Kai’s eyes widened as they landed on Marcus, probably remembering he wasn’t supposed to tell people about who I was. But Marcus didn’t react. He already knew thanks to my own slip-up, and was obviously too busy freaking out about our new housemate—his mate—to even care.
“Shit, I—”
“He knows, it’s fine,” I assured. “I—Yes, you can come in.”
I stepped to the side, bumping into Marcus who was clearly still out of it. My whole body tensed asVladwalked past, casting me a predatory smile.
There was no way he recognized me.No. Fucking. Way.
“Vlad arrived early this morning,” Kai explained as they stopped in the living room. The Vampire stood next to the couch, looking aroundthe small room, studying it. “I figured he’d fit right in with you guys. After all, he’s about as old as Lola, the first of his kind too, and the girls will be happy to show him where vamps can get what they need.”
“I already spotted a few tasty little treats,” Vlad crooned, and I was ready to bet that his eyes lingered on Marcus for a heartbeat. Did he feel it too? Or heard what my friend had whispered?
Kai chuckled, slapping his shoulders playfully. “No biting unwilling townies.”
“Of course.” Vlad inclined his head in mock curtsey. “I’m nothing if not respectful and asuckerfor rules.”
The asian demon narrowed his eyes, gaze darting between the three of us.
“Want me to show you to your room?” he offered, but the Vampire shook his head.
“I’ll manage to find it. Next to Lola’s, you said?”
Kai smiled. “Yes, the one next to it.”Fucking great.
“Perfect then. I’m gonna stay here with my newroomies. Exciting, getting to meet new people.”
Yeah—no. I wassoout of here. He didn’t remember me, and that was for the best. Better not give his memories the time to come back. Damn me for always keeping my daily physical appearance mostly the same and close to what I looked like before I sold my stupid soul.
“I—” I started, unable to figure out any excuses to come up with. “I have something to do today.”
Marcus’ wide eyes turned to me, pleading, screaming, “Please, don’t leave me alone with him right now.”
“And Marcus has a meeting with Carrie, I think. Right?” I searched his clueless, panicked eyes. “About switching shifts?”
“Uh—Yeah. Yeah, I do. Can’t work night this week, there are, uh—thingsI need to do.” My palm hitched to slap my own face. “You know how it is, right?” He chuckled awkwardly, looking at Kai. “Sometimes—thingscome up. And then you have to change a whole week of plans. Really annoying, but what can we do, huh?”
If awkwardness had a leader, that would be Marcus right now. I couldn’t believe how different he was from when I first met him. Like he’s been encasing himself in layers after layers of ice for years, protecting himself from whatever he thought people might cause him, only for them to melt as the weeks have passed, opening up tome, andleaving him completely unguarded right as his fuckingmateshowed up.
At least I had a chance to win my fucking bet.
“That’s fine, I can go with you guys. Get a chance to talk for a bit,” Vlad tried, probably smelling the lies. If he knew why webothwanted nothing to do with him right now, it didn’t show.
“Actually, I—”
Another knock on the door.Damn, what is it with this morning?I thought as I said, “I’ll get it!” and rushed over there, happy to extract myself from the situation.
Only to end up face to face with someone else I wasn’t particularly eager to spend time with.
I gasped. “Carter?”
He smiled, the motion slightly forced and unnatural as he lifted his hands, holding two to-go cups.
“Hi, I—I thought I could walk you to the Archives. To get started on this wholefriendsthing.” He winced at the word. “I brought coffee. Got it from Aymeric’s on the way, he said this is your favorite.”
The living room was dead-silent, and I could only imagine what was going on inside Kai and Marcus’ minds.Their fucking bet.
But Carter had just given me the perfect excuse to slip out of there; I did still have a job, working in the Archives. And today was apparently the day I was finally allowed to go back. I hoped Maggie wasn’t annoyed with me anymore…
