Page 29 of The Vampire Trap

“Zadie?” he says my name with a voice like warm honey.

I freeze. But then he slips around the corner, and it’s too late to turn away and hide my face.

“What are you doing here? You said you’d be at home all night.” Thomas doesn’t seem angry, only confused that I lied.

I can’t seem to find my voice before he dismisses his own question. He takes my hand, his smooth palm sliding over mine. I raise my head and take him in. Dark hair and skin edged in golden light give him an ethereal aura.

The next thing I know, Thomas is practically running, towing me along behind him. I’m helpless to do anything but keep my feet under me.

“Where are you taking me?” I rasp. Blood roars in my ears.

“Come, it isn’t safe for you out here.”

I plant my heels, only succeeding in stumbling forward. It’s enough to slow him down.

This wasn’t part of our plan. Was I so blinded by his wit and charm that I believed whatever I needed to because of my feelings?

“Why?” The single word is barely audible.

He glances back at me. What he finds finally halts him. We have ended up in shadow beneath an overhang. Fear seeps into my toes and rises, flooding my body, inch by inch, until I barely feel anything, and there’s nothing I can do to disguise the uncontrollable shaking.

I don’t even realize he’s let go of my hand until both of his cups my cheeks. His thumbs sweep under my eyes. The dampness of my tears or the affectionate gesture only makes me cry harder.

Demon shit. How have I always thought myself brave?

Thomas slips his arms around me and pulls me into his chest, then begins to rub circles on my back. “Zadie, please don’t cry. It’s not what you think.”

All I can think is how those words sound like something the killer would say to lower my guard. Except, it’s him. And even frightened, I still believe he isn’t capable of cruelty.

“I wasn’t going to come out tonight because of what you told me about the victims all having a connection to me—the last thing I want is to risk anyone else getting hurt.” He pulls back and lifts my chin. “You remember when I mentioned my connections?”

Brow wrinkling, I scour my memory, though I cannot recall.

Thomas chuckles. “Perhaps you were too busy blushing after insulting me?”

I open my mouth to protest, but he obviously has more to say, so I press my mouth into a tight line and wait.

“An old friend of mine happens to be working on this case. When I stopped in earlier to tell him about the connection to me, he mentioned?—”

“You told them? Wouldn’t that make you a suspect?”

He shrugs as if the punishment would be a small fine. “I’m innocent, and I have faith in his abilities. Every clue is vital to solving this. So, if that means I must be a suspect for a time, then so be it.”

He must be odd, even by vampire standards. I think Thomas is possibly the only one alive who would risk incriminating himself for the good of others. Not because it’s the noble thing to do, but because he can’t help but be kind. Even when I make a complete demon’s ass of myself, he understands the reasons behind my irrational emotions.

“Someone sent a tip that the killer would be out hunting tonight. Seeing as you’re out instead of at home, would it be safe for me to assume thatyouare responsible for that?”

“Yes,” I admit looking down at my shoes.

That’s as far as I get when a scream rents the air. Thomas grabs my hand as he positions himself in front of me. My blood curdles in my veins as it ends as abruptly as it began. We scan the streets. Other than the two of us, the area seems abandoned.

He turns his dark brown eyes on me in silent question, wild and pleading. Pressing his full lips into a thin line, he desperately awaits my answer.

I nod.

He takes a single breath then we’re running again.

Others are converging on the area as well in a bid to help. Thomas stops half a block away, pressing my back to the cold metal of a gas lamp.

---