“What are you talking about?”
She jingles her keys. “We’re going shopping for clothes for you.” I laugh, and she narrows her eyes. “What’s so funny?”
“You.”
“Am I? Because I don’t remember saying anything remotely funny.”
“Ava, I can’t go shopping.”
She doesn’t bat an eye. “Why not?”
“I’m a vampire!”
She shrugs. “So?”
She’s lost her mind. It must have been the mating with the alpha. “Ava, I’m a vampire. I can’t go out in the sun during the day, and I’m a terrifying creature to humans. If all that weren’t enough, I’m not allowed to leave pack land. Shoot, I’m not even really allowed to leave Hunter’s house.”
Ava raises an eyebrow. “As if that hasn’t stopped you before.”
Okay, she has a point. I kind of do my own thing. “Okay, but still. Besides, Bryce won’t let you go anywhere by yourself. You know him.”
“Uh, that’s why you’re there. Hellooo. Vampire.” She waves her hand up and down. “Who’s going to threaten us?” She hasa point there. “And we will be careful to stay out of the sun. As for the scary part, just don’t...you know...flash any fangs or anything. We’ll be fine.”
“Don’t flash any fangs?” I repeat.
She waves her hand again. “Come on. Stop being dramatic and let’s go.”
I stare at her, because I really can’t believe we’re having this conversation. “You’re serious.”
“Yes, I’m serious. Now get your backside in the shower, or you’ll have to go like that.”
“Ava,” I start, but don’t get to finish.
“Would you move already? Let’s go!”
She leaves a moment later, leaving me staring after her. Since I need to take a shower anyway, I head into the bathroom. A little while later, I’m dressed in Hunter’s shirt and pants, feeling more awake after my shower. Knowing Hunter’s already gone for the day, I head out to the living room. It takes all of two seconds to realize Ava’s still here. “Ready?” she asks brightly.
“For what?”
“Seriously? For our shopping trip.”
I walk past her and into the kitchen to the fridge. I pull out a blood bag and then frown as I count them. I stare into the fridge for a moment before I close it. I swear I’m short on blood bags again. I make a mental note to do a better job of keeping track. I open the bag and throw back the contents without thinking. I don’t ever let myself dwell on it; it’s dangerous when I do. I wipe my mouth, throw the bag out, and wash my hands. “We just have to ask Hunter if he’ll go with us.”
“Good luck with that.” I start to walk back to my room.
“Where are you going?” she calls out after me. “We need to get going.”
“Hunter’s not going to go with us.”
“You don’t know that,” she returns.
“Yes. I do.”
So, when she knocks on my door a few minutes later and opens it, shaking the keys at me, I’m surprised. “You got him to agree?”
“Of course, I did.”
“What did you threaten him with?”
