I tripped on his words and frowned.
He added, “You never know, Masie, having vampires believe you are the most beloved, powerful, iconic vampire to ever walk the earth could come in handy.” He paused for a long moment. “And it might just save us, too.”
He had a point. I knew he did. But I wasn’t a liar, and even if I wanted tobe, I couldn’t pull off being Anna for very long. (A) I never knew her. (B) I was not in favor of vampires and humans living side by side. Not anymore. And (C) from the books I’d read, she was one kinky, horny toad. She’d actually kept detailed diaries of her life, which were considered sacred in the vampire world.
“I hear you,” I said, “but Anna supposedly loved Stark unconditionally, with a passion, and that’s something I can’t do.” Loving Stark was like loving a serial killer. I could wish for him to change all day long, but he never would. “What I mean is: I’m on our side. And I hope that’s enough.”
“It has to be, because we need you.” The song ended, and we both stopped dancing.
Suddenly, I felt that fog lingering in my head again.
Charlie’s expression turned intense. “Kiss me again.”
“I’d rather not.” I looked away, wanting to crawl into a hole and die. The last thing I’d expected tonight was to come here and find out that my feelings for Stark back at the island had been real. Or that I might be playing an even bigger role in things than I wanted.
Charlie must’ve seen the pain in my eyes, because he said, “I’m sorry about all this, but you did great. Unfortunately, the formula isn’t strong enough. You broke too soon. Add more of the first ingredient to the recipe I gave you. Five percent. I gotta go and catch a flight.”
“You’re leaving?” Weirdly, I wanted him to stay. Charlie seemed like the only person in the world right now who wasn’t spiraling. He had a plan to save us, and it gave me comfort.
Charlie looked surprised by my comment. “You’re strong, Masie. You’ll be okay just as long as you don’t get distracted by Stark.” He turned to leave. “I’ll have the ingredients shipped here tomorrow. Good luck.”
Charlie left, and I said a tiny prayer for him. What he was doing came with danger. Lots of it.
I went back to my table and opened the piece of paper containing the recipe.
Gasp!“No. That can’t be right.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I called Charlie five times before heading back to my apartment in town, but he didn’t pick up. I hoped he was okay so I could scream, “Are you messing with me right now?”
But Charlie hadn’t answered, and I didn’t want to leave a message or text, considering our activities were top secret. At least now I knew why they’d been rounding up enemy vampires. They needed ingredients. Specifically…
Oh God. I can’t believe I drank the stuff!
Vampire brains. Brains! Brains, for damned sake. Moonshine called for two brains per ten gallons of filtered water.
I really hate you, Stark.He’d been force-feeding me vampire-noggin liqueur the entire time.
What was even more grotesque was that the recipe called for the brains to be stewed with frankincense, cardamom, basil, and ten other plants before being filtered and distilled. When I looked up the herbs, they turned out to be the stuff ancient Egyptian embalmers used thousands of years ago topickle pharaoh innards.
Yuck.And I’d guzzled it all down like a parched zombie.
I entered my apartment, setting Betsy on the counter, and went to the fridge in search of anything to erase the moonshine memories from my mouth. Pickings were slim. I had one beer, some old orange juice, and mayo.
Brushing my teeth it is.I went to the bathroom and brushed for five minutes before returning to the kitchen in search of actual food. I hadn’t gotten the opportunity to eat my slaw or taters at the Rooster on account of wanting to puke mybrainsout after reading the recipe.
“I hope your meticulous oral regimen is to wash the taste of Charlie Cross from your lips,” said a dark voice behind me in the kitchen doorway as I stared into my nearly empty cupboard.
So they haven’t captured him yet. Too bad.
I swiveled on my heel, finding Stark dressed in an unusual outfit. Black leather pants, heavy biker boots, and a black leather jacket. His long dark hair was unkempt and wild, and he had smudges of dirt on his face. He looked like he’d joined a motorcycle gang. Or had just fought off something with sharp teeth. Maybe both? Either way, not my problem.
“I told you not to come back,” I said. “And I enjoyed that kiss. It was given freely, unlike most of the ones I gave you.” I was not about to tell Stark that I’d kissed Charlie becausehe’d been testing out the moonshine or that it had been a trap. Stark wasn’t on our side; he was on the side of himself and no one else.
“Ooh. Ouch.” He pressed his hand over his heart mockingly. Probably because his arrogance wouldn’t allow him to believe I honestly felt that way. After all, Stark was a big, yummy vampire. What woman wouldn’t want to kiss him, right?
Me! That’s who.
