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Notif.When. But despite my mind barking orders, my legs just wouldn’t obey.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Erin frown at me.
The alarms clanging in my ears were deafening, but I couldn’t move. Hell, I could scarcely think.
Angelina’s obsidian eyes bounced over the guests, then rose.
Erin!I wanted to scream.Run away. Hide.
Erin went stiff as Angelina’s eyes roved over, then past her. Luckily, she had the presence of mind not to glance in my direction and give me away.
But it was only a question of time. Angelina was a vampire, and once a vampire had tasted your blood, they could always hunt you down.
Always,her greedy eyes promised as they flitted toward the door I clutched.
Move! Hide! Step back!Erin’s voice sounded in my mind.
So maybe she didn’t hate me. Not enough to see me get sucked dry by a vampire, at least.
The thought wasn’t comforting, especially since it could be my last.
Then something metal clattered downstairs — loud enough for every guest to whip around and gasp. Another crash followed the first.
The sound wasn’t what distracted Angelina, though. It was a smell that made her spin around.
A smell that only reached me a moment later. Fresh blood.
“Oh no! I’m so sorry,” someone downstairs cried. “All the spare ribs…”
Angelina’s eyes practically glowed, totally focused there.
“Oh God. I hope I don’t lose my job…” that samesomeonefretted.
Still, I stood dumbly, practically begging Angelina to find me.
It was only Erin’s voice booming through my mind that finally shoved me into action.
Get back! Now!
With a lurch, I broke away and rushed to the balcony. It was time to exit this mansion the way I’d entered. Pronto. But, yikes. What the hell had just happened?
Angelina happened,my dragon sighed.Some klutz from catering saved your ass.
A catering klutz who looked strangely familiar, I decided, catching a glimpse of her through the ground-floor windows before I took off into the night. On foot, like a common criminal, because there was no way Harlon — or worse, Angelina — would miss the burst of energy that accompanied a shift.
…and you heard Erin’s thoughts,my dragon finished.
Unexpected, for sure. But it did confirm my hunch about her being a relic — or more. We not-quite-humans could communicate without speaking if we tried hard enough. Especially in extreme or urgent situations.
I sprinted away from the house, replaying it all in my mind.
A few steps later, I nearly stumbled, placing the caterer.
Whatshername,my dragon murmured in shock.Erin’s sister.
Pippa, I remembered.
I ran, keeping to the shadows. All this time, I’d been thinking Erin didn’t know much. But maybe she knew more than she let on.
