Page 26 of Bone Collector’s Mate

Chapter Nineteen

Noir

It was one thing for us to decide that we needed to find out more information. It was another to figure out how to do that. It wasn’t like there was a bone-collector-baby expert in town. I’d be surprised if most local people had even heard of my kind. I’d spent most of my existence avoiding being around humans and other paras for that matter. I imagined my kind were all similar.

And it wasn’t exactly something I could google.

Rook decided we should start in town. Whisper Grove was filled with supernaturals, after all. Someone had to know something.

Orly was more than happy to hang out with her buddy, Benji, for a while. Having Orly in his life had been great for both of them.

Really, the entire move had been good for Benji, from everything my mate had told me, and what I’d seen with my own eyes. He needed to be in a town where being himself was valued and where he was surrounded by people who loved him.

We had zero plans, aside from randomly walking around town and hoping inspiration struck. I held my mate’s hand, and if it weren’t for us actively looking for a sign, it would’ve felt like a date. In my gut, I knew that we would find the right person. And when we did, I would know exactly who they were.

As we turned the corner, I saw the vampire that I’d encountered on my first trip to town, and he headed straight for us.

Vampires were undead, and they recognized bone collectors, or at least this one had recognized me. We both lived in that in-between, just not in the same way. Their existence wasn’t alive, and it also wasn’t dead, whereas, I was very much alive.

I gave my mate’s hand a squeeze and the vampire a nod. He looked at me then at Rook, and then his eyes went straight to my mate’s belly. He wasn’t showing yet. It was way too early for that, but the vampire could sense the little one.

“That’s interesting.”

“What is?” My mate’s voice cracked.

“Oh, human. Wolf. Whatever.” The vampire waved his hand in front of his face, obviously flustered. “Congratulations is what I meant.”

“For what?” My mate looked confused, which was slightly better than his initial panic.

“Your child?” The vampire seemed just as confused as Rook was. What a weird conversation.

“That…” Rook’s hand fell to his belly.

Yes. This was the guy we needed to talk to. I was sure of it.

“Can we take you to lunch at the diner and maybe talk?” I asked.

“Okay?” It came out as a question, but he was agreeable.

We still didn’t know his name, and Rook held out his hand and introduced himself.

“I’m William.” I wondered how long he’d been William. His name had changed over time, but I didn’t dwell on it, instead introducing myself by name, to which he replied, “I know.”

Because that wasn’t creepy or anything.

The diner was empty. It was between busy shifts, which was perfect for us. Vampires didn’t need to eat human food, but they did enjoy it.

“So what’s this invite for? You two aren’t looking for, like…” He held up three fingers, and my mate took a second to see what he was saying, and his jaw dropped.

“No. No.” Rook shook his head.

“Can’t blame a guy for trying.” It was hard to tell if he was joking or not.

“You know what our baby is?” Rook whispered.

“I know enough.” So not helpful.

“What do you know?”