Page 24

I did not expect to feel as comfortable as I did, orbiting Leah in that small, floating home. But it felt like something I could get used to, a life I could live forever.

Before I could further examine that worrying thought, the door before me swung open and a slim, smiling Leyore vampire beckoned me inside. Through the dusty interior and down a discreet set of stairs to the basement, I found myself in the dimly-lit Leyore blood bar.

The underground haven was subtly bustling and at the far end of the bar, tucked into a booth, I spotted Jordan, accompanied by a bright-eyed Sky and a rather stormy-lookingDylan slouching in the opposite seat. Jordan caught sight of me first, eyes flickering with faint concern before she masked it with a welcoming smile.

"Maxine!" she greeted me as I slid into the booth beside them. Her tone was casual, but her eyes were sharp, probing. “How are you holding up?”

"I'm perfectly fine," I assured her, brushing off the concern with a shrug. My gaze flicked across the table to Dylan, who stared past me, frowning and deep in thought. A crease was forming between her brows. “What’s up with her?”

“She’s been cranky all evening.” Sky sighed, propping an elbow on the table with her chin in her hand.

“She’s been cranky her whole life.” Jordan threw an arm over Sky’s shoulder, shaking her head. “Although, more so than usual lately. Yesterday she nearly took my head off just for saying hello.”

Dylan, finally coming to realize that she was the topic of discussion, blinked rapidly, before directing a withering glare at Jordan. “You didn’t just ‘say hello’ you blasted a fuckingkazooright next to my ear!”

At my quizzical look, Jordan shrugged. “The twins left their toys at the office.”

I flagged down a waitress and ordered my usual concoction before turning back to the group, catching the tail end of their bickering.

“–wouldn’t be in such a bad mood if you would justcut it out,” Dylan was hissing, folding her arms and slumping back in her seat.

Jordan rolled her eyes, lifting her hands in mock surrender while Sky tutted quietly behind her drink. I kept my eyes onDylan, simmering quietly in her seat. The atmosphere was light, but she was uneasy. And I had my suspicions as to why.

My theory proved correct when Jordan’s joking landed a sharp, if unintended, jab.

“How does Amara handle being married to such a grouch?” she teased, unaware of the minefield she was treading on. “And where is she, anyway? You never bring her out anymore.”

Dylan’s face darkened and she snapped, sharper than I’d ever seen from her before, "Can younot, Jordan?!"

The table went quiet. Sky’s smile straightened out, and Jordan’s face registered surprise and confusion. We sat in silence for a moment, before Jordan set down her drink, concern in her tone. "What’s going on with you?"

Seizing the moment to smooth over the crack, I jumped in – and offered Dylan an out. "Oh, leave her be, Jordan. Dylan’s just tired of our bullshit.”

Dylan opened her mouth but I spoke over her, flattening my palms on the table. “You and your kazoo – and me and my cellphone. I’ve been bombarding her with texts. Right, Dylan?”

Dylan looked at me, momentarily puzzled. She tried to speak again but I didn’t give her a moment to comment, turning back to Jordan with a sheepish grin. “I’ve been pestering her about all sorts of nonsense. So she’s probably just fed up with the lot of us.”

When I glanced back at her, Dylan raised a quizzical brow but she shrugged, playing along. "Yeah – Maxine’s texts are a real saga. Day and night, no escape."

The group laughed, the tension dissolving as the focus shifted to me and my incessant texting which, apparently, everyone had strong options on.

“It does get a tad overwhelming from time to time.” Sky chuckled. “Especially when you start sending those multi-part messages at three in the morning.”

“And the voice notes. I’ve lost hours of my life listening to Maxine ramble,” Jordan added, and even Dylan cracked a real smile.

By the time the conversation drew to a close and I’d drunk my fill for the night, Dylan was in a significantly better mood, albeit still a little standoffish.

I waited until Sky and Jordan bid us goodnight to pull her aside, catching her by the elbow before she could wander off too. “Can I talk to you for a sec?”

Dylan stiffened, but she halted, turning to me with an agitated groan. “I know what you’re going to ask so let me make it easier for you. Yes, I’m all right. No, I don’t want to talk about it. Thank you for diffusing the situation. And no, you absolutely cannot borrow my bomber jacket because the last time I lent it to you, you tried to dye it pink.”

“Okay, firstly,” I sniffed, sizing her up, “I didnottry to dye it pink. I put it in the laundry with my red nightgown and the color leaked. Secondly, you are clearlynotokay. And lastly, wearegoing to talk about it because I already know what’s going on.”

Dylan sputtered out a humorless laugh. “How could you possibly–”

“Hunter told me everything.”

That shut her up. Dylan’s mouth straightened into a line and she narrowed her eyes at me, looking me up and down. “Of course she did.”