“Aileen,” Inara warned.
I wasn’t listening, intent on the furtive movements that betrayed Lowen’s position.
“Lowen, she’s tracking you. Mask your presence,” Inara ordered.
A veil seemed to drop over the world, the sounds from the wall becoming muted and indistinct.
I’d lost him.
With the promise of a hunt no longer distracting me from the vicious prickle radiating from my wound, I gave into the urge to scratch. The pleasure/pain that came with the act made me lose a little time before I got myself back under control.
Fucking pixies.
What was I thinking letting them room with me? I wasn’t. That’s for sure.
I whipped around, intending to take some of my ire out on Inara only to find her gone. The kitchen island deserted.
Of course, it was.
Connor and Deborah stood in the corner. There was an expression of polite interest on Connor’s face while the human looked worried.
“Are you okay?” Deborah asked tentatively.
“No, I’m not okay,” I snapped, becoming aware that I’d started to scratch again. “I feel like a swarm of fire ants has descended on my boob.”
Deborah grimaced. “That doesn’t sound pleasant.”
I glared, feeling bad when she flinched.
Now look what I’d done.
She was too scared to look at me. The brittle way she held herself made me look down at the ground in shame. As if she was afraid one wrong movement would make me attack.
Damn it.
Deborah didn’t deserve to have me take my bad mood out on her. Especially since, from the way she was acting, I suspected too many vampires had already done so.
I rubbed my forehead, hoping I hadn’t traumatized my companion too much.
Fuck. I wanted to kill something.
“No, it isn’t,” I said, mustering a measure of calm control. “Unfortunately, I’ll have to suffer until it wears off. Inara was right about one thing. I have bills to pay and there’s work to be done.”
Some of Deborah’s anxiety faded as I gave her a stiff smile. Her gaze followed me as I marched toward the front door.
“I’ll be back in a few hours,” I said over my shoulder. “I don’t mind you leaving, but please don’t invite anyone over.”
That meant I needed to call Thomas to have a car delivered for her use.
Another item on my growing list of things to do.
The door slammed on any response she might have made. I stalked toward my car, unlocking it with a touch.
I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t notice Connor’s presence until he’d already opened the passenger door and slid inside. I stopped what I was doing, staring across the hood for a second.
Bending, I peered into the car to find Connor waiting expectantly.
“What’s first on our agenda?” he asked.
