Page 14 of Flock This

Chapter Five

“How did you find me? You can’t track me,” I snapped.

“You’re not as mysterious as you think,” he said.

“I am very mysterious,” I countered before realizing it was a stupid argument to get into. “If you’re here to kill me, please don’t get blood on the flooring. My mom loves her flooring.”

“If I wanted to kill you, I would have snapped your neck when I found you in the laundry room.”

Which was a fair and not at all reassuring point.

“So why didn’t you?”

“Do you always interrogate people who choose not to kill you?”

I crossed my arms. “So if you’re not here to kill me, then why are you here?”

“Because we need to have a talk.”

“And you knew I’d be here how?”

“I’ve had my eye on you for a long time. If you think I didn’t know about your human family, you’re an idiot. I am well aware of your parents, of your sister and brother, of your infatuation with your little alpha. You cause way more ripples than you like to think.”

“Yeah, well, now isn’t a good time to talk.”

“Why not?”

I glanced over my shoulder, wanting to tell him why but keeping it silent. He didn’t need to understand that this was goodbye, that this was my last chance at seeing my mom and dad before I left them be, before I distanced myself in case anyone came looking for me.

And probably before I died.

“Who’s this?” My mother’s voice came from the doorway of the kitchen, and I groaned.

“No one.”

She came forward, peering around me. “You’ve been talking to no one for a very long time, and in my experience, people don’t argue like that with people they don’t know.” She stuck her hand out to Kelvin. “I’m Grace Reynolds, Grey’s mother.”

My gaze locked on her hand, wanting to swat it away, but that wasn’t something one did to their mother. My mom was still spry and wily enough she might try to put me over her knee for that.

Kelvin reached out and embraced my mom’s hand in a solid handshake. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Reynolds. I’m Kelvin Thatcher.”

“And how is it you know my daughter?” Ah, that suspicion. Even when facing someone larger, stronger—and immortal, though she didn’t know that—my mother could still talk to them like they were an unruly child.

Kelvin smiled—had I ever seen him do that with so little malice? “We’re dating.”

I turned toward him, my mouth already opening to ask him what drugs he was on to say such a thing.

My mother was faster. “Oh, really? She never brings her men around, you know? Any man who won’t meet her mother isn’t worth her time.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” he said. “Your daughter is hard to catch, though in my experience, the things most worth having always are.”

“Leprosy is hard to catch, too,” I muttered.

“Are you saying you’re falling apart for me? And to think I said you weren’t romantic before.” He smiled wider, his flat teeth making him look almost normal, if not for the slight sheen of his skin. Vampire’s fangs retracted when not in use, allowing them to pass more easily. It meant I’d been fortunate enough to never actually see any up close and personal.

“Why don’t you join us?” my mom said, clearly smitten.

“I’d love to so long as I’m not imposing.”

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