Page 11 of How to Stake a Vampire

“They’re not wrong,” Bo panted, tail swinging.

I scowled. I could hardly deny their inference.

“For the record,” I said with as much dignity as I could muster, “I did not threaten to punch anyone at the Alliance meeting.”

The others looked crestfallen at this news.

“How disappointingly mature of you,” Didi muttered.

I was debating which one of them to punch when Hugh appeared around the corner. He slowed at our sight.

“I see word has gotten out about the meeting,” Samuel’s brother said with mild exasperation.

“Word got out the moment Abby left the building,” Janet said. “Fred had a betting pool going on whether she would survive her first Alliance encounter.”

My mouth pressed to a thin line.

Hugh saw my expression and hastily addressed the others.

“How about you people disband before Samuel catches you standing around gossiping?”

A commotion from the direction of Samuel’s office reached us right on cue. The group dispersed with supernatural speed, though several people lingered by their desks in obvious eavesdropping positions. Nigel developed a sudden fascination with the water cooler.

Samuel appeared, his expression grim enough to make the ambient temperature drop several degrees. My belly tightened.

Damn if I didn’t find his grumpy look sexy.

He shot me a wary look and cleared his throat.

“Abby, Didi, Gavin. My office. Now.”

Bo’s tail drooped as we followed Didi and Gavin toward Samuel’s office. “So much for a quiet morning.”

I made a face. “When have we ever had a quiet morning in this place?”

Barney was making coffee in Samuel’s office. His expression made it clear he didn’t want to be there. My gaze landed on the open takeout box beside him.

Bo’s ears flattened. “Are those brain muffins?”

“Yes,” Barney said morosely. “They’re fresh from Ghoul’s Kitchen, on Fifth Street.”

Bo slinked behind me.

“Barney,” Didi said carefully, “why do you have brain muffins?”

“They were having a special. Buy five, get six free. Seemed wasteful not to take advantage.” The vampire’s tone turned evenmore glum. “Besides, it looks like I won’t be able to get my usual blood fix for a while. This was the next best alternative.”

My scalp prickled. I suddenly recalled Gregory’s report at the Alliance meeting.

“Does that have anything to do with those blood bank thefts?”

Didi frowned. “What blood bank thefts?”

Barney and Samuel traded a loaded look.

“You’d better sit down,” Samuel said.

Ten minutes later I began wondering whether my life had peaked at “accidentally turned into a werewolf” and everything since then had been a steady decline into “how is this my actual existence?”