He smiled, then reached out and gently squeezed my hand. “Exactly. It’s about … protecting.” His jaw clenched as he glanced at the rain. “But sometimes I wonder if we’re just becoming what we hunt.”
As Connor looked at me, his eyes softening in the dim light of the restaurant, a plan formed in my mind. I knew I had to tread carefully, extracting information without revealing my true nature to him. I would have to get closer to Connor in the hope that he would reveal more about his friends and their Slayer operations. I could gather the information I needed and report back to Vail.
At the end of the meal, I took a deep breath. “Connor, do you think you could walk me home? I’m a bit scared after all this talk about vampires.” I whispered the last word, glancing around the restaurant. Connor’s face softened, and he nodded.
We walked in silence back to Vail’s house, it was only a short distance, but the weight of our conversation lingered in the air.
“So, who else is a Vampire Slayer? Just you and Sam?” I asked as we huddled under the umbrella.
“No. My dad trained Donovan since he was around all the time, and then Sam trained Ivy and Diana. There are some others in town as well who you haven’t met yet.”
Interesting.
Once we reached the front of the house, I turned to Connor, and our eyes met.
“Thank you for walking me home, Connor.” A hint of a smile played on my lips. “But don’t get any ideas. That was not a date.”
Connor’s cheek flushed, and he held up his hands defensively. “I never said it was.”
“See you around.” I blew him a teasing kiss and slipped into Vail’s house.
Inside the house, the air was thick with the metallic scent of blood. My eyes swept across the room, taking in an aftermath of destruction. Pillows lay torn apart, their feathers scattered like confetti on the floor. Books had been violently torn from their shelves, and shattered glass from frames crunched as I walked.
I sniffed the air. No one was home except for Vail, who was tucked away in her room. My boots crunched on the broken glass as I made my way to her door.
Pushing it open, I found Vail curled up in bed, her hair a golden halo against the dark sheets. The room was dim, but I could see the smudges beneath her eyes. Even in her despair, she was a haunting beauty.
I took off my boots and wet jeans, then slid into the bed behind her, wrapping my arms around her and resting my head on her shoulder. She felt fragile, and I forgot how well our bodies fit together.
“Hey,” I whispered, letting her warmth seep into my cold legs. “I’m here.”
“Did you have a good date with the Slayer?” Vail’s voice was hoarse from crying.
“Before you make accusations, let me explain,” I urged, attempting to bridge the emotional gap between us.
“You’re a shitty friend. You left me tonight. You left me for a boy.”
“I’m sorry, Vail! You know it’s not like that. It was a good opportunity to get information,” I defended, feeling stung by her reaction.
“That’s not the first time it’s happened, you know.”
I paused, considering her words carefully. I knew exactly what instances she was referring to, but I wasn’t in the mood to start a fight.
“Connor told me about his band being Slayers.”
“Yes, Rosie, I know,” she replied, her voice distant, like she was already somewhere else.
“Listen for a minute …Connor and Sam, they’re the real deal. Proper Slayers, just like their fathers and their fathers before them.” I reasoned.
“You didn’t have to leave me at that moment. You’re so blind to the things right in front of you sometimes.”
“I think if I can get close to Connor and gain his trust, we can find out more about them. Maybe even if they know anything about the Vampire-killing drug,” I offered. “It might be easy since Connor seems to have a crush on me.”
“And you like him too,” Vail accused, her voice flat.
I sat up beside her, surprised. “Why do you think that?”
“Because I know you. I see how you are when you fall for someone.”
