Page 39 of The Vampire's Mate

I meet the old woman’s gaze and my lips turn up. “Refreshing. Thank you for the tea. It really did the trick.”

“You’re very welcome,” she says, then tilts her head. “What are your plans while in Los Angeles?”

A sliver of unease tiptoes up my spine, but I somehow manage to keep my smile. Her question is innocent enough, something that gets asked by millions of people every day on airplanes. It’s small talk. Nothing more.

But there’s a glint in her eyes, something I can’t decipher, that has me on edge. A little voice in my head warns me to be wary. It’s not like I’d tell her the truth, anyway.

Oh, my boyfriend’s dad––the king of the vampires––is dying, and even though he all but ordered me to stay home, I followed him out here. And I have no idea what to do or where to go when we land. Is Franklin Belloy’s address on those maps to the stars’ homes they give out in Hollywood?

Yeah. No.

“I’m meeting up with my boyfriend for a much-needed vacation,” I say, keeping my tone light.

“Where are you staying? I could give you some tips on things to do that’ll be close by.”

“I…uh…don’t know, actually. It’s supposed to be a surprise,” I spit out, then mentally pat myself on the back for coming up with that so quickly.

“Oh, I see,” she says, her tone heavier.

That weird creepy-crawly feeling slithers up my back again, and I fight the urge to roll my shoulders against the feeling. The plane rolls to a stop at our gate, and the pilot turns the fasten seatbelt sign off. Passengers unbuckle and stand, pulling their bags from the overhead compartments. I follow suit, pulling my bright blue roller bag from the cubby before looking at Theodora.

“Is there anything of yours in here I can grab for you?” I ask.

“No, dear. I only have the one bag,” she says, patting the large purse in her lap.

People are filing off the plane now, and it’s almost our turn. Clutching my small suitcase, I give her one last smile.

“Thanks again for the tea. It was nice to meet you, Theodora.”

“And you, as well, Eden. May your stay be filled with light and joy, and your intentions be straight and true.”

I give her a shaky nod before turning to head up the aisle. Her choice of words was just plain weird, and I roll them over in my mind, trying to find the true meaning of them.

That is, until I step off the jetway into the bustling, overcrowded airport. People are everywhere, and my anxiety returns in full force, my strange plane-mate all but forgotten.

I didn’t think this through.

As I follow the signs toward the passenger pick up area to catch a cab, I berate myself silently. I have no idea where to go. I can’t just ask the cabbie to take me to the vampire king, can I? Fuck.

I’m going to have to call Jesse.

I decide to catch that cab and have the driver take me somewhere else, first. Someplace public. And far away from the airport.

That way, Jesse has to listen to me. I’ll be able to explain why I felt the need to come. And if we’re not at the airport, he can’t just say no and shove me onto the first plane back to Georgia.

It will all be good, right? Right.

I feel immensely better as I step out into the bright California sunshine. Slipping on my shades, I walk toward the curb. As I lift my hand to flag down a cab, a black sedan with dark-tinted windows swerves in front of me, screeching to a stop.

I stumble back a step as the back door swings open, revealing a very familiar, very angry face.

“Jesse?” I breathe, my hand flying up to my chest.

“Get in, Eden,” he says, then scoots over to make room.

Well, shit.

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