She closed her eyes and I noticed the dark circles beneath them. Then she squared her shoulders and, looking calm and composed, turned back to Rossi. “When?”
“In three days. When the moon is full and we have a plan.”
I wasn’t sure if I was happy about carrying around the bite and Lavius’s life force tie that long. “How vulnerable am I?”
Rossi’s eyebrows raised and for the first time, there was a ghost of a smile over his lips. It was not a warm one. “Other than the fact that he crossed into my territory and claimed you when I wasn’t looking?”
“You were looking for Ben. I don’t expect you to be everywhere at once.”
“Neither did he, obviously.”
I nodded. It was, I realized, a very well-executed plan. Ben as bait to pull all the vampires out of town, the Wolfes either hunting for Ben, or guarding Jame. According to the rules of Ordinary, all creatures were welcome. They didn’t have to stow their powers like the gods, didn’t have to go through me to live here.
That he had caught me alone on the beach wasn’t all that surprising either. I loved to jog, and I lived alone. He could have found me at any number of places alone.
“You are less vulnerable that most humans. Much stronger than he might believe.”
Images of him easily lifting me off the ground with one hand, shaking me like a wet towel, flashed through my mind. “I don’t feel strong.”
“Oh, but you are. It’s your blood, Reed blood, chosen by the gods. You underestimate your strength. I am counting on him underestimating it too.”
“So we have some time to plan. That’s good.” Look at me: Little Miss Bright-Side.
“Yes.”
“Good,” Myra said. “Then the plan starts with us letting Delaney take a shower and eat breakfast.”
Rossi nodded. “It’s a good start.” He stood, and rocked his head from side to side as if stiff from holding still for so long. I wondered if he’d sat there all night.
“I’ll come by later this evening. We can talk. Plan.”
“Rossi?” I said.
He waited.
“Promise me we’ll take care of Lavius before anyone else is hurt.”
“You have my word.” He left, and Myra followed him out and locked the door behind him.
Jean relaxed into me, laying her head on my shoulder and wrapping her arms around me.
When Myra came into the room she took one look at us then joined us on the bed, wrapping around both of us.
We held each other, silent, thankful, and whole.
~~~
“Ketchup for your thoughts?” Ryder held the bottle out for me. I shook my head. He tipped the bottle over his plate, keeping his eye on the growing red puddle. “So how are you holding up? Really?”
We were sitting at my little breakfast nook. Ryder had brought us lunch from Jump Off Jack—burgers and fries since I’d sort of stood him up for dinner the previous night.
I’d used Ryder’s arrival as an excuse to make my sisters go home and sleep. Roy was at the station covering the phones, and he would contact Myra or Jean if there was anything happening that needed police attention.
We still had no leads on Ryder’s boss, Jake, and no other hints about where Ben might be.
“I’m...” I was going to say “fine,” but couldn’t force the lie out of my mouth. “It’s been a weird week,” I said with a laugh that sounded a little too hollow. “I’m sort of still processing it.” I took a bite of fries, trying to enjoy the salt and heat and grease. “And you?”
“I’m good,” he said with a grin. He took a drink of his beer, then dragged a few fries through the ketchup and Tabasco on his plate to mix it up. He shoved the fries in his mouth, chewed. “I mean, I’ve apparently given my life and soul over to a god I don’t believe in, but hey—at least I didn’t get bitten by a murderous vampire.”
