Page 19

Harper looked about the large conference room at the vet clinic. Jacinth, Remi, Katerina, and Jake were already there, along with three strangers she'd never seen before. The air crackled with a strange energy that made her fox senses tingle. Beside her, Nathan was tense, and he all but quivered with excitement. She couldn't help grinning at him, and squeezing his hand.

Jacinth cleared her throat, and the babble of voices ceased as everyone looked to the head of the table where she sat. "Thank you all for coming. I'd like to introduce Aleksei, Tobi, and Tyr, vampires from Lord Damien's clan."

Harper's gaze flicked between the three newcomers, trying to reconcile their ordinary appearance with the extraordinary nature of their being. While she'd known about vampires, she'd never actually seen one before. Few had… or at least, that they remembered.

"I apologize for the unconventional meeting place," Jacinth continued. "The West Side Inn is too public, and we didn't want a stray guest wandering in on us."

Tobi, a fair-haired vampire with a mischievous glint in his eye, flashed a grin. "No worries. We've had meetings in far worse places."

His twin, Tyr, nodded in agreement. "Once, we gathered in a sewer. This is practically a palace in comparison."

Aleksei, who carried himself with the bearing of a seasoned warrior, remained silent but watchful. His piercing gaze swept the room, assessing each occupant in turn. He wasted no time with pleasantries, and when he spoke, his voice carried the weight of centuries. "We'll be establishing a rotating patrol schedule. Our enhanced senses allow us to detect threats long before they become imminent."

Jake, looking slightly uncomfortable, shifted in his seat. "What about feeding?"

Tobi waved a hand dismissively. "Relax, wolf-boy. We've got that covered. Lord Damien's rules are crystal clear – no hunting humans here. We've got… er… other arrangements."

Harper's eyes widened. Lord?

Beside her, Nathan whispered, "What kind of arrangements does he mean?"

"Volunteers," she whispered back. "Blood donors. I'll explain later.

She knew about vampires cultivating vast networks of eager fans, willing—even desperate—to offer their veins. Groupies, really. The thought made her skin prickle with unease. She couldn't fathom willingly baring her throat to razor-sharp fangs, let alone craving such an encounter. A shiver raced down her spine as she imagined the cold touch of a vampire's hands, the sharp pinprick of teeth breaking skin. Nope, no way.

She found her voice, curiosity surging to the fore as she spoke up. "How long have vampires been in New York City?"

Tyr's lips quirked in a half-smile. "Longer than you'd believe, little fox. We've been here since before it was called New York. We haven't been up in this area much, though, except for… oww! " He broke off to glare at his brother.

Tobi smoothly redirected what his brother had been going to say; Harper suspected Tyr had meant they hunted for blood this far north of the city.

"Not to worry," Tobi reassured. "Before the night is out, we will know this community inside and out, every shadow and hidden corner. We've already scoped out the bank, and Kazakis Restaurant. The inn, too, although they have their own defenses. They should be easy enough to defend, and this clinic as well. There are many dark shadows for us to keep watch from. Anyone coming to make trouble will never see what hit them."

Harper and Katerina exchanged glances, their eyes conveying a mix of concern and uncertainty. Katerina cleared her throat, her voice steady but tinged with caution.

"We appreciate your willingness to help, but we don't want trespassers killed, particularly. Just stopped."

Aleksei's expression remained impassive, but his eyes flickered with understanding. He leaned forward, his movements fluid and deliberate.

"Of course. We have no intention of causing unnecessary harm. Our role will be to halt trespassers and turn them over to your shifters."

Aleksei went on, his tone deliberate, selecting his words with great care. His manner struck Harper as oddly formal, unlike the relaxed American discourse she was used to. "I am sure you are aware that we vampires possess a unique ability. We can glamour our prey and remove certain memories. This skill could prove invaluable in maintaining secrecy, should the need arise."

Harper's eyebrows shot up. She'd heard rumors of such abilities, but to have it confirmed so casually was jarring.

Aleksei's gaze swept across the room, taking in the wide eyes and furrowed brows of those gathered. He could almost taste their surprise, thick and palpable in the air. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, a rare break in his stoic demeanor.

"It's a limited magic," he explained, his voice low and measured. "We can't actually replace significant memories or alter a person's entire history. Our abilities are more... selective." He paused, allowing the weight of his words to sink in. "We can erase the memory of being attacked and fed on, leaving behind only a vague sense of unease or confusion, or even pleasure. Or, in this case, we could potentially remove the recollection of being captured, should such a situation arise."

The vampire's green eyes flickered with an ancient light as he continued. "It's a delicate process, one that requires finesse and control. We are always cautious not to leave behind obvious gaps or inconsistencies that might raise suspicion. Vampires are skilled in this, using these glamours to stay undetected for millennia."

Tobi chimed in, his tone lighter but no less serious. "Your trespassers won't remember who captured them. They'll simply awaken in the custody of your security team, with no recollection of how they got there."

"They'll believe they were apprehended by standard security measures," Tyr agreed.

Harper's heart nearly leapt out of her chest as a sultry female voice cut through the tension in the room. "Or, you know, I could just eat them."

Everyone whirled around, startled by the unexpected intrusion. A figure emerged from the shadows at the back of the conference room, sauntering forward with an otherworldly grace. Harper's eyes widened as she took in the newcomer's appearance, and beside her, she heard Nathan's sharp inhale.

The woman, if she could be called that, had mottled red skin with darker patterns swirling across her body. Small, glossy black horns curled up from either side of her head, nestled in a cascade of arrow-straight hair that was an impossible mix of jet black and true red. But it was her eyes that truly captivated Harper - they seemed to shift between green and blue, swirling with an alien intelligence.

Aleksei let out a long-suffering groan, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Kayja," he muttered, his voice a mix of exasperation and resignation.

In stark contrast to Aleksei's reaction, Tyr and Tobi's faces lit up with matching grins. "Kayja!" they exclaimed in unison, exchanging enthusiastic fist bumps. Remi was equally welcoming, calling out, "Hey, long time!"

Harper glanced around the room, noting the varying reactions. Jake looked tense, his posture rigid as he assessed the potential threat. Katerina seemed more curious than alarmed, while Jacinth appeared unsurprised by the dramatic entrance.

Sensing the confusion and alarm radiating from the shapeshifters, Aleksei cleared his throat. "Allow me to introduce Kayja," he said, his tone carefully neutral. "As I'm sure you can tell, she is a demoness... and also Lord Damien's half-sister."

Harper's mind reeled at this new information. Vampires were one thing, but demons? The world she thought she knew was expanding at a dizzying rate. She and Nathan exchanged glances, he looking equally stunned.

Kayja's lips curled into a mischievous smirk as she surveyed the room, her gaze lingering on each person in turn. When her eyes met Harper's, the fox shifter felt a shiver run down her spine. There was something ancient and primal in that gaze, a hunger that went beyond the physical.

Aleksei's voice cut through the tension, firm and unyielding. "Kayja, there will be no eating of anyone. We're here to protect, not to cause more problems."

The demoness pouted, an expression that looked oddly charming on her otherworldly features. "You're no fun, Aleksei. I was just offering my services."

Tobi chuckled, clearly amused by the whole situation. "Don't mind Kayja," he said to the room at large. "Her bark is worse than her bite... most of the time."

"Though her bite is nothing to scoff at," Tyr added with a grin.

Kayja preened at the attention, her wings - black-veined and red - rustling slightly behind her. "I could be very useful, you know," she purred. "I'm not bound by the same limitations as my dear brother's minions."

Harper watched as Jake's body tensed, his jaw clenching slightly. He seemed to flinch at Kayja's words, a flicker of unease crossing his features.

"Um, no," Jake said firmly, his voice steady despite the tension evident in his posture. "We're good with the vampires turning over any threats to the shifters. But, er, thank you?"

Kayja's lips curled into a pout, her swirling eyes narrowing slightly. "Oh, come now," she purred, her voice a silky caress that sent shivers down Harper's spine. "Surely you can see the benefits of having a demon on your side? I could offer protection that these... night dwellers… simply can't match."

Harper felt her fox instincts prickling, urging her to retreat from the predator in their midst. She fought the urge to shrink back in her chair, instead forcing herself to remain still and attentive.

Aleksei stepped forward, his movements fluid and purposeful. "Kayja," he said, his voice low and full of warning.

Kayja's eyes flashed, a swirl of blue and green that seemed to crackle with energy. For a moment, Harper thought she might argue further, but then the demoness shrugged, her wings rustling softly. "Very well," she said, her tone light but with an undercurrent of disappointment. "But don't say I didn't offer, when things get... messy."

From where he sat beside Jacinth, Remi audibly snickered.

Jake cleared his throat. "We'll keep that in mind," he said, his voice carefully neutral. "For now, we'll stick to the original plan."

Harper couldn't help but admire Jake's composure. Despite being faced with creatures straight out of myth and legend, he managed to hold his ground and speak for the shifter community.

Jacinth waved one hand, drawing everyone's attention. "Now that we've settled that," she said, her voice calm and authoritative, "let's return to the matter at hand. We need to finalize the patrol schedules and communication protocols between the vampires and our shifter security teams."

As the group refocused on the practical details of their protection plan, Harper found her gaze drawn back to Kayja. The demoness had retreated to the edge of the room, her form half-hidden in shadow. Despite her apparent acquiescence, there was something in her posture, in the way her eyes continued to flicker over the gathered group, that made Harper uneasy. Just then, however, Kayja's eyes caught Harper's, and she winked, merriment clear in her pointed face. Harper had to grin back at her, even Reyna poking her nose out to peer curiously at the demoness.

Fun , Reyna said, apparently not caring that it was some kind of demon from Hell. At least… were demons from Hell? If she'd known demons were real, she'd have learned more about them, so she'd know how to react if one showed up. And this one was Damien's sister, and the vampires were their allies so… it was all good, right?

Harper glanced around the room, gauging the reactions of the others gathered. Katerina was eyeing the demoness thoughtfully, while Jake was busy typing like mad on his laptop. Jacinth, unsurprisingly, appeared unfazed… Harper supposed that little could shock a 900-year-old Djinn.

"So we'll need at least one shifter on night shift," Jake mused aloud, still typing… he must have been working on the schedule, and not suddenly researching demons like Harper first thought. He glanced up at Aleksei. "That shifter will be the contact point should anyone be apprehended by your people."

Harper listened intently as Aleksei nodded in agreement with Jake's suggestion.

Tyr leaned forward, his eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and seriousness. "The shifter security team won't likely ever see us, unless we're turning over a prisoner. But we'll be there, and that's a guarantee."

Aleksei nodded in agreement with Tyr. "We're experts at blending into the shadows. Our presence will be felt rather than seen. It's how we've survived for millennia."

Tobi grinned, his fangs just barely visible. "Think of us as your friendly neighborhood ghosts. Always watching, never seen."

Katerina cleared her throat, her golden eyes narrowing slightly. "And how exactly will our security team communicate with you if they can't see you?"

"If we apprehend someone to turn over to you, we'll call your on-call contact," Aleksei replied, his tone matter-of-fact. "As we will do if we encounter a larger threat and backup is needed."

Tyr nodded, putting aside his jesting facade, his voice serious. "We take our commitment to this alliance seriously. Lord Damien has made it clear that the safety of your community is a top priority."

Harper found herself curious about this mysterious Lord Damien. The picture that had been forming of him in her mind seemed incongruous, when set beside Alyssa, the charming, ebullient Djinn who was his Chosen. But before she could ask any questions, Aleksei stood up, signaling that the meeting was coming to an end.

"We'll begin our patrols tomorrow night," he announced. "You won't see us, but rest assured, we'll be watching. Any threats to your community will be dealt with swiftly and quietly."

As Aleksei finished speaking, Katerina turned to Harper, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. "Harper, I know you've been wanting to take on more responsibility within our group. I'd like you to be the team administrator. What do you think?"

Harper blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected offer. "Team administrator? What does that even mean?"

Katerina smiled, her golden eyes warm with encouragement. "Essentially, you'd be the glue holding our various efforts together. You'd be in charge of maintaining our lists and records, sending out notices to keep everyone informed, and generally ensuring that all our different teams and initiatives stay coordinated."

As Katerina explained, Harper felt a surge of excitement building within her. This was exactly the kind of expanded role she'd been hoping for – a chance to contribute more meaningfully to their cause.

"You'd be doing whatever team administrators do," Katerina added with a light chuckle. "Which, honestly, we're all still figuring out as we go. But I know you're organized and detail-oriented – perfect qualities for this role."

"I'd love to!" Harper exclaimed, unable to contain her enthusiasm. She could hardly wait to get her hands on everything and begin organizing immediately!

Harper's excitement bubbled over as she considered her new role as team administrator. She turned to Aleksei, her newfound enthusiasm overcoming the intimidation she would have otherwise felt, dealing with this ancient, clearly powerful vampire.

"I should give you my contact information," she said, fumbling in her purse for a business card.

He inclined his head, his impassive demeanor thawing a touch. "That seems sensible. I'll forward you the list once it's assembled."

As Harper handed over her card, Tyr sidled closer, a roguish grin spreading across his face. "You know, I wouldn't mind having your number too, little fox. For... security purposes, of course."

Harper blinked, caught off guard by the vampire's sudden flirtation. Before she could formulate a response, Tobi jabbed his twin sharply in the ribs.

"Knock it off, you idiot," Tobi hissed, rolling his eyes. "We're here on business, not to pick up dates."

Tyr yelped, rubbing his side dramatically. "Hey! I was just being friendly. No need to get violent."

"Friendly, my foot," Tobi retorted. "You were about as subtle as a brick through a window. Besides, she's mated, duh."

He indicated Nathan with a nod of his head, and the twins continued their good-natured bickering, their voices rising and falling in a familiar rhythm that suggested this was a common occurrence between them. Harper found herself struggling to maintain a straight face as she watched their antics.

Beside her, Katerina and Jacinth were having no such compunctions. Katerina's shoulders shook with silent laughter, while Jacinth's musical giggle filled the air. Harper glanced at them, her own amusement bubbling up, and soon all three women were giggling uncontrollably. Even Nathan was grinning widely.

"Are they always like this?" Harper managed to ask between fits of laughter, gesturing at the squabbling vampires.

Jacinth wiped a tear from her eye, her voice still tinged with mirth. "Oh, you have no idea. They've been at it for centuries, from what I hear from Alyssa and Remi."

Katerina nodded, her golden eyes dancing with amusement. "It's like watching an old married couple, isn't it?"

Katerina tapped on the table, bringing the meeting back to order. The room fell silent, all eyes turning to the Maine Coon shifter.

"Alright, everyone," Katerina began, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "I need to update you on our immediate plans. Troy and I are heading to the network studio tomorrow afternoon for my appearance on the talk show."

Harper felt a flutter of nervous excitement in her stomach. This was it – the moment that would change everything for their community.

Remi, however, all but bounced in his seat, his brown eyes sparkling with an almost childlike enthusiasm despite being centuries old. "This is going to be so awesome!" he exclaimed, rubbing his hands together with glee. "I mean, you're going on national television! This is huge! Historical! Epic!"

Tobi and Tyr exchanged identical looks of exasperation before rolling their eyes in perfect synchronization. Harper had to bite back a smile at their matching expressions - it was uncanny how alike they were, even in their mannerisms.

Jacinth reached over and smacked Remi on the back of his head, making him yelp. "This isn't some entertainment show for your amusement," she scolded, though Harper caught the hint of affection in her tone. "This is serious business."

The Djinn is young , Reyna commented in Harper's mind, clearly referring to Remi's enthusiasm. He is not grown, yet no longer kit. Okay, that was interesting. He had to be at least several hundred years, if he was around back in the sixteenth century. That didn't seem young to her. Young, Reyna stressed.

Curious, Harper questioned her. How do you know?

Reyna gave the mental equivalent of a shrug. He is young , she repeated once more, and Harper gave it up. She'd try to find out more later, when in not the middle of a crucial meeting.

Katerina was continuing, her golden eyes scanning the room. "During the talk show, I'll be discussing what it means to be a shifter. And yes, I'll be shifting on camera, and Troy will be talking about what it was like, finding out about shifters. My sister, Melanthe, will be there as well, with her twins, who are just a year old. We're going for relatability."

Harper watched as Jake's brow furrowed, his expression shifting from thoughtful to concerned.

"Wait a minute," he said, straightening in his chair. "I thought we agreed no children would be revealed during the initial disclosure. The risk is too high."

Katerina held up a hand, her golden eyes steady and calm. "We had a family discussion about this. Melanthe's situation is unique. As a Kazakis, she was going to be revealed anyway – there's no way to keep her heritage secret when the whole family is going public."

Harper could see the logic in this. The Kazakis family was tight-knit, and their restaurant was a cornerstone of the community. Trying to keep part of the family hidden while others went public would be nearly impossible.

"Besides," Katerina continued, "the twins are only a year old. It'll be years before they're ready for school, and right now they spend most of their time in kitten form anyway. Melanthe feels this is actually the perfect time to introduce them."

She added, "Melanthe specifically wants to be on the show with her girls. She believes seeing shifter children, especially in their adorable kitten forms, will help put a positive spin on everything. It's harder for people to react with fear when they're cooing over baby Maine Coons."

Harper had to admit, it made sense. She'd seen pictures on the forums of Melanthe's twins in their kitten forms – they were absolutely precious, all fluffy fur and oversized paws. If anything could help humanize shifters in the public eye, it would be those two.

"Melanthe is completely on board with this," Katerina emphasized. "She believes showing her daughters will help demonstrate that shifters are just regular families, trying to live normal lives."

Jake nodded. "Okay then. Moving on. We don't anticipate any immediate threats to the clinic tonight. It'll take time for any protesters to organize and work themselves up. So, our extra security shifts will start Sunday."

Aleksei nodded, his expression grave. "We'll have our people in place Saturday night, regardless. With humans, one never knows."

Katerina's expression tightened with worry. "However, we do have one pressing concern. Kazakis Restaurant will likely be an early target."

Remi's brow furrowed in apparent puzzlement. "A restaurant? Why?"

"Because Kester, the owner, is my brother," Katerina explained, her voice tight with worry. "It won't take the paparazzi long to make that connection."

"We'll prioritize security for the restaurant," Jake spoke up, his fingers flying over his laptop keyboard. "Maybe station at least one shifter inside, posing as a customer who just likes to hang out with the wi-fi? And then vampires patrolling after the restaurant has closed."

Katerina nodded. "Good idea, Jake. Kester and Tamera are already aware that they could be in the crosshairs. All we have to do is keep them in the loop," and she nodded to Harper.

Harper had her phone out by now, and was taking notes. "I'm on it," she assured Katerina.

Katerina leaned forward, scanning the faces at the table as she summarized their plans. "Alright, let's make sure we're all on the same page," she began, her voice steady and authoritative. "Starting Saturday evening, our vampire allies will begin night patrols at both the vet clinic and Kazakis Restaurant, and on Sunday the shifter patrols will begin."

Harper nodded, her fingers flying across her laptop as she took notes. She glanced up as Katerina continued.

Jake cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "I've also organized back-up teams," he said, his voice firm. "We'll have groups on standby around the clock, ready to move in if there's any serious trouble."

"Excellent work, Jake," Katerina said, her voice warm with gratitude. "Having that additional layer of security will be crucial."

"I'll make a transcript of this meeting," Harper told them. "I'll make sure all the team members get it, to keep everyone on the same page. Could I get everyone's email addresses and phone numbers? That way, I can distribute the transcript and any future updates efficiently."

As the others began sharing their contact information, Harper diligently typed each one into her phone. She paused for a moment, a thought occurring to her.

"Should I also send the meeting transcripts to Maroulla?" Harper asked, looking to Katerina for guidance. She wasn't entirely sure of the protocol when it came to the Kazakis matriarch, who was also the Warden for the Northeastern USA.

Katerina shook her head. "No, I'll do that. Maroulla wants to be kept in the loop about all our decisions and plans, but she's also concerned about being overwhelmed with people contacting her. She's asked that I be her point of contact here, except in case of emergency, of course."

"Got it. Alright," Harper said, her voice filled with determination. "I'll get the transcript typed up and sent out as soon as possible."

As the meeting wound down, the room buzzed with a mix of nervous energy and determination. Harper watched as people began to gather their belongings, exchanging final words and nods of understanding. She felt the glow of excitement at having been asked to take on the role of team administrator, and to be a significant member of the team. Beside her, Nathan took a deep, shuddering breath, as if he'd been holding it almost this whole time, and she grinned at him in sympathy.

"It's a lot, isn't it?"

"You have no idea," he said fervently.

Jake closed his laptop with a soft click and stood up, stretching his tall frame. "I'll send out the first draft of the patrol schedules tonight," he said, glancing at Harper. "You can review and distribute them tomorrow morning?"

Harper nodded, already making a mental note. "Absolutely. I'll make sure everyone gets their assignments promptly."

As the vampires filed out, Aleksei paused by the door, his green eyes finding Harper's. "We'll be in touch," he said simply, before disappearing into the night with his companions. Looking around for Kayja, Harper realized the demoness must have departed at some point without anyone having noticed.

Soon, only Harper, Nathan, Katerina, and Jacinth remained in the room. Katerina began gathering up the scattered papers and empty coffee cups, except Jacinth waved her hand, causing the remaining crumbs and spills to vanish from the table. Nathan's jaw dropped, but Harper and Katerina looked at each other, giggling.

"She can do that?" he asked blankly.

"Djinn magic," Harper commented, and Katerina agreed with a nod.

"Well, that was certainly an interesting meeting," Jacinth said, her expression somber. "I don't think I've seen vampires and shifters working together like this since... well, ever."

Katerina chuckled, shaking her head. "It's a brave new world we're stepping into, that's for sure." She turned to Harper and Nathan her expression softening. "How are you feeling about all of this?"

Nathan replied honestly, "I'm hanging in there. I mean, I'd just gotten used to shifters, and jackalopes, but… vampires? And now a demoness?"

Harper agreed. "I'm a little overwhelmed, too, but mostly excited. I feel like I can really make a difference here."

Jacinth smiled warmly. "That's the spirit. We're all in this together, after all."

As they made their way to the door, Katerina fished out a set of keys from her pocket. "I just need to lock up," she explained, ushering them out into the cool night air. Harper watched as Katerina secured the building, the click of the lock sounding oddly final in the quiet evening.

"Well, it's been a pleasure as always," Jacinth said with a quick, charming smile. "But I think it's time I head home to my darling husband and our little monsters."

In a blink, the Djinn vanished in a swirl of sparkling mist, leaving behind only the faintest scent of jasmine on the night air.

Harper shook her head in amazement. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that," she murmured, still staring at the spot where Jacinth had stood moments before.

"Same," Nathan said, but he wore a wide grin. "That's wild."

Katerina chuckled, fishing her car keys out of her pocket. "Trust me, even after all this time, it still catches me off guard sometimes."

They made their way across the parking lot, their footsteps crunching on the gravel. Harper felt a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling in her chest as she thought about the days ahead. So much was changing, so quickly.

As they reached their cars, Katerina turned to Harper, her golden eyes warm in the dim light of the parking lot. "You did great in there, you know," she said, giving Harper's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "We're lucky to have you on the team."

Harper felt a flush of pride at the compliment. "Thanks, Katerina. I just hope I can live up to everyone's expectations."

"You will," Katerina assured her with a smile. "Just remember, we're all in this together."

A shout echoed across the parking lot. Harper turned to see Remi sprinting toward them, his spiky black hair disheveled.

"Wait! Wait up!" he called, skidding to a stop beside them. He bent over, hands on his knees, dramatically catching his breath. "Could one of you give me a ride to the inn?"

Katerina raised an eyebrow. "Can't you just... poof yourself there?"

Remi straightened up, his face scrunching in distaste. "I could, but with all the extra security measures now, I'm worried Angus and Renee's magic might zap me." He shuddered. "And trust me, being zapped is not fun. At all."

Harper couldn't help but giggle at his expression, and Katerina joined in. The mental image of a magical Djinn getting zapped like a bug in a light trap was too amusing.

"We'll take you," Nathan offered, fishing his out car keys. "I have to drop Harper off at her apartment, and it's not out of the way at all."

"You're a lifesaver!" Remi beamed at him.

They said their goodbyes to Katerina, and with a final wave, Katerina slipped into her car, the engine purring to life.

Nathan unlocked his car, and they all got in, Remi in the back seat.

Harper watched in amusement as Remi clicked his seatbelt into place. The sight struck her as delightfully absurd - here was an immortal being, capable of vanishing and reappearing at will, following modern car safety rules like any ordinary person. She couldn't help but smile at the incongruity of it all.

The young Djinn caught her watching and flashed a mischievous grin. "What? Safety first, right?"

Harper shook her head, still smiling. "It just seems funny. I mean, you're what - several centuries old? Immortal? And here you are, buckling up like a kid on his way to soccer practice."

"Hey, I might be immortal, but that doesn't mean I want to go flying through the windshield," Remi protested, though his eyes sparkled with humor. "Besides, it's the principle of the thing. When in Rome, right?"

Nathan chuckled as he pulled out of the parking lot. "I appreciate the compliance," he said, glancing at Remi in the rearview mirror. "Even if you probably could just poof yourself to safety in case of an accident."

"Exactly!" Remi exclaimed. "But that would blow my cover if anyone saw. And, you know, traffic cams. It's a thing. So, seatbelt it is."

Harper settled back in her seat, still grinning at the situation. There was something oddly comforting about it - how even supernatural beings adapted to mundane human conventions. It made the extraordinary seem a little more ordinary, a little more manageable.