Didi made a face. “I think that ship already sailed.”
Samuel turned onto a familiar tree-lined street in Amberford’s historic district. We drove past large Victorian houses that sat behind immaculate gardens with lawns so perfectly manicured they looked like a crew of gardeners had trimmed each blade of grass with nail scissors.
Considering my growing knowledge of vampires and their household staff, I wouldn’t put this past them.
Bo leaned across Gavin and pressed his nose against the window. “I thought this the last time we came here, but I bet these people have really good garbage.”
“Please don’t raid anyone’s trash cans,” Samuel said tiredly.
“I make no promises,” the Husky huffed, misting up the glass.
Samuel looked at me.
“You knew you were getting the whole package when you asked me to move in with you,” I pointed out.
Didi smirked in the backseat.
Barney’s mansion came into view. Painted a tasteful burgundy and cream, the three-story Victorian property sprawled across a generous plot, complete with wings and annexes that seemed to have sprouted over the decades like architectural mushrooms.
“The vamp’s got nice digs,” Didi grunted.
“Do me a favor,” Samuel muttered. “Don’t call him the vamp when we get in there.”
We pulled up next to a refrigerated van marked with the logo of Eternal Reserves, Amberford’s premier blood bank. A ghoul was wheeling crates toward the service entrance.
“Looks like somebody’s restocking their pantry,” Didi observed.
Gavin’s nostrils sparked alarmingly.
Samuel killed the engine. We climbed out of the Bentley and maintained a careful distance from the dragon newt.
A cobblestone pathway led us to a wraparound porch with intricate spindle work. The brass door knocker was shaped like a bat.
It had googly eyes on it.
“I thought you guys were joking about the googly eyes,” Didi muttered.
“I wish I had been,” Samuel said in a long-suffering voice.
The door swung open before anyone could knock. Barney appeared in his usual immaculate attire despite it being his day off. His expression shifted from polite welcome to resigned annoyance when he spotted the door knocker.
He peeled off the googly eyes and pocketed them without a word.
“Samuel. Abigail.” His gaze swept over our companions. “I see you brought the whole crew.” He paused. “Why is Gavin smoking?”
“He’s having a moment of existential dread,” I said.
“I love what you’ve done with the place,” Didi told Barney. “Classic vampire chic. Very brooding.”
Barney sighed. “Please, come in.”
The interior of the vampire’s home was exactly as I recalled—dark wood, expensive furnishings, and items that predated most of the people Iknew. Bo’s nose went into overdrive the moment we crossed the threshold.
“I smell cookies,” he announced, tail wagging excitedly.
“Melvina has been stress-baking,” Barney admitted. “There was an incident with a soufflé.”
An anguished wail echoed from somewhere in the depths of the house.
