Page 82 of The Silver Fox Vampire

Her eyes rounded as she swiveled to look at him. “You can’t tell me you’ve never had one. Cheese and puff pastry, onion and spices. So yummy.”

He shook his head. If it was vegetarian, he usually didn’t bother.

“Could we stop and buy one?” she pleaded. “I’ve had no breakfast, and it’s been a fucking huge morning.”

“Fair enough. But you need to stay in the car, for your own safety. I will go order.”

“There’s a little eating area out back of the stall—please, let’s just sit out there.”

He cast her a frown. But it was quiet, there were few folks around, and it was early still. He guessed it was safe.

He drew up the car and in seconds she’d hopped out, slamming the door and practically skipping to the little stall. “Would you like the same as me?”

He nodded and heard her eagerly order double cheese shaktas with pickles.

He stood shielding her while she ordered, glancing around, but the street was deserted. Still, after what they’d just heard, he couldn’t help imagining risks to her safety at every turn.

A bare minute later, warm pastries wrapped in paper, they sat down at a corner table.

“Oliver, I’m not leaving the case.”

He responded stiffly. “I meant step away while we re-evaluate. I didn’t explain myself well, I apologize.”

“You seem to be getting good at that, sir.”

“Explaining myself?”

“No, apologizing.”

“You are cheeky at times, Detective Doyle.”

“Thank you, sir. I aim for an outstanding level of cheek at all times.”

Oliver shook his head, chuckling despite himself. Then, bracing for a fight, he said, “Clare, this case is far more complex and dangerous than any of us realized. Knowing that your blood is the most powerful of all the Golden Bloods, I can’t… I can’t risk you disappearing, without… without knowing how to get you back.”

“I get that, but if I go into hiding now, how will we get more intel on their movements? Waldo said my blood is integral to solving this crime. I mean, it’s hard to take in, but…”

She stopped and bit her lip. Gently, he prompted, “Go on, I’m listening.”

“This might sound like I’ve got tickets on myself, but I’ve always sensed I was different… My way of interacting with the world, my belief as a kid that I could talk to the dead, sometimes I swear I almost saw their souls… And then, the way I was ostracized, considered a weirdo by other kids, even called one of the dead, it kind of falls into place now. I’m putting the pieces of the puzzle together, and maybe… maybe.” She shook her head. “Maybe this was meant to be…” She stared at the tablecloth as she said quietly, “I mean us, our erm, ourconnection, I guess, and both being drawn back to work on this case at exactly the same time. It feels like more than a coincidence.”

Her words resonated deeply. At some deep level he’d always know that his crazy attraction to her was fated.

He just couldn’t fight what she meant to him anymore, but nor did he have the words to tell her. He tried to couch it in practical, not personal, terms. “If you disappear Clare, what then? How would we get you back?”

To his surprise, she said, “You would, sir.”

“Me!”

“Yes, you would rescue me, and the other humans.”

“Ha, I know you put me on a pedestal but… I’m no knight in shining armor.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” she muttered, but he heard that wicked note of sass and glanced over to see the little smirk he loved so much playing around her mouth. “My blood turned you invisible, allowed you access to this other dimension, and you said yourself you felt invincible. That’s powerful stuff, don’t you see?” Her beautiful eyes glowed with passion. “What if we were meant to bring down this Dark Dimension together, just like Waldo said?”

Her passion, the confidence of her youth thrilled him. But life had taught him caution.

“Clare, I could only use those powers after I’d partaken of your blood, and not for long. I doubt I could access that dimension in a crisis if I hadn’t… recently partaken of your blood.”