I wasn’t scared of Kiro. At the same time,I’d be lying if I said he didn’t make me uncomfortable. Still, I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of ruining our evening out. I switched direction and pulled Dennis along, but Kiro appeared instantaneously. I stepped back as Dennis moved between us.
“Hey guys, how’s it goin’?”Kiro asked. Like we were all friends.
“I meant what I said about skinning you alive.”
“Don’t.” I touched Dennis’ arm. “It’s okay.”
“Yeah,D.Listen to your girl.”
“I’m not doing it for you,” I snapped, glaring at Kiro’s stupid grin. “I just don’t feel like dealing with you today.”
“You’ll be dealing with me soon enough. He can protect you all he wants, but he won’t always be with you.Speaking of, that’s your house, right?”He pointed back the way he’d come, singling out a house three doors past mine.
“No,” I said, praying he couldn’t tell how close he was to getting it right. My heart was pounding for two reasons: this man seemed hellbent on harassing me, and Dennis seemed about to kill him. “Dennis.” I grabbedhisarmas he stepped forward.
“I’m not doing anything.”Dennis’ voice was calm, but he wanted to murder him—I could feel the urge emanating.
“Well, this was fun. Thanks for saving me. Your name’s Emy, right? Or is it Mina?”Kiro peered around Dennis to look at me.“No one knows.”His voice was mocking, but the smile dropped when I showed no reaction.“Whatever. I’ll see you soon, then? I know that’s not your house, by the way. I’m not dumb.” He ‘tsk’ed and laughed before pointing to my real house. “That’s where you live, eh? Maybe I’ll visit next time you’re alone.”
And then he was gone.
“I’m sorry,”I let go of Dennis’arm,“I panicked. I don’t know how these things work with vampires and I got scared you guys would kill each other. I don’t know if I’m being stupid, or—”
“It’s okay. I’ll do it later,” Dennis said. His tone was still deadly calm.
“Do what later?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
It felt like I was talking to a steel wall. All the anger I’d felt from him was gone, replaced by the same block as always. Only this time it was something colder, something I could actually feel.
“I’m sorry,”I repeated, entwining my arm with his. The coldness faded almost immediately.
“It’s fine,”he said.
We walked in silence for a while. We were almost to the condowhen I worked up the nerve to ask,“How many people have you killed?”
“I lost count.”
“Vampires, I mean. Not humans,”I said, hoping that would narrow it down.
“Are you scared he’ll end up killing me?”He guessed it perfectly. I barely nodded, causing him to smile.
“It’s not funny. I don’t want you to die.”
“I’m not gonna die.”
“But you’re worried about him with me, so he must be pretty dangerous, right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t care so much.”
“Not really. You’re just more fragile than I am.”
“Iam not fragile,”I huffed.“I never have been.”
“I’m sure you’re not.”
I narrowed my eyes, pretty sure his agreement was sarcasm. But then I decided not to care.“My feet hurt.” I stopped in the middle of a crosswalk.
“I’m not carrying you.”
