“Um…I’m not sure. We need some ingredients and stuff.”
“The sooner the better,” I say.
“Damn right!” exclaims Sammy hoarsely.
My stomach nearly heaves. Of course, Sammy is going to be keen to be free. Why wouldn’t he? He never asked for this.
“Okay,” says Jade, and he sounds confused. “I’ll go tell the others.”
“I’ll come with you,” says Sammy brightly. “Night, Blue,” he adds without looking at me.
And just like that, he walks away with Jade. Across the grass, and into the house and out of view. And now I’m standing here all alone, feeling like I’m about to burst into tears.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Chapter twenty
Sammy
Ican’t sleep. My bed is too big. Too cold. Too empty. And I’m far too busy feeling sorry for myself. I’m such a dramatic bitch. Of course Blue isn’t going to want to stay mated to me. Why would he? He never chose me. It has all been nothing more than a stupid accident.
I always knew this was nothing more than a brief interlude in my shitty life. A short, yet glorious reprieve from the constant drudgery. There is no need to cry about it. Not that I am, thank heavens. My face and pillow are dry. Possibly because I’m far beyond tears. This hurt has hurtled past that stage and straight to dried-out husk mode.
“What are you looking at?” I snap at the perfect ceiling, that seems to glare down at me condescendingly.
Fuck this. I might as well get up and go make a cup of tea or something. If my hands have something to do, it might distract me for a bit.
Sighing heavily, I heave myself out of bed and pull my pink fluffy robe on. Then I tiptoe carefully down the unlit hallway even though this is a house full of paranormals, so three a.m. doesn’t necessarily mean everyone is asleep.
The kitchen is dark and empty. I flick the light switch and wince as the fluorescent light buzzes and flickers to life.
The coffee machine tries to tempt me, but I ignore it and head for Pink’s tea cupboard instead. He must have chamomile tea. I need something to help me sleep.
I find a bright yellow box amongst Pink’s collection and smile in triumph. A few minutes later, I’m sitting at the kitchen table, hands around a mug of chamomile tea, remembering how disgusting it is and why I never drink it.
Well, at least making it killed a whole five minutes. Only another three hours of the night to go. But it’s not like I have anything to do in the morning either. Just more endless hours to kill.
“You look like shit,” says Ned as he glides silently into the kitchen.
I jump a little at his sudden appearance and flip him the finger, but lord am I happy to see him. Company is exactly what I need.
He heads for the coffee machine. “Do you want one?”
Oh balls. I’m not a vampire with a crazy sleep schedule or a freaky metabolism. Coffee at three a.m. when I want to go to sleep is a terrible idea.
“Yes please,” I say.
Because sod it. You only live once and all that. Though, given that I’m in the presence of a vampire right now, it’s probably time to acknowledge that saying isn’t necessarily true.
Ned gives me a nod and gets to work. Soon I have a steaming cup of joyous coffee next to my mug of abhorrent herbal tea.
Ned slides into the chair across from me and sips his coffee. Thank fuck he is not disappearing back to his room, or wherever he emerged from.
“So what’s got your knickers in a twist then?” he snaps.
I grin at him. I’ve been around enough dangerous and nasty men to know when I’m in a room with one, and Ned ain’t one. He is all bark and no bite. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that beneath that grump exterior, he is a pure squishy marshmallow.
“Maybe it was having a vampire creep up on me in the middle of the night?” I tease.
