“You don’t know him like I do.”
To my astonishment, Caitlin didn’t jump on me for referencing my relationship with her brother.
Shane brought us back on topic. “It’s obvious the vampire knows you’re following him. He led you around the town twice in the short time Brett and I were eating. That’s going to make it harder to catch him. However, we might be able to set a trap.”
Newton started to interject, but Shane cut him off.
“I mean arealtrap. This all just seems like child’s play. I can’t believe you two weren’t more careful. You should have realized he knew you were following him.”
Though firm, Caitlin’s tone wasn’t demeaning or sarcastic. Maybe she was saving all that for me. “You don’t have to join us, werewolf. If you don’t like the plan, no one is making you stay. And of course we knew he was aware of us.”
“Then why do it?”
She shrugged, as if the risk was nothing more than buying a lotto ticket. “In case the opportunity to capture him showed itself. When the time came, he’d already be used to us following him. And look, the opportunity has been presented.” She gestured around the room.
Shane shook his head, still unconvinced. “I don’t get why he’s been allowing you to follow him. What’s the point?”
“Like all vampires, this one seems to like games. Maybe more than most. And as you said, it’s just me and the fairy. Why would he concern himself with us? He’s biding his time. Plus, Finn is certain the vampire king has demanded we remain unharmed.”
“For now.”
“Yes, wolf. For now. So we take advantage of that fact. Now.”
We wouldattempt the plan when the sun went down, when it was late enough that most of the tourists would be out of the way. Despite the fact that the redhead could now be out in full sunlight, it simply felt right to get him at night. Both Shane and Newton had great night vision. Caitlin had her spells, and I had fire.
Fire. I kept picturing him above me in that alley—remembering both the pleasure he forced me to feel and the genuine terror that seeped through. If only I’d managed to end it then, but I’d been as surprised as him when I lit him up. Or even if I’d found a way to kill him the night he led me to the house where Sonia had killed that family. To think I would have that chance, and I had the control I needed to finally get the job done, and I still couldn’t kill him!
Whatever. When it was over, when Finn, Cynthia, and the mers were safe, I’d end him. And if I could figure out a way to make the fire consume him slowly, I’d do that.
Caitlin and Newton had left Shane and I alone in the hotel while they went to some cave they had lived in for a while. I couldn’t say I hated the idea of Caitlin stuck in a cave. Seemed fitting. They needed to check on something to make sure it was ready if things went as planned. They seemed confident the vampire would show and let them follow him around like he had the past many nights.
I felt like I understood him better than the rest. Having him nearly kill me twice, not to mention kill my best friend, gave me a deeper level of connection to him, for lack of a better word. I think Caitlin understood that a little more than Newton seemed to. Probably since she’d been a victim of him firsthand as well, when she’d watched him nearly kill her nephew. The vampire wasn’t going to be content to simply play an obvious game of cat and mouse with a witch and a fairy and not have an alternative plan up his sleeve. Maybe I was giving him too much credit. I might feel differently if I’d met the vampire king, but I couldn’t see the redhead kowtowing to anyone when there was misery to spread. Even if it was an edict from the king. I was certain that the only reason Caitlin and Newton hadn’t been slaughtered yet was because the vampire was biding his time and relishing the anticipation.
“Wow. You really are a million miles away. Not that I blame you, I guess.”
I glanced over at Shane, who was reclining on the opposite bed. I’d forgotten he was there.
He smiled. “It’s okay. You don’t have to entertain me or anything.”
“No, I’m sorry. I was lost in thought. It’s been a crazy year or so.” I shook my head. “It seems like it’s been centuries. I can’t believe it hasn’t been longer.”
Shane rolled over and propped himself up on his elbows to get a better look at me. “Yeah, I’d say so. Learning you’re a demon, then finding out you’re part mermaid or whatever. That would take a lot out of a guy.”
I nodded, uncertain what to say.
“So earlier, when you said something about returning to the ocean, you meant that literally, didn’t you? Like stay in it. Live under the water.”
I nodded again.
He thought about it, then let out a shudder. “Shit! That sounds horrible!”
I couldn’t suppress a laugh. “Yeah, you didn’t even wanna get your feet wet in the waves.”
“Exactly! It sounds horrible!” Though he wasn’t exactly kidding, he grinned at me playfully.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the mer thing. I wasn’t sure how to handle that.” I glanced down at the floor. “Or the Finn thing either.”
Shane pushed himself into a sitting position so he was leaning out over the open space between the beds. “Hey, none of that. We only met yesterday, remember? One good fuck, or a few, doesn’t commit you to share your life story or anything.”
