“She’s in love with a vampire! She’s been compelled. Exercise her from his evilness,” Tabitha shouts in a high-pitched voice.
Violet and Iris both turn to me at the same time, Violet looking shocked and Iris resigned.
“Fuck,” Iris hisses.
“What did that fairy just say?” Violet asks.
“Okay. Yeah. So we’re just going to rip off this Band-aid then.”
Violet’s bright blue eyes blink at me wildly as she motions for me to continue.
“Did you know vampires could have mates?” I ask her and turn to Iris, who rubs the bridge of her nose.
“This is so fucked,” Iris says, as she starts pacing back and forth, mumbling under her breath, like she’s talking to someone.
“What’s wrong with her?” I ask, pointing to Iris.
Violet looks over at our friend with concern and then back to me.
“We’re starting with you first. All that talk about vampires in the past, I thought it was a fantasy, maybe something you’d try once and get out of your system. I didn’t think you were serious.”
“Me either, okay? I didn’t expect it. I tried to resist him. Well, maybe not super well. But it makes sense now. We’re mates, Violet. You should understand that,” I say.
“Who is he?” Violet says in return, not questioning the bond I have with Warin.
“Warin Auclair.”
Violet sighs. “Yeah, okay, I can see the appeal. He was at the meeting when I saw Silas again for the first time.”
“He can’t stop, he won’t stop,” Iris says, and Violet and I are now fully staring at her as she seemingly talks to herself.
“Iris, honey, is everything okay?” I ask.
She turns to face me, her amber eyes that are like a kaleidoscope of autumn leaves, blinks at me.
“I think the…thing…man, living in my house who claims to be my mate might be the one who tried to kill your vampire.”
“The Slayer is at your house?” I say. “Wait. What? He’s your mate?”
Iris rubs her temples, pulling out a chair and sitting down. Her elbows rest on her knees as she tries to get the words out.
“Yes. The psychopath in my house is my mate, and he’s dead set on killing Warin Auclair for injuring him.”
Violet and I both pull up seats at my worn dining table and sit in silence for a few moments.
“You’re both sure?” Violet says.
“I’m positive,” I say, more cheerfully.
“Yeah. Unfortunately. I’m sure,” Iris says.
“Okay. Wow. I thought maybe you were feeling down about the date with Bobby not going well. As far as you, Iris, I thought something was bothering you but didn’t know what,” Violet says.
Iris grimaces, and I feel like there’s more information she isn’t telling us.
“Warin and the vampire council are searching for the Slayer now,” I say, and Iris waves me off.
“They won’t find him. My store is warded, and he’s still healing. He won’t leave. What I’m worried about is what happens when he’s healed. He’ll either get himself killed or kill your vampire.”
