Connor might have been a vampire, but he thought more like a Fae.
"How did you know I needed help?" I asked him, leaving that for later.
His gaze left mine. "I followed you."
I inhaled sharply as my eyebrows lifted. A stalker. Just my luck.
"Why?"
He lifted a shoulder. "To study you."
I waited, allowing the silence to deepen.
"How did you get them to release me?"
"I wove a story they would believe."
I didn't have to ask how. Compulsion was an ability all vampires had—well except for me. As a vampire, I was a little lacking in some areas. Some of that had to do with the less than traditional way I was changed. The rest could be laid at the feet of my "no live human blood" rule—something that had recently changed.
It meant I was weaker than most, even considering my young age.
"Do I even want to know?"
He paused, a brief flash of uncertainty chasing across his face. "I don't know. Do you?"
My eyes narrowed. Was he fucking with me?
"Why did you interfere?" I asked through gritted teeth.
Soft surprise filled his expression. "That's easy. I want a job."
I stared at him for a beat. He had to be kidding.
Wait. He wasn't. Determination filled his face, stubbornness too.
I shook my head. "No."
I didn't wait for his reaction, striding toward the door and freedom. The night was cool, carrying with it a sharp bite. Winter was courting Columbus, teasing the city with cold and snow before it inevitably dissipated leaving behind rain and moderate temperatures.
It was like a fickle lover who couldn't make up its mind whether it wanted to stay or not. Mid-January and we'd only had one or two snowfalls that disappeared almost as quickly as they'd come.
Most days it felt more like spring, making it challenging to know the appropriate number of layers to wear. Luckily, I had my puffy blue coat to keep me warm.
As a vampire, I didn’t feel the cold as sharply as I once did, but I still preferred the heat and warmth of summer.
Connor trailed behind me as I let myself out of the precinct, stepping onto the street and heading for where my car was parked several blocks away.
"It's so much louder here," Connor mused from beside me.
I slid him a sideways glance. It was past four in the morning. The city was dead, not a soul on the streets except for us. If he thought this was loud, he should wait until rush hour began around seven thirty. Then he'd really see loud.
He tilted his head back to take in the sky. "The stars aren't as bright either."
"That's because we're in a city. Too much light pollution. Head into the country where there's less people, and you'll start seeing the stars again."
The mountains out west would probably offer the best view, the high elevation making the sky clearer, but they were several states away.
Connor hummed in response. "I think I will stick close for a while. Relearn what it means to be a man again."
