Page 53 of Bitten Vampire

I hurry back to the nightclub alley, back to that same stupid doorway. It’s the only place I think of that’s quiet. I sit on the damp threshold, coat wrapped tight, and spray the stinky magic again in case any vampires or shifters come searching. Pressed into the shadows, I close my eyes and try to relax.

Daylight takes forever.

At last the sky brightens. My heart begins to beat; my legs feel heavy as I leave my doorway and walk the now empty streets. I’m wet, cold, and miserable by the time I reach the car—but there it is, untouched.

“Beryl, can you check whether the car’s been tampered with?”

No. What do you think I am? A crime-scene investigator? I don’t do magic scans. I’m not House. I stab and kill; that’s the gig.She sniffs loudly, sulkily.

“Oh. Right. Thanks anyway.”

I climb in, peel off the soaked coat and pull on a warmer top, not caring if anyone sees my sports bra.

The traffic at the border is heavier than usual. Vehicles inch through the pre-approved lane ahead, just enough of a pause for my gaze to drift to the noticeboard beside the booth.

I freeze.

My photograph.

A photo of me taken from outside Crystal’s house.

My mouth goes dry; my hands tremble. “Oh no. Oh no,no, no. This is bad—really bad. Clan Nocturna reported me. Beryl, I’m on a wanted poster.”

Congratulations. How exciting.

“It’s not exciting. It’s lethal! What do I do, what do I do? It’s not just border posters. I will have made the news as they publicly issue all the kill-on-sight warrants.” I slap a hand over my mouth. “Theresa and Jay will see that. They will tell the vampires who I am.” My voice breaks as I mutter through my fingers. “I’m doomed. So doomed. All that effort at the wedding to convince people I wasn’t a thief. I think people finally believed I was decent. Now I will never get my life back. How the heck am I going to pay rent?”

It’s dreadful,Beryl agrees.

“Who am I kidding? Rent? I can’t pay rent if I’m dead. I will never get past the border. The guards will drag me from the car and kill me.” Panic slams into me, and I’m about to do something stupid, like jump out of the car, when Beryl zaps me. Pain shoots up my arm like an electric shock, and I yelp.

Calm down,she says flatly.Stay relaxed.

The lane light turns green.

They are looking for a vampire, not a human delivery driver. They have not identified me yet, otherwise my delivery clearance would be cancelled.

All right, drive. Nice and steady.Beryl continues to coach me, half calm, half sarcastic. I breathe, keep exactly to the speed limit and make no sudden moves.

At last, our driveway.

The garage door rises, and I roll the car inside, safely outof sight from the street. When it thuds shut, I stay behind the wheel, clutching Beryl, then burst into tears.

House’s magic scoops me from the garage and tucks my weeping self into bed. I hardly use it for anything but lying down these days.

“I’m rubbish,” I mumble into Baylor’s soft fur as he snuggles into me. “No hero. Everything I touch just… just unravels.”

Did you save the girl?

“Yes, yes, I did. But then I needed saving. I’m nothing like Lark.”

Lark? You met Lark? Dark hair, silver eyes?

I nod. “Yes. She’s a shifter and really nice.”

I hear the smile in House’s voice.I’m glad she helped. Did she seem all right? Healthy, happy?

I lift my head. “You know her?”