Page 13 of Twisted

Pushing my shoulders back, I go to the window and look outside.This room overlooks a perfectly manicured lawn, with a large in-ground pool and impressive gardens.There’s a groundskeeper out there now, trimming the hedges that line the patio around the pool.

“It’s like fucking vampire Stepford wives live here,” I mutter under my breath.The yard expands several acres beyond the perfectly maintained gardens, and is neatly mowed.There’s a cobblestone path leading into the woods that I’m guessing lines the property.There are more houses beyond the trees, and tall buildings in the distance.

We drove maybe two or three hours which means we could possibly be on the outskirts of Charlotte.If there is a big vampire population in the biggest city in North Carolina and I didn’t know…I shake my head.Yep, there’s no denying the Order’s involvement in the cover up.

There’s a knock on the door as I’m looking around to figure out what to use to block the door so I could take a power nap.I wait a beat but then curiosity gets the best of me and I open the door with my knife in my hand.

“Jesus,” Devon huffs, leaning back.He’s holding a tray full of food.

“No, Wren, but I can see the confusion.”I lower my knife and take a step back.“What are you doing?”

“I brought you breakfast.”

I’m not falling for anything and bringing me food is the bare fucking minimum.“I’m a vegetarian.”

“You’re a demon hunter.That’s, uh, not a peaceful job.”

“Can’t a girl have layers?Killing an innocent cow is very different from cutting the heads off ghouls.”

“Touché.So…you only want the pancakes?”

“Eggs are fine.I’m not a vegan.And I appreciate the smell of bacon.I just won’t eat it, but feel free to help yourself.”

Devon looks at me for a few seconds, awkwardly holding the tray, and then nods.“I already ate.”

“Did you?”

“I had coffee,” he says with a shrug.

I don’t quite get how he fits into all of this.“Why did you pretend to be a vampire?”I ask, unable to help myself.“You can’t fool other vampires, not at all.”

“It’s fun and humans are so gullible.”

“You’re human,” I say, stating the obvious.“And yet you live in a house full of vampires.”

“I’m human for now.”

“For now?”My brows go up.“They promised to turn you?”

He nods.Eagerly.Too eagerly.

“Why?”I question.

“To keep the direct Malus bloodline going.”

“Come again?”

He walks in and sets the tray of food on the dresser.The bacon smells good, but not as good as the coffee.“I’m of biological descent from Xavier, the head of the family.”

“The mob boss,” I spit with a laugh.

Devon’s eyes twitch ever so slightly.Oh, did I hit a nerve?Noted.

“He will let you know how he prefers to be addressed.And he’s nearly seven-hundred years old, so don’t think you’ll be able to get away with anything.”He gives me agotchalook and I just nod.Witches can’t be held spellbound by vampires.I’m not sure why, but I figured it out by accident when I was just a teenager.My interaction with other witches has been minimal and I only recently learned that the fact we have magic counteracts the dark magic inside vampires, making them unable to hold us spellbound in any way.

And Devon has no fucking idea.Hah.

“How are you biologically related to someone seven hundred years old?Wouldn’t you be a super distant cousin by now?”