Page 7 of The Vampire Oracle

My eyes locked onto his as I shook my head. “No. I just need to get someone here to fix… my arm.”

His eyes dropped to my arm, and nerves rushed down my spine.

“I’ll deal with it. Don’t worry about it or anything,” I quickly added.

“No, it’s fine. Uh, I can get my mom to go while she’s out getting supplies.”

“I can’t get her involved. I don’t need her getting hurt.”

Abel snorted. “I wish someone would try to hurt her… But my family knows people at the station. She won’t be seen or heard.”

I didn’t exactly know what that meant, but I trusted him. “If you say so.”

He picked up his phone and dialed. “Hey. One more thing. Can you ask Ryan for a ticket? Yes from…”

“Nirva.”

His eyes grew wide, but then he continued on, “Nirva to Evercrest. Just the next train ticket… I will pay you back, I promise.”

I pushed more bills into his hand, but he just shook his head and pulled away.

“Thank you. Love you, bye.” Abel hung up, and I stared at him, smirking. “What?”

“Momma’s boy,” I teased.

“I am not.” He smiled, wide lips flashing his white teeth.

My eyes dropped, and I stared at his lips before looking up. Butterflies flapped around my stomach, and I ached to touch him and kiss him. Before this attack, we fought because of me. “I have a lot to tell you.”

“Mhm,” he hummed, looking down as I tried to meet his eyes. He was beautiful; dark russet golden skin with deep brown eyes to match. Piercings covered his ears and two under his lip. I wanted to kiss him, taste him, and pull on the piercing with my teeth. “Where are you staying? I’m staying with Kier, but I can ask if you can join?”

“Why wouldn’t you stay with your parents?” I asked.

“Kier’s house is big and has a lot of security. My mom already took down my room and started to replace it with her office. I would be a burden at home, but I’m sure I can convince Kier—”

“Won’t take long. He already told me I don’t have a choice.”

“Good, we can protect you… Not that you need it, Spectre,” he said with a wide smirk on his lips.

I rolled my eyes. “Stop fangirling. You want my autograph?”

He palmed his face. “Oh no! This whole time I was talking to my girlfriend about Spectre, and she was him!”

My brow cocked. “Girlfriend? I didn’t agree to that.”

“Oh, you will. Especially living with me.” He wiggled his brow, taking one of the bags from my back.

I glanced around while we waited for whatever. “Is anyone… hurt?”

“Not our group. They will have paperwork and cleanup to do.”

“And Father Nero? Is he alive?”

Abel cocked a brow.

“We were in the explosion together. I’m just checking up.”

He sighed. “I saw him somewhere after the fight. He was a bit beaten but okay.”

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