“I’m not moping,” I snap.
Okay, so maybe I am a little.
I keep replaying the events of the gala in my mind. Everything went to shit so much quicker than we anticipated. We thought we were prepared, but we were the furthest thing from it.
“Then what do you call what you are doing?” Valen asks, taking one of Pom Pom’s paws to boop my nose. I give him the tiniest of smiles in return. I know my mate is only trying to make me feel better.
With a sigh, I scoot around him and into the kitchen. Swiping a pop from the fridge, I open the can and take a long swig. I’m totally stalling, and from Valen’s raised brow, he knows it.
“Fine, okay. I am moping, but can you blame me? My best friend almost died. I mean technically she did, and now she’s a vampire and I’m not allowed to see her.”
“I’m sorry, Starlight.” He sets the fluffy dog down on the floor so he can pull me into his arms. “I’m so?—”
The door to the apartment flies off its hinges.
“What the fuck?” I scream, ducking as splinters of wood rain down.
Deep down, I’ve known that the reprieve this past week would be short lasting. I’ve been looking over my shoulder constantly when I leave the apartment. Silly of me, when I should have known the danger could appear here just as easily.
“Get down!” Valen shouts, shoving me aside. He pushes me a little too hard and I slide across the floor until I slam into the kitchen cabinets.
“Ow!” I cry out.
Valen crouches low and tackles the vampire to the ground. His strength has grown immensely these last months, and even though the vampire is clearly giving his all, Valen is stronger.
It doesn’t mean the brawl is entirely one-sided.
The other vampire slams his fist into Valen’s ribs hard enough to send my mate careening into the window. It doesn’t break—thank God, because while Valen would surely survive the fall, the recovery would have to be brutal—but it does groan from the sheer force.
With a scream, Valen overtakes the vampire again, dragging him to the floor where he repeatedly slams his fist into his face.
When the vampire stops fighting, Valen looks over his shoulder atme. “I need something to tie him up.”
My brain runs through what I might have.
“Won’t he break through rope pretty easily?”
“Yeah, probably, but we’ll be ready for him.”
I find some spare rope in the closet and give it to Valen. He shoves the limp vampire into a kitchen chair and ties him so he’s thoroughly bound.
“Call Levi,” he instructs.
“Why?” I blurt in surprise.
“Because he’s a demon. He should have the power to see into his mind.”
My jaw pops open. “He can read minds?”
“No, not read them, per se, but he can … probe them.”
“Probe?” I try not to giggle.
Valen sighs. “Dirty girl. Just call him.”
With a shake of my head, I ring Luna, since it’s the quickest way to get ahold of Levi. I wonder how she’s faring now with him. I feel terrible that I’m the reason they’re linked together, but Luna’s been too nice to blame me for it.
“Pinky,” Levi croons. “What could you possibly need from me?”
