Page 100 of Siren in the Rain

He chuckles but then caresses my cheek with one hand. “But I want you to know that you are enough and that I’m a big boy. I can protect myself.”

I kiss his forehead. “Why don’t we agree to work toward protecting each other?”

It’s his turn to smile. “Sounds good to me.”

At that moment, the patio door slams open and Harper comes racing toward us in that superhuman way vampires can. It always makes me feel a little motion sick when I see it in action.

Anemone trails behind him at a more normal speed, but she’s clearly fired up about something.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Harper announces with a triumphant grin, “but I’ve finally gotten a sample of one of the black-market products Divine Beauty is selling.”

Chapter

Twenty-Two

Shae’s List of Life Goals

13. Eat whatever I want, whenever I want. Don’t let anyone take away my access to food ever again.

(Addendum: Maybe learn how to cook so I can make something for Griffin someday. And if that’s successful, make something for the whole team.)

Shae

The mood of our little evening soiree immediately shifts and everyone mobilizes into action. Emma passes around some potions to purge the alcohol from our systems, and Dallas puts on a big pot of coffee for the long night ahead.

We all follow Ruby and Emma to the high-tech lab where they spend most of their time. The space is enormous and pristine, with white walls and floors and a lot of shiny metal equipment everywhere. There are several workbenches, what appears to be a jumbo stainless steel fridge with a special locking door, and a bunch of scientific and technical gadgets I wouldn’t have a clue what to do with.

At one of the workbenches, we all crowd around to study the small glass jar of what appears to be a moisturizing face cream with the word Immortelle on the side of it.

“It was no easy feat getting a hold of this,” Harper explains. “Margaret is highly selective in her clientele, and entrance into the little enclave of ridiculously wealthy people that she’s collected is by invitation only.”

“How did you manage, then?” I ask.

Harper gives me a slow wink and presses one finger against his lips. “Vampire trade secret, darling. But let’s just say that I possess some special abilities that come in handy for situations like this.”

Cal snorts with laughter. “That’s code for Harper managed to seduce someone who’s one of Margaret’s clients and then got his hands on the sample.”

Harper sighs theatrically. “Way to ruin my air of mystery.”

Cal blows him a raspberry.

Harper chuckles and then languidly gestures a hand up and down his body. “It would be a shame to let all of this go to waste. My appearance comes in quite handy when I need it to.”

I blink at him. “You’re not prostituting yourself, are you? I mean, if that’s your thing, then no judgment, but?—”

Harper throws his head back and laughs, cutting me off. “Thank you for your concern, but I don’t need to use sex to get information.” He licks his lips. “There are plenty of humans out there who are enamored with a vampire’s special kiss.”

I frown, feeling all kinds of confused, then blink in understanding. “You mean biting them and drinking their blood?”

Harper flashes a fang. “That’s right. The vampiric bite can be quite pleasurable, especially for humans, if you know what you’re doing. And I’ve had many years to perfect the art.” He smirks. “I’ve never left anyone unsatisfied. It took me some time to find someone just right. The woman I finally connected with regularly pays a lot of money for what I had to offer. She was more than happy to instead provide all the information she had in exchange for my bite.”

“Harper’s got mad skills,” Griffin says with a proud smile.

“Never fear, I have scruples and don’t abuse my powers. I only bite willing participants,” Harper explains.

“Harper is a good vampire,” Haku says, and the vampire smiles.

I chuckle and pat Haku’s head, making him preen with pleasure.

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