“He’s not mad. Stop being dramatic and text him. Or better yet, call him so you won’t keep pouting until he texts back.”
“No, that would be annoying. I think he got tired of me.”
“Right,‘causethat’sreally gonna happen.”Ari rolled her eyes.“You’re being paranoid. Just callhim.”
“What’re you doing?” Ijerked asthe car swerved to the curb.
“I’m not driving until you call him and get it over with. I don’t feel like hearing you overthink all day.”She crossed her arms and stared. I stared back, narrowing my eyes.
“I have to go to work,”I said. She put the car in park and pulled the keys from the ignition.“Fine.I’ll call him. You’re so annoying.”I dug my phone out and pulled up my contacts, scrolling for Dennis’number. For some reason, I couldn’t find his name. I could’ve sworn it was saved in here.“I can’t find it.”I kept scrolling up and down until something caught my eye: the word ‘Master’ was listedas a contact.
I groaned but decided to leave it for now since I needed to get to work and Ari was holding me hostage.Ibrought the phone to my ear, bouncing my leg while it rang.Butterflies were overtaking my stomach. Why was calling him making me so nervous?
“Hello?”
I hung up and threw the phone at Ari.
“What was that?”She was laughing so hard she could barely talk.
“Shut up, I panicked.”
“That doesn’t count. Do it again.”She tried to give my phone back, but I wouldn’t take it. We pushed it back and forth until I grabbed the keys at vampire speed and turned them in the ignition. I switched the car from‘park’to‘drive’ and turned the wheel so we rolled into the street. She slammed the brakes right before we would’ve touched a passing car.“Emery! What the fuck?”
I cackled while she freaked out.“Oh, get over it.”I was done laughing and busy re-situating.“It’s not like we’re on the freeway. I’ve done worse.”
“True, but don’t ever do that shit again.” She resumed driving at a normal speed, shooting glares every time I started giggling at her freakout. This went on until a distant sound caught my attention.
“Can you pull over?” I asked.
“Now?” Her voice was aggravated. “You just told me to start driving again. Scratch that. Youmademe start driving like a fucking lunatic—”
“Ari, pull over. I’m serious.”
She sensed the urgency and pulled into the first open space along the street. I popped my door open and hopped out before the car fully stopped.
“Where are you going?” she shouted after me.
“I’ll be back.” I slammed my door and set off toward the ongoing argument.
We’d stopped neara somewhat crowdedCraven Lake,but the voices were carrying from deep within the trees—far enough that no human could hear. Once I entered the woods, a few more details were audible: a human heartbeat, a vampire heartbeat, some type of scuffle. Something bad was going on, but not drinking. It was more than that.
I stopped as two figures became clear a few feet ahead. A woman was pressing a man into a tree, gripping his shoulders while he winced.
“I don’t think I want to,”the man was saying.
“Just agree already,” shesnapped.“Say it out loud.”
“But—”
“Say it!”
“Hey!” I cut in and shoved the girl aside. The man fell free and I easily caught him.“Are you okay?”
“Mind your own business.”The girl stepped forward, but I didn’t back up.“I’m trying to get myself a servant.”
“You’re binding him?”I let go as the man regained his footing.
“I don’t know what she’s trying to do. Where did you come from?”He grimaced andrubbed a shoulder.
