Page 66 of Vampire Visions

“Answer, but don’t say anything. We’ll mute this side of the call.”

Doing as I said, Jack answered my phone. Frenzied laughter filtered through the calls before a male voice spoke, holding the same nearly English accent that Vaughn had. “Open the letter, Little King, unless you’re not where you think you are. Are you in the black SUV with your mates or are you at home, waiting for their safe return? Tell me, would a car accident kill you or would losing your demons hurt worse?”

I snatched York’s phone up, texting Jack quicker than the letters could appear on the screen.

York: “Take the next exit. Dump the phone and the Nav. ABORT, JACK.”

Jack: “Will do. Stay on the phone.”

“Little King,” the male sang. “Why aren’t you talking to me? Why aren’t you reading the letter I left you? Are you not in either place? Do you still feel safe without your demons by your side?”

Jack: “Taking exit. Leaving your phone and Nav as soon as we stop.”

“What are you doing, Little King? Trying to run? I have something you want, and you haven’t looked for me yet. The car is stopping. Will I get to play with you or them? Maybe all three of you?”

We were silent through the entirety of his ramblings even though he couldn’t hear us. My heart was racing, teeth grinding, hands clammy, as I waited for Jack and Grim to say they were safe. The call between Jack and York failed, and for a moment, I feared the worst. I stood at the island, breathing slow and shallow with my hands planted on the surface and my head hung.

“That was fucking scary.” Jack announced from behind me.

“Mehhh,” Grim mumbled, tilting his hand side to side. “Dude sounded insane.”

I laughed so I wouldn’t cry out of sheer relief. They knew it, too. There was only so much I could take, and I’d thought I had reached my fucking breaking point several times over the last week. I needed some good in my life, but first… I had to open that letter.

We heard the front door ease open, and we were immediately on edge. I hated feeling paranoid, but that’s what we were all dealing with. If an intruder had just entered my house, I was about to lose my shit. I could feel my demon pushing against my skin, protective and full of rage. Now was not the time to fuck with me and mine.

Thankfully, it was Franklin. Agitated yet worried, he stopped inside the kitchen doorway, licking his lips as he tucked twin daggers into holsters at his sides. “I saw the light had been turned on, and I came bearing the gift of death for anyone lucky enough to be where they shouldn’t.” He bowed his head curtly. “You’re home earlier than expected, Madam.”

“I appreciate that, Franklin. I’m sorry I didn’t call to let you know, but I don’t have my phone anymore, and I’m pretty sure the Nav has been trashed. Could you report it stolen and order me another phone, please?”

He nodded, narrowing his eyes at the letter on the counter. “Certainly. Anything else while I’m here?”

I sighed, and York took over. “Do you know where we might find some spells to strengthen the protections around the property?”

Franklin chewed his lower lip as he thought. “I’ll make some phone calls. I know a few mages who specialize in wards. Do you have a budget in mind, Madam?”

“Whatever you see fit. I trust your judgment, Franklin.” Rubbing at my forehead, I made a hasty decision. “Let them know that the buyer requests their memories of the transaction erased. I don’t want anyone to know that we’re boosting the property's protections.” I gave Franklin a lackluster smile. “I’m suddenly feeling very uneasy over the amount of breaches we’re having. I haven’t felt a single disturbance from them.”

“Another one has happened?” He questioned me, taking a parental tone.

I waved my hand at the evidence on the counter. “I haven’t opened it yet, but it’s addressed to ‘Little King’ just like the last one. Palmer doesn’t sense any magic on it, and Briggs didn’t scent anything unusual when they arrived. I feel some general dread over opening it, but that’s all.” I closed my eyes and shrugged my shoulders, the gesture all too repetitive. I didn’t know what was going on in my life anymore, so a shrug seemed to be my go-to response.

Franklin took the letter, sliding his dagger out and through the sealed flap on the envelope. I held my breath, hoping it wasn’t laced with any sort of spell that latched onto whoever opened it. Franklin unfolded the paper, laying it out for us to read.

No signature, no threats. All it said was, “Watch me.” Underneath the words, a USB drive was taped to the paper. It was tiny — no more than three quarters of an inch long — and flat.

“Why doesn’t the letter read like that last one?” Novak glanced at me before ripping the tape off the paper.

“Because he said everything he needed to say while he was on the phone, or because it’s all in that.” I pointed at his hand.

Franklin raised one graying eyebrow at me. “What did he say?”

“He thinks Jack and Grim are my mates. He had someone following them home from Baton Rouge, and it sounded like he may have thought I was with them. It was hard to tell.” I shook my head. “He said, ‘Open the letter, Little King, unless you’re not where you think you are.’ Then he asked me if a car accident would kill me or if I’d hurt worse if I lost my demons. He knew I was either at home or with them. I don’t know how, unless he was tracking my phone, but then how would he know I might be home? He wanted to know if I felt safe here without them by my side and why I hadn’t been looking for him.”

“Like I said,” Grim chimed in. “He sounded insane.”

Jack nodded his agreement. “Half of what he said didn’t make any sense. It was like he was rambling to himself or trying to keep you on the phone to hear what was happening. If the latter was the case, then we'd know he wasn’t with whoever was following us.”

“This is what I do know from that call.” I lifted my hand to count the facts. “He knew I could be in either location, but not which one specifically. He thinks Jack and Grim are my mates. That means that he still doesn’t know much about me. He doesn’t know exactly how to kill me, though he did ask if a car accident would. And he thinks he has something that I want.”