Page 20 of Coven

“Right! When we went out to that forest to play.” Sora leaned back into Mika’s body. Mika licked his lips, a slow sensual swipe. His eyes darkened as he stared directly at Kana. He dipped his head slightly to lick a line up the side of Sora’s neck, and Kana was lost.

Chapter Eight

FIVE DAYS PASSED, each one inching along like a glacier. Kana woke with his alarm, went to work where he did his best to chat with Beth and act like everything was normal, and then went home to sit by the phone and wait with his familiars.

Even over the weekend, when he at least had freedom from work, Kana was jumpy and twitchy, and simply too hyped up to settle on any one task. Every time his phone chirped to provide a weather report or something else innocuous, adrenaline rushed. Kana’s heart thudded frantically, and his fingers and toes would tingle.

Kana told himself over and over to calm down. There was no reason to be worried about a phone call during the daytime; the vampires were sleeping so if Ember called, it would only be to add something to their plans. After dark, he at least had the spell books he was studying and Mika and Sora to distract him.

And then Monday rolled around again, as if a week full of vampires and werewolves and crazy plans was inconsequential to the passing of time. Which it technically was, Kana reminded himself as he packed up his things after yet another long day at work. Overtime wasn’t fun, particularly when he wouldn’t be paid for the extra hours, yet his boss kept piling on the work.

“You’d think they would have wanted to air the vampire story already, since we had so many big meetings about it”—Beth grumbled as she stacked papers into multiple piles all over her desk—“instead of stalling with research and more rewrites.”

Kana hadn’t thought about it, but Beth was right. They had that big meeting last week to decide exactly what they wanted to air, and Beth and Kana had submitted a final draft of the article for the newspaper and website. It wasn’t like the station to sit on a big story like that.

“Maybe they’re afraid the vampires will want retribution for airing something negative about them?” Kana asked.

Beth shook her head. “I don’t think so. I think they’re waiting until they have more proof the vampires are up to no good. That clip of the vampire trying to bite Stephen was partially obscured by the magic flaring. My guess is they’re worried someone will claim it was doctored.”

“But if they’ve got another story of someone totally unrelated to the studio who was also attacked…” Kana trailed off.

“Exactly,” Beth finished with a firm nod. “More interested in covering their asses than getting out a public awareness story. Besides, none of our local competitors seem at all interested.”

Probably because they actually cared about the safety of their employees and knew better than to go near vampires, but Kana wasn’t about to say that aloud while in the office.

“Well, whatever,” Beth sighed. She shut down her computer and turned to wait for Kana to help Mika and Sora into his bag. “I hope I never become that soulless, but given I’m working here…” She sighed again. “I guess it’s just a matter of time.”

“As long as we continue to worry about stuff like that, I think our souls are fine,” Kana replied. He pulled his bag on and waved toward the door. “Shall we go?”

Beth gave one last look at all the piles of work on her and Kana’s desk, and then scurried to the door before someone else could come to give them more work. Kana followed and caught up with her at the elevator. They walked outside together, the setting sun already touching the horizon and casting long shadows on the sidewalk in front of their building. Beth sighed at the sight, disgust clear in the twist of her lips. They should have been able to leave work hours ago, but of course at four o’clock—just a half hour before they were supposed to leave—Amanda had emailed them with a massive project that had to be completed before close of business.

Beth let out another heavy sigh. “See you tomorrow,” she said.

“Yeah, see you.” Kana waved when Beth turned to go to the parking garage. He continued onward to the bus stop.

He was just stepping inside the bus shelter when his phone blared. Kana jumped and fumbled the phone out of his pocket. Ember, the caller ID read, and Kana quickly swiped across the screen to answer.

“Hello?” he said.

“Kana? Good,” Ember answered. “Lucas has decided to feed outside tonight. Where are you? I’ll send a car to get you.”

“The bus stop outside my office.” Kana’s voice was calm, but he had no idea why. His hands were shaking and his heart thudding, yet his knees were as steady as his voice as he left the stop and headed back to the curb.

“Okay. A car should be pulling up any second. I’ll see you in a few.” Ember hung up.

Kana stared at his phone for a long moment, then put it to sleep and stuffed it back in his pocket.

Abrupt, Kana said.

He’s probably busy, Sora replied easily.

True, but Kana couldn’t help wishing Ember had a desire to linger with Kana a bit longer. Before he could dwell on ridiculous hurt feelings, a familiar black SUV pulled up in front of him. Kana yanked the back door open and hopped inside. The door was barely closed when the car turned back into traffic. The driver took the car farther into the city, where a popular outdoor shopping center attracted all sorts of customers. People waited in lines outside restaurants, went door to door with their arms full of shopping bags, or hung out on park benches eating ice cream or drinking coffee. Prime pickings for a hungry vampire.

The car double-parked and Kana quickly opened his door and climbed out. The car drove away a second later, and Ember stepped into view on the sidewalk. He waved Kana over, and when Kana reached him, he backed into a nearby alley.

“I just got word Lucas left the compound. Are you ready?”

Kana swung his bag around and unzipped the top. Two grinning cats popped their heads free, and first Mika and then Sora jumped out and vanished into the darkened alley.

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