Page 69 of How to Stake a Vampire

No one had been more surprised than me when Ellie had revealed what she’d seen last night. She hadn’t exactly been happy about having some weird mental link to the vampire who’d tried to kill her but had done her best to describe the details of her vision.

The whole psychic-vampire-bond thing was new to Barney.

I tried to find a comfortable position in the cramped surveillance van. Seeing as it currently contained three werewolves, a vampire, a witch, a dragon newt, and a sulking Husky, this proved impossible.

“I can’t believe we’re working Saturday overtime,” Gavin muttered, peering through the viewfinder of his camera. Smoke curled from his nostrils.

Didi cut her eyes to Samuel. “I hope we’re getting premium pay for this.”

“Yes, I’m paying you guys extra,” Samuel said testily. “So how about everyone put a sock in it?”

“Lucky you,” Detective Johnson muttered, unwrapping an egg and bacon bagel. “I don’t get overtime pay.”

He clocked Bo’s focused stare and guarded his food closely.

Samuel’s answer satisfied Didi for all of five seconds. She pursed her lips. “You know, it’s weird having you on a stakeout with us.”

Samuel frowned. “Why?”

“It’s like trying to have sex in front of your teacher. Awkward, painful, and liable to bring the law down on you.”

Detective Johnson choked on his bagel. Samuel rubbed his temples.

I had to agree with Didi. Since Virgil had gone home to reconcile with his parents, I’d spent last night at my apartment with Ellie. Having Samuel in a confined space this morning was testing the limits of my self-control, especially this close to my next full-moon transformation. The fact that he was wearingcasual clothes that showcased his muscular physique wasn’t helping.

I swallowed a sigh, hating that Pearl had been right.

There was a crumpling noise. We all looked at Barney.

The vampire was reading a newspaper and sipping a cup of blood orange tea like he was in the drawing room of his home. He became conscious of our stares.

“What?”

“You realize we’re on a stakeout, right?” Detective Johnson asked.

“Yes, and I’m all ears and nose,” Barney replied.

Didi curled a lip at that.

A crackling sound came from the radio. “Team Alpha, this is Base. Do you copy?”

Samuel picked up the handset. “We copy, Nigel. Also, I’m pretty sure I told you not to call us that.”

“But Team Alpha is such a cool name,” the boogeyman protested.

“It is a cool name,” Gavin concurred.

Bo huffed an agreement. Detective Johnson dipped his head.

Even I had to concede it had a ring to it.

Samuel sighed. “Any activity on the street cameras?”

“Negative.” Nigel hesitated. “Though I should mention, the system’s been acting up all morning. I keep getting these weird glitches.”

I tensed and exchanged a cautious glance with the others.

“Define glitches,” Samuel said stiffly.