Page 13 of Maid for Her Snow Beast

My what big teeth you have...

The motel clerk answers me. “Sorry to intrude. I heard a noise, and when I went to investigate, I thought I saw someone in your room. I wouldn't have thought anything about it except that I didn't see your car in the lot. I called in Vane, here. He's a personal friend, but also the sheriff for Avalon Vale."

"Ma'am," Vane says. "It doesn't seem like anything of yours is disturbed. Would you like to look around and see?"

I nod, feeling all kinds of violated. All the good feelings from earlier vanishes. Vane steps aside to let me into the small room. There really isn't much anyone would have disturbed. The only personal belongings I left behind were toiletries. My go-bag stayed in my trunk out of habit.

A habit borne from needing to be one step ahead of my psycho stalker of an ex-boyfriend, Everett Young.

Although “boyfriend” is too generous a term. He was a dating app meet up that went horribly wrong, and has made my life miserable for the last two years.

Every time I’ve moved, I thought I’ve finally shaken him. But he’s always managed to find me.

This couldn't have been him? Avalon Vale is way out of reach for him.

“Do you see anything amiss, ma'am?"

“Please, call me Val. And no. I kept my things with me just in case I was needed to start my job immediately.”

“Job?” he asks.

“The one at Lakeside Manor. Temporary property manager for the Vernados family.”

Vane nods. “Of course. Well, that answers what happened with your things. We were afraid your belongings were stolen.”

I shake my head. “No. They're all with me. Thank goodness.”

My head feels fuzzy. A high-pitch noise rings in my ear. This can't be happening. Not again. Not here.

“Miss? Miss!”

I sway on my feet, but maintain balance.

"I'm taking her to Lakeside. Tor will know what to do.”

“Do you do this often?” I ask into the thick silence of the sheriff’s truck.

“Have a female in my car? Yes. For the intention of protecting her well being, no. I don't want to make this a habit. Females ought to feel safe. Otherwise, what use are we? When women feels safe, she can be her best self.”

I can't agree more.

Vane lingers at the edge of mist, where the estate meets clearing. “Are we waiting on something, sheriff?”

“No, just a little pause for courtesy. Give the manor time to roll back its gates and all.”

Not for the first time is this manor referred to as if it were sentient. “I don’t remember there being gates when I drove here earlier. Oh.”

A few yards ahead, there’s a gatehouse that wasn’t here earlier. I would have noticed something like that. “Where did that come from?”

“Don’t worry. It’s just house protocol since I’m an outsider. I’m used to it.”

“Okay.” I suppose if the sheriff who is part of the Otherkin community thinks this process is normal, who am I to say differently?

A small golden drone the size of a fly buzzes around Vane’s head. When it sees me, the gates vanish.

“Took you long enough,” he mutters under his breath.

“Pardon?”

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