Page 51 of Fang Fatale

Patiently.

Waiting for it to wear itself out.

Vlad polishes a glass while studying me in the mirror.

"So..."

He smiles.

"What's eating you?

"Or perhaps..."

His smile widens.

"...whom?"

I give him my usual deflecting smirk.

"I took the job because it was supposed to be easy."

I swirl what's left in the tiny glass.

"I figured I'd have delivered the girl by now, collected my fee, and moved on."

Instead...

I sigh.

"She's not like the others."

Not a lie.

Just not the whole truth.

"She's built herself this..."

I search for the word.

"...habitat."

Vlad raises an eyebrow.

"The plants. The wards. The spells."

I finish my drink.

"Even the damn dog announces my arrival."

Vlad laughs.

Not politely.

The full-bodied kind that says he's picturing me being chased out of the woods by a particularly determined housecat.

"Alaric Grimhaven."

He shakes his head.