dressed as witches and agree to let Amy join their pretend coven, dubbing her “Amy the Stabby Head, Witch of the Horned Wood,” and insisting she join them for dancing around the bonfire.
My heart swells as I watch my little girl having the time of her life, finding her people in a way that wouldn’t be possible for her in the outside world. At least not without being very careful to keep her head covered at all times. Now that her horns have come in, she won’t be safe with humans until she learns to use her demon-born mind-control powers to convince people they aren’t seeing something that’s right in front of their faces.
