Page 82 of Hallow Hill at Halloween: Part One

“What is your problem, Lochlan?” I demanded. “I came in to get warm and found that tarty vampire eating what remained of poor Jarvis. Then she turned on me.”

I thought I saw surprise cross Lochlan’s face. “That’s what happened?”

“Well, yeah. What’d you think? That I killed the butler then went after the vampire?” He said nothing. “You were all so busy worrying about the werewolf who DIDN’T DO ANYTHING BUT DANCE! Meanwhile, there was a killer running loose in the pantry.”

Lochlan straightened his vest. “Well. When put that way, it seems you might have a point.”

“Might have a point? Oh no. You’re not getting away with less than a real apology this time. You behaved badly. Say it.”

He took in a deep breath. “Very well. I jumped to a conclusion that was unfounded.”

“And?”

The room was quiet as a tomb even though there were a dozen people waiting to hear what came next.

“And I regret it.”

“I’ve known him a long time. That’s the best you’re going to get,” Keir said in a low voice close to my ear.

I looked at Keir. “Did you kill Vuk?”

His brow wrinkled. “I assume you mean the werewolf. No. He’s alive as far as we know.” He glanced at Kagan.

I motioned for Keir to come closer and whispered, “I think I need to go home, but I don’t want to ruin the party. John David made such an effort.”

Keir’s eyes darkened. “Not enough of an effort to keep the premises safe for his guests, if you ask me.”

“Rita wants everyone to stay and enjoy the party, but she needs to say goodnight.”

“Esme rode with me,” I said weakly.

“I brought an auto,” Kagan offered. “I’ll see Esmerelda home.”

Keir helped me to my feet, but when I wavered, he swooped me into his arms. “Call your car,” he said. I laughed softly. “What’s funny?”

“Remind me to tell you what happened when I called Romeo in the forest. I don’t dare call him while I’m inside the house.”

Esme draped my faux fur over me. “Night, love,” she said. “You’re going to be fine.”

“Be sure to tell John David I’m okay.”

“Right. Just after the other words I plan to say,” she replied.

Within a couple of minutes we were zooming through the night with a super blue moon in sight. It would’ve been magical if I wasn’t so tired.

“You look tired, Rita. And it’s not just this incident. I noticed it earlier.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t be precious. Just tell me what’s going on.”

“Just haven’t been sleeping well. Bad dreams.”

“For how long?”

“Since before you left.”

He said nothing more. My eyelids were heavy, and my body had finally relaxed, but there was one more thing standing between me and sleep. Fear. I struggled to stay awake, telling myself that having Keir in bed with me would create the feelings of security I needed to get a good night’s sleep.