Page 10 of Love Bites And So Do I

I offered a small smile. “Is it that obvious?”

She glanced down at my outfit, then back up with a grin. “Absolutely. But also, this is Eternity Falls, population five-hundred-and-sixty-two. New faces tend to stand out.”

Aha.

“Thorne,” she said, extending a hand without hesitation. “And no, I don’t do tarot readings, despite what everyone assumes.”

All right then.

I took her hand, shaking it briefly. “Isadora.”

“Pretty name,” Thorne said. “Pretty outfit. Well, Izzy, welcome to the weirdest town you’ll ever learn to love.”

I blinked at the nickname she instantly assigned me without even knowing me for five minutes.

She grinned at my bewildered expression. “Are you all moved in?”

I nodded. “Last night.”

“And how are you settling in?”

“As well as one can without caffeine or blood,” I said dryly.

Thorne laughed. “Easily remedied. Our grocery stores—yes, all two of them—carry ethically sourced blood. And caffeine is practically its own food group around here. You’ll find it on every corner, probably blessed by a witch. Just be careful which blessing you get. Some like to play dirty.”

“Thanks,” I said while mentally calculating my finances—and grimacing. The irony of my situation wasn’t lost on me. Back in New Orleans, I’d had more wealth than I knew what to do with yet never needed a cent to feed. Humans were a dime a dozen there, and vampires like me had long since mastered the art of subtle indulgence. But here? Not a single human to feed off of, nor could my bank account sustain me.

The pressure to get my newly acquired bar back on its feet was mounting, but unfortunately, that also required funds.

“Something wrong?” Thorne asked.

I shook my head a little too quickly. No need to unload my life’s drama on someone I’d only just met at—I glanced at my watch—seven-thirty in the morning.

Thorne didn’t press. Instead, she asked. “So, you out here wandering with a purpose? Or just taking in the sights?”

“A little of both,” I admitted. “Figured I’d get the lay of the land. See what I’ve gotten myself into.”

“Smart,” she said. “Well, if you don’t mind the company, I can tag along for a bit. Morning runs get a little boring without someone to talk to. Besides, I’m always happy to play tour guide.”

“Sure,” I said, surprising myself. “That’d be great, actually.”

Thorne’s grin widened. “Perfect.”

She fell into step beside me, her pace smooth and effortless, like she hadn’t just been out running a marathon.

“So,” she said as we walked past a shop window filled with floating candles and what looked like a levitating kitten, “what brings a vampire heiress to our little corner of the world?”

I glanced at her, startled. “How did you?—?”

“Please,” she said with a wave of her hand. “Gossip travels faster than spellfire in this town. I’m surprised someone didn’t spell your name in the sky the moment you crossed the town line. Though, our clock tower definitely took on a new hue.”

I glanced back. The clock tower changed colors?

I cleared my throat. “Then you must know about?—”

“All the rest?” She grinned. “Naturally. And might I add, I’m a fan. Breaking a mate bond? Leaving all that old-money drama behind? Buying a haunted bar that no one’s touched in years?” She gave a low whistle. “Iconic.”

I shot her a bemused look. “You say that like I didn’t just light my entire life on fire.”