Page 43 of Only Human in Strangeville

“I suspect your general location is safe from most, but you are in the werewolves extended territory and Davin gave me the address. Hannah, Oliver sends his regards.”

Was it just me or was his tone just a touch flat when he delivered that message?

“Thank you,” was all I could think to reply.

“I’ll see you both tomorrow an hour after sunset.” Katsuro ended the call.

Bridger looked put out that his location wasn’t as secret as he had thought.

I did smile briefly at his expression.

“Well, we’re still safe here, even if they know where I live. It’s shade proof, werewolf proof, and vampire proof, unless I let them in the front door.”

“I sure hope you’re right.”

“It’s been tested.”

He didn’t elaborate, and I almost didn’t want to know, so I let him bring me to a bedroom that definitely wasn’t up to code. There was no window. Just then, I really didn’t care. The bathroom had everything I needed, the bed looked soft and inviting, and I was ready to let someone else handle things for a little while.

Tomorrow, Katsuro would be here, and hopefully he would have a plan. Thoughts of the sexy vampire chased me into a fitful sleep.

I stared into the mirror in the bathroom attached to my borrowed bedroom and pushed my glasses up my nose. I hadn’t grabbed makeup. Did I need makeup? Why was I so nervous?

Well, okay, Katsuro was an extremely powerful supernatural being, and I hadn’t even known vampires existed until just recently, so I had a pretty valid reason for being nervous. That wasn’t it, though. My stomach fluttered and I cursed myself for a fool.

Pulling off my glasses, I put them on the counter and turned on the water. I splashed the cool liquid on my face. Damn it, he could smell emotions, right? I was so out-classed. I should just get over it and turn myself in. There was no way I could run forever from the supernatural.

As if sensing my distress, Nimbus pressed against my leg and rooed softly. I reached down to pet him, and barely had to bend to scratch his head. Little dude wasn’t so little anymore. Kneeling, I buried my fingers in his soft fluff and pulled him close.

“Hey, buddy. It’s going to be okay, right?”

He grumbled softly and gave me a quick nose kiss.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

He dropped his jaw in a doggy grin before his ears perked and looked toward the door.

“Shit,” I muttered. “He’s here, isn’t he?”

Nimbus trotted over to the door then vanished.

“Fuck!” More startled than alarmed, I hurriedly opened the door. My fluffy dog waited on the other side, his curled plumage of a tail wagging back and forth over his back. That explained a few things. Why hadn’t anyone told me nimbuses could teleport? Was I the only one who knew?

It seemed like only a few days ago my puppy was just that, a puppy. Now he was taller, fluffier if that was possible, and teleporting. As much as I’d rather enjoy his puppyhood, the sooner he was old enough to defend himself completely, the better off we all were.

“I told you to come alone,” Bridger was saying to Katsuro.

When I walked into the entryway, the sexy vampire stood there looking just as amazing as ever. His longish black hair was pulled back like normal, and he wore a deep red button-down shirt that looked like silk, along with black slacks. I wanted to find out if his shirt was as silky as it looked. Shaking my head, I tried to banish those thoughts. Now was not the time. Would there ever be a time?

Next to him stood Clare, my boss, the awkward-looking woman who I liked so very much. She stared at me owlishly for a moment before grinning.

“Hannah, my dear, let’s get you fixed up.” She held up her arm, drawing attention to the basket looped over her forearm. She ignored Bridger, instead taking my arm and leading me into the complex like she’d been here before, which, from Bridger’s reaction, I was guessing she hadn’t.

“She showed up at the coffee shop and insisted she was coming along. Have you ever tried to tell that woman no?” Katsuro sounded a touch astounded.

I laughed as my boss led me out of earshot. Nimbus kept right at my side, bumping into me occasionally. I let my fingers trail in his soft fluff.

“So, the biggest problem right now is that you have no way to defend yourself against the supernatural. Therefore, we’re going to unlock your potential,” Clare said as she opened the door to the inner courtyard and led me outside. Bridger and Katsuro had caught up to us by this point, but she shut the door in their faces.

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