Page 60 of Bitten Vampire

“Good.” I glare back. “Why did you have to hurt her?”

“Her?”

“House. Why did you have to hurt her? She hadn’t harmed anyone—she only ever kept people safe.”

“She was harbouring a criminal.”

I draw a tight, angry breath. “I’m no more a criminal than you. You are the one behaving like a monster.”

His head tilts as he studies me from head to toe. “What I want to know,” he says, pocketing the wand’s remains, “is why you’re not daytime dead. Baby vampire—yet you are”—he glances at the sun—“alive.”

“I’m not a vampire. I’m human. You lot attacked my home and for what? You think I’m a vampire? Spoiler alert, you got it wrong.”

“You were a vampire last night.”

“Was I?”

“We have photographs, evidence.”

“Do you? Did I bite anyone? Or did I see a girl in trouble and give her a lift home?”

He spreads his hands. “Well, as you can see?—”

I lift my palms. “I’m no vampire.”Not at the moment,I mentally mumble.

Baylor whines, pressing against me. He sniffs the bag and stares up at me, his eyes sad. I stroke his ears to soothe him. He’s going to take the loss of House hard.

We both are.

“We’ll have to sort this out,” the mage says, beckoning to the police. Two officers stride over.

“Winifred Crowsdale, would you come with us, miss? We need to speak to you.”

“Of course. May I bring my bag?”

The officer eyes it. “What’s inside?”

“Clothes, phone, a book for when you leave me in a windowless room for hours, nothing illegal.”

The mage narrows his eyes, then nods. “Let her bring it. We’ll search it at the station.”

I scoop up the bag, careful not to jostle Beryl.

“The dog.” The officer reaches for Baylor’slead.

“What? No—can’t he come with me? He has separation anxiety, and he will eat strange things if unsupervised. Please?”

“Sorry, Ms Crowsdale. It’s procedure.”

We have an undignified tug-of-war over the lead. I know I’m lucky they didn’t shoot me when I went for Lander, and I know I should let go, but… he’s my pup, I’m the only person he’s got.

“He’ll be well cared for.”

My lip wobbles.

Only when Lander Kane chuckles nastily do I loosen my grip. My cheeks burn with equal parts mortification and fury.

Baylor whines as an animal-control handler takes him to a van.