Page 38 of Countdown to Murder (A Paranormal Halloween #3)

“You should both proceed with caution until you’ve reached a place of trust and comfort.

Kieran won’t take advantage, and Gwen won’t assume he’s taking advantage unless there’s ample evidence.

Gwen will be sensitive to Kieran’s feelings and will make sure he knows how much he’s loved.

” I looked back and forth to both. “And I can tell you both love each other, and are hurt by this rift. It’s easy to take the love we have for one another for granted after ten years, I can’t imagine how it is after several centuries, so both of you should go out of your way to show the other how much they’re loved and cherished, and to see that everyone’s needs are being met.

Try to give each other the benefit of the doubt as you find a way to make your marriage work. ”

They both nodded again, but the true test came next. Kieran squeezed Gwen’s hand and told her loved her and missed her, and Gwen told Kieran she was sorry if she’d made him feel as if she didn’t love him.

And I breathed a sigh of relief.

I knew there were well over a hundred werewolves in town, possibly closer to two hundred, and since vampires and werewolves are some of the best known mythological creatures, I wondered if their numbers were similar.

“How many vampires are in town? I’m assuming there’s a group, but are we talking a dozen, or hundreds? ”

Their heads swiveled towards each other, their expressions a mixture of alarm and puzzlement. Too late, I remembered I wasn’t supposed to question the facts.

Kieran spoke slowly, enunciating each word. “Why do you ask?”

I lost my actress face and there was nothing I could do to get it back.

I knew I looked as guilty as my daughter and dog had the night before when I caught her giving him her baked potato when they thought I wasn’t looking.

I could feel the guilt written all over my face, so I decided to come clean.

I spoke quickly and moved my hands around in the air as I talked, a nervous habit I usually don’t resort to anymore, but I couldn’t stop.

“I guess this is where I tell you it didn’t work when you combined your powers, either.

Right? I mean, I felt you make it through my outermost shields, and I felt you trying to play with my willpower, but it wasn’t so hard to hold on and keep you from messing with it.

” I shrugged, carefully placed my hands on my legs, and willed them to stay there.

“I figured it wouldn’t be hard to do as you asked and not take notes or be surprised by what you told me.

And really, it’s not so surprising to me that vampires exist. I mean, I know of other mythological beings who aren’t so mythical, so why not vampires? ”

They both spoke at the same time, with Kieran asking, “You knew we combined our powers?” as Gwen asked, “What other mythological creatures are you aware of?”

I decided to address Gwen’s question first, since it was the shortest answer. “Just as I won’t be telling anyone else of the existence of vampires, I won’t be telling you of the existence of them.”

To Kieran, I answered, “Yes, I knew what you were doing. I realize most humans probably don’t figure it out, and you’re wondering what I am. Right?”

He tilted his head up so he was looking down his nose at me.

“I do not wonder what you are. You smell human, ergo, you are human. However, you are the first human I’ve met in over sixteen hundred years who could stand against two vampires working together, and only the third human who could stand against me alone. ”

I decided to take the bull by the horns, as I figured they had some kind of directive to not let me live with knowledge of them they couldn’t erase.

If that were the case, I needed to know sooner rather than later.

My hands itched for my gun, but my instincts told me to leave it in my belly band.

I considered drawing energy into me, but once again my intuition told me they wouldn’t react well if they noticed, so I didn’t.

“Well, our time is up and I need to get home to my family.” I wasn’t sure if the knowledge I had a family would help keep me safe, but figured it couldn’t hurt.

“I hope the two of you are able to work on your compromise. If you aren’t then give the office a call and we’ll figure out whether a phone conversation will help, or whether we need another appointment.

” As I spoke, I pulled my laptop from the top of the desk, put it into my bag, and casually untucked my blouse in the back under my suit jacket so it would be easier to get to my gun.

The couple looked at each other, and Gwen spoke first, “We need to talk to…” She waved her arm around. “I’d like to think she is trustworthy. I smell truth.”

Kieran’s nostrils flared. “Yes, but she has a gun, and she just did something to fan the smell into the room. I suspect she gave herself easier access.”

Damn. Vampire noses must be as good as shapeshifter noses. I needed to dig myself out of the hole I seemed to be shoveling deeper every time I spoke.

“Of course I adjusted my weapon. It’s ten o’clock at night, we’re downtown, and I’m about to walk outside to my car.”

I raised my empty hands so they could see them.

“I didn’t pull the gun. It’s still at my waist under my clothes.

And, sorry about the change of conversation, but based on what Gwen just said, I’m guessing there’s a rule stating if you couldn’t erase my memory then you can’t just let me walk away, right? ”

Two affirmative but terse nods.

.