Page 23 of Kiss of the Vampire

“I wanted to freshen up my makeup.”

“No need,” he said.

Her eyes sparkled. “Well, maybe you don’t mind, but I’d scare the rest of the passengers into jumping ship.”

The bathroom door opened, and Alicia said, “It’s free.”

Caitlin glanced back at her. “Oh, okay, thanks, Alicia.” Turning to Levka, she said, “We’ll be right up.”

Leaning back in his wheelchair, Levka folded his arms. “We’ll wait.”

Caitlin smiled, then shut the door.

Arman cleared his throat. “I can’t believe you wouldn’t let us take her into her room last night.”

“I felt better.”

Shaking his head, Arman said, “Today, you’re so much better, Levka, despite not minding me. Maybe by tonight you’ll be able to ditch the wheelchair.”

“That is my profoundest desire.”

“What about the seating arrangements for breakfast?”

Levka looked up at him. “Ruric said he’d take care of it.”

“That should be interesting.”

Watching the door, Levka listened to Caitlin showering and Alicia swearing about something as she banged through drawers. The hair dryer came on, turned off, more drawers slid open and closed, then a several minutes later, Caitlin opened the door to their suite. “We’re ready. Sorry we took so long.”

She reminded him of a sunshiny day, warm and vibrant.

Brushing Caitlin aside, Alicia headed for the stairs. She was more like an annoying storm cloud, chilly, and moody.

Caitlin sighed. “I’d better go after her.”

Levka grabbed her hand. “Ride with me in the elevator?”

She watched Alicia’s retreating backside. “Yes, of course. You were nice enough to wait for me.”

“I’ll see that Alicia gets to our table.” Stalking after her foster sister, Arman closed the gap between them, caught up to her, and escorted her up the stairs.

Caitlin raised her dark brows. “Don’t tell me he’s a hypnotist, too.”

“We all play around with it,” Levka admitted, easing Caitlin into their world, though he had no intention of bringing her into the darkest part of their existence.

Caitlin wheeled Levka to the elevator and punched the button. “We really shouldn’t do this to Alicia the whole trip.”

“You deserve to have some fun, Caitlin. Your foster parents shouldn’t have made you take this trip, knowing how fearful you are of the water.”

“They’re right. I have to get over it somehow.”

He breathed a heavy sigh. “It’s one thing to have you work on your fear, but sticking you out here in the middle of the ocean is overdoing it. And the other thing is they shouldn’t have made you baby-sit your foster sister. In dealing with your anxiety, you should be able to enjoy what you like doing. Like watching the comedy show last night.”

She gave him a small smile, but said nothing.

The elevator arrived, but was packed with teens.

“Sorry, no room,” one of the guys said and gave Levka an ugly smirk.