“How long?”he asked.
“Around two weeks,” Melissa replied before I could.She hadnotfastened her eyes on his face.
I smacked her arm.
“What?”She looked up, saw my pointed expression, and smirked.“Vampires don’t have your human prudishness.”
“It’s called respect.”
“Prudish,” Deagan and Melissa said simultaneously.
We helped him to the bathroom, tentatively let him go when he stepped onto the laminate floor.He placed one hand on the doorframe for balance, then felt along the wall.
Something clicked softly.Deagan frowned.Another soft click.His mouth flattened.A third click.
The light switch.
“The power’s out,” I said casually, hoping he wouldn’t ask why.
“Why?”he asked.
“Rumor issomeoneforgot to pay the bill,” Melissa answered.
He stared at me.“Truly?”
“I’m taking care of it,” I said.“Can you dress on your own?”
“Of course.”He released the doorframe and turned to face the mirror.“Oh.Dreadful.”He ran his fingers through his hair, or tried to at least.The tangles and knots didn’t allow it.“I must shower.And urinate.”
He turned toward us, closed the door, then immediately cracked it open again.“Lest I miss in the dark.”
“Right.”I stepped back.When he started peeing, I took another step back.
Melissa had the decency to retreat too.“Well, it doesn’t look like he’s insane still.I think you’re in the clear.He won’t sink his human teeth into you today.”
“Yeah, that’s only something you make vampires do.”The words slipped out.
“Ouch,” she said.“Low blow.”
“It was a joke.”Sort of.I was still extremely annoyed she had “panicked” and pretended to be a human victim of a vampire bite.But, really, that was in the past.I needed to let it go.
Deagan continued to pee.
“I guess I deserve it,” Melissa said.“That’s one reason I haven’t left The Rain.I don’t know what else Crusco might force me to do when he finds me.”
That would worry me too.She was an extremely young vampire, and Crusco was both Aged and her creator.He had virtually unbreakable influence over her actions.
Geez.It sounded like Deagan was pouring water bottles into the toilet, one after the other.
“Now that Jared’s replaced Arcuro, he has more resources,” I said.“His people will find Crusco soon.If Christian doesn’t first.”
“Christian is going to get himself killed,” she muttered.
“He loves you.And he—”
The toiletfinallyflushed.
“I am feelingmuchbetter now,” Deagan said.“Where can I find soap?”
