Tired of fighting with my mattress, I get out of bed before sunset and pick up my violin. I haven’t recovered my proficiency yet. Over a hundred years without touching an instrument will do that to the best of musicians. Playing usually calms me down, but I give up as soon as the sun sets. I’m restless, and I need to go out.
Tish is sleeping curled up in my bed. She lifts her head when I enter the room to change clothes and asks, “Why are you up? It’s early.”
“I’m gonna go for a run. I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay.” She buries herself in my comforter and pays no attention to me.
I choose the first pair of jogging pants I can find and a matching top. It’s probably cold, so I grab a hoodie as well. Onceoutside, I check the street to make sure there isn’t an ambush waiting for me. Vaughn knows where I live, and it wouldn’t be shocking if he sent Raphael’s hound dogs after me.
There’s only one vampire in the vicinity, though, which isn’t even a surprise. “You can come out of your hiding spot now, Igor.”
He steps out from the shadow between the two buildings across from mine and shortens the distance between us.
“What are you doing here?”
“Keeping an eye out on your place in case they come for you.”
“Who’s going to come for me?” I ask just to play dumb and annoy him.
“You know very well, Miss Sophie. Your friend might be a spy for the enemy.”
He has no idea.
“Listen, Igor. I appreciate your concern, but I don’t need a bodyguard. You should go home.”
“No can do, Miss Sophie. Your father has tasked me with your protection.”
Bollocks. I so do not want Igor following me everywhere. I need to get rid of him.
Before I can formulate a plan, I sense Vaughn’s presence. He’s nearby. Double bollocks.
Igor notices that a couple of seconds after I do. He instantly becomes tense and scans the area surrounding us. “He’s back.”
“If you must know, I asked him to come,” I lie. I don’t know why Vaughn is here, but I don’t want to sic Igor on him.
Vaughn obviously heard me, because he turns the corner onto my street, looking casual as hell with his hands in his pockets. How can he play it cool when Igor is giving him the death glare?
“Hey, Sophie. Ready to go?” he asks.
Igor steps in front of me. “She’s not going anywhere with you until you and I have a chat.”
I step out of his vampire shield and move closer to Vaughn. “You will do no such thing. If you want to stand guard here, be my guest, but I’m leaving with Vaughn.”
The screeching noise of tires burning rubber turns our attention to the end of the street. Headlights are fast approaching.
“Shit. We have to go,” Vaughn says before he grabs my hand and breaks into a run, taking me with him.
“Hey! Come back here!” Igor yells.
I know he’ll come after us if I don’t do something. Adrenaline has spiked in my veins, and tomorrow I’ll think about my choices, but right now, all I want is time alone with Vaughn.
We run past a trash container, and that gives me an idea. I grab the energized crystal I stuffed into my pocket and cast a simple spell. The container bursts into flames as it slides to the middle of the street, blocking Igor.
Vaughn looks over his shoulder. “What was that?”
“A little trick.”
His eyes widen. “You’re a witch too?”
