‘Well, I’ll see you tomorrow at the rehearsal. Bright and early,’ I say cheerily, giving no hint of my agitation at now having an extra four vampires to deal with. Hopefully, they won’t interfere with my plans.
‘Great!’ Hester says, matching my upbeat tone. ‘Well, have a good evening.’ She sounds expectant, but I can’t exactly meet up with her for a mock rehearsal now. I need to go out for some human KFC to keep my strength up. But I also need to keep her onside and trusting me.
I give her my best sexy grin. ‘Why don’t we meet up for breakfast tomorrow? There’s a Macca’s at London Bridge.’ I hate McDonald’s, but I can force down a McMuffin if it means I get to spend time with Hester.
She glances at me, no doubt grateful that I’ve offered; and not for the first time, I admire the cute sprinkle of freckles across the bridge of her button nose. I wonder what she’ll say. I bet she won’t be able to resist spending time with me either, even if it means eating human food.
‘Sorry, I’d like to, but I can’t. I’m on the 5:2 fasting diet, and I don’t eat in the mornings,’ she says.
‘Oh,’ I say, taken aback as a sharp pain rips through me. It feels like I’ve been shot in the gut with an arrow (that did actually happen once, and it wasn’t fun!). ‘Not even for an orange juice?’ I wheedle.
She shakes her head. ‘No, sorry. But I’ll definitely see you at the rehearsal at nine.’
‘Yeah, sure,’ I say, feeling deflated. Shit, I’m going to have to up my game if she’s rejecting me already.
Hester gives me an apologetic smile and walks towards the stairs, giving a slight wiggle of her jean-clad hips, as if she knows I’m watching her. Which I am, with my tongue out.
Touché, Madam Vampire.
Chapter 10
Hester | London, present day
Well, that interaction with Will was ... different and more than a little sexually stimulating. But also rather fun to be the hunted than the hunter for once. It’s just a pity that the first time he actually invites me somewhere it’s to McDonald’s. Seriously? He can do better than that if I have to eat human food. He could have at least suggested a nearby Pret!
My nerve endings are tingling from our encounter as I walk over to the stairs, leaving him simmering in a miasma of body spray (it’s pleasantly musky, but he does go a tad overboard with it). I can’t resist a hip sashay, sensing his eyes fixed on my ass.Like what you see, hot stuff?
But when I reach the second floor, cold, hard reality sets in. Why am I even bothering to flirt or play hard to get? Even if there’s the slightest chance that Will wants me as much as I do him, the fact I’m a vampire is always going to be a major obstacle.
Look at what happened to the others: Elliott was a thrall for forty years before he was turned, and Damian is now a dentist vampire!
I can’t rob Will of his humanity or take advantage of it. I’ll have to be satisfied with looking at him longingly.
***
After I’ve invited them into the building, the coven pile into my studio and dump their luggage on the lino floor.
‘Wow, it’s really small, hardly bigger than our lounge at home,’ says Sadie. She wrinkles her nose at the neatly made double bed, dark-green two-seater couch, and minimal stainless steel kitchen.
‘Welcome to London,’ I say abruptly, pushing past her to claim the bed before anyone else jumps on it. I feel exhausted all of a sudden and wish they’d all bugger off so I can sleep for a couple of hours.
‘Maybe you could bunk down with Will so we can have it to ourselves?’ Sadie glances at Floss. ‘El and I are first on the schedule, right?’
‘No,’ I say tersely, though heat flickers between my legs at the thought of sleeping in Will’s bed. ‘And for God’s sake, stop going on about him. Nothing’s going to happen.’
But being Sadie, of course she doesn’t. She purses her lipsand makes obnoxious kissing noises.
‘I’m warning you. Shut the fuck up.’ She smirks and deliberately blows me one more loud smooch, and I snap. My fists clench and thigh muscles poise, ready to spring; my fangs start extending. Shit, this has never happened before! Sadie gets on my wick from time to time, but I’ve never wanted to cause her harm. I must be really stressed out about acting!
Seeing I’m in attack mode, Sadie growls and bares her own fangs in defence. Floss gasps. For a moment, it’s touch-and-go whether one or both of us will make it out unscathed. Then Elliott steps between us with his hands raised, which is brave of him. ‘Hey, hey, calm down, you two. Let’s have a drink. We’re probably all feeling hangry after that train ride. I know I am.’
His sensible suggestion and soothing voice effectively break the tension. Sadie throws me a sneer but lets Elliott tug her into the kitchen. They start opening cupboards, looking for mugs. He’s brought a cooler of emergency blood, so we don’t have to go out hunting for a while. But they obviously couldn’t partake of it on the train or from each other as they were in a crowded carriage, hemmed in on all sides by warm human flesh. No wonder Sadie is spoiling for a fight.
Floss leaves Damian sitting on the couch with his phoneand comes over to me. She places a tentative hand on my arm and flinches when she feels my rock-hard muscles.Are you OK? You looked like you were going to tear a literal strip off Sadie just then!
I grit my teeth at the implied criticism, but my fangs are retracting, and I feel more in control now; plus she means well.
Like Elliott said, I’m hangry ... and I’m nervous about the play.
