Page 68 of Vameer

I shake my head and pick up the tablet. This random earthquake has nothing to do with my vampire. “Hopefully everyone is okay.”

She hums, then chatters on about something else as I put my glasses on and open the payment app.

My eyes narrow. The words are blurry.

I pull my glasses off and blink… at the crisp text.

“Forget you don’t need glasses?” the lady jokes.

“Ha.” My laugh is forced. “Didn’t realize they were so dirty.”

I fumble my way through the rest of the transaction, then follow the woman to the door.

“Enjoy the rest of your day.” I wave as she leaves. And as soon as she’s out of sight, I lock the front door.

My nerves are frayed, but my heart beats steadily as I walk back to the desk.

My glasses are clean.

Isip my drink, letting my gaze linger on every face as I scan the coffee shop.

This is my second honey latte since arriving. It’s the same beverage I had on my birthday, but I feel like I’m becoming more obsessed with it every swallow I take.

Coffee Box has a cool vibe. Goth isn’t usually my first choice for interior design. But even with black walls, ceiling, and furniture, the space is cozy.

And it has an eclectic crowd. No one looked twice at me walking in, wearing sandals, linen pants, and a cropped white tank top. Because even though it’s cold enough to see your breath outside, I’m not the only person without sleeves.

The coffee shop is welcoming. Relaxing.

Well, it would be relaxing. If I could find a way to fucking relax.

I absently run my fingers over my stack of bracelets while I slowly scan the crowd again.

My eyesight isn’t just better. I think it’s better than it’s ever been.

Colors seem brighter. I can read the text on that guy’s shirt from across the room. I can see in the dark.

I lift my latte and take another sip. The warm liquid is so unnecessary with how hot I’ve been feeling today. But it does work to soothe the throbbing ache in my upper jaw.

I tap my foot faster.

After the whole mirror thing before dawn this morning, I couldn’t get back to sleep. So I spent the early hours of my day staring at that painting in the book.

I’ve tried to convince myself that it’s all in my head. That I’m simply going mad. But while I was getting ready for the day, I couldn’t deny that… I seem to be changing.

My skin looks brighter. Smoother. The dark circles that would usually be present under my eyes after so little sleep were absent. That white spot on my fingernail from when I jammed it two weeks ago is gone.

Not to mention the fact that my heart stopped when I traveled across the world in the blink of an eye on my birthday. And now it feels like I share a pulse with someone else.

With him.

The vampire I’ve seen through a mirror.

The one whose warmth I felt, through a mirror.

I drag my tongue along the front of my teeth.

It’s not just my appearance and my heartbeat. It’s that I’ve never been hornier, more turned on, wetter… than these last few days.