Page 103 of Siren in the Rain

Griffin chuckles and leans over to kiss my cheek.

We’ve just finished cleaning up after dinner when Harper returns. Today, he’s wearing a slinky, black, full-body unitard with a scoop neck and has paired it with a billowing lilac-colored silk duster vest that ties at the waist.

I jump up from where I’m sitting on the couch. “What’s the word?”

A slow grin spreads across his face. “As Dallas would say, ‘Saddle up, team! We’ve got a mission.’”

My heart pounds heavily and I have to remember to breathe.

“You’ve found the laboratory?” Dallas asks sharply.

Anemone rises to her feet, hope glowing in her eyes.

“I got word while I was in the middle of my meeting with the Vampiric Council. The timing was fortuitous because it was precisely the push they needed to agree to get involved.”

“Was I right? Are there missing vamps?” Dallas asks.

Harper nods, a dark look passing over his face. “Three in the last three months.”

“Fuck,” Cal mutters.

“What about the Otherkind Council?” Griffin asks, standing at my side.

“They actually reached out to the head of the Vampiric Council before I got there and shared what we sent them earlier. Both Councils agreed we have enough evidence to move forward and are going to lend their support,” Harper says.

Dallas’s cell phone rings and with a frown he answers it. The conversation is brief, but when he ends the call, he gives us all a triumphant grin. “I don’t know how or why this kind of luck has landed in our laps, but for once it has. The human authorities have taken fast action and gotten a judge to issue a warrant for the laboratory. We’re allowed to join them on the search of the premises.”

Griffin pulls his gold coin out of his pocket and holds it aloft. “Behold the power of the Magic 8-Coin!”

I pat him on the arm.

“So fast?” Ruby asks Dallas, ignoring Griffin and his coin. “How the hell?—”

“Pressure from the Vampiric Council is evidently far more persuasive than just that of the Otherkind Council,” Harper interjects.

Anemone starts pacing in agitation. “If only we’d known this years ago, we could have gotten them to help us look for Tempest and Shae.”

Harper’s countenance clouds over. “Alas, Ms. Anemone, I don’t think you would have been successful. The Vampiric Council rarely sees fit to get involved in the problems of other species if they believe it has no impact on them. The only reason now is different is because we have missing vampires and illegal products containing vampire blood.”

“All right, enough talking. Let’s roll out,” Dallas booms. “Harper can brief us on anything else along the way.”

We head to the garage and squeeze into the SUV, with Dallas driving and Harper acting as front-seat navigator.

“Where are we heading?” I ask as we pull out of the compound gates.

The reflective membranes of Harper’s eyes glint eerily in the dark, just like a predator animal. “Long Beach.”

Chapter

Twenty-Three

Shae’s List of Life Goals

14. Laugh a lot. Find the humor and joy in life.

(Addendum: Stay by Griffin’s side and this one will be a piece of cake.)

Shae

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