Page 65 of The Vampire and the Case of the Hellacious Hag

Gunnar shook his head. ‘Neither of you do. I’ll go and report back. I know how much you love to get ready for these things.’

On the surface his comment appeared sexist, but the truth was he knew us too well. Wedidlove to get ready. Out here in the wilds of Alaska, it was rare to have an occasion to dress up, so we went all out when we did. My excitement was building; you could take the girl out of the London clubbing scene, but you couldn’t take the London clubbing scene out of the girl.

Gunnar, Connor and Thomas got into one vehicle, Sidnee and I took the other and we all headed back to town, destination party central. I couldn’t wait. It was, quite literally, time to let my hair down.

Because if we faced the MIB tomorrow, it might well be the last party I’d ever enjoy.

Chapter 37

Sidnee dropped me off so I could start to get ready. I hadn’t had time to order a new dress, but I had one that I’d been saving for a special occasion. It was dark-green silk and it made my eyes pop. It was high necked but bare shouldered and ended mid-thigh; the fabric clung in all the right places, making my lanky form look a little curvier than usual, and the wrap-around skirt that tied in front and gave the illusion of an hourglass figure. I paired it with silver strappy sandals and a matching silver bag.

Okay, it wasn’t the best winter wear but Connor was picking me up for the short drive, so I just had to make it to the car and into the hotel. Frankly, I could do that naked if I needed to, not that streaking was on my to-do list. If it ever had been on there, Alaska’s freezing temperatures would have pushed itwaydown.

I fed my pets and turned on the TV for them: a nature show about big cats. They were curled up on the couch together when Connor knocked. ‘Fluffy, you could shiftand come to the party with me,’ I said for the third time, but he just sighed and pointedly put his head down on his paws.

I’d found a supernatural counsellor in town and Reggie’s first appointment was in a week. It couldn’t come soon enough; I was failing him and it was all my fault that he was stuck like this. My bloody mum and her idiocy. That damned prophecy.

I eyed my German Shepherd with such guilt that he barked at me. I gave him a lopsided smile. ‘Yeah, yeah.’

There was another firm knock at the door and I gave each pet a scruffle on the head. ‘I gotta go. See you guys later.’

When I opened the front door, Connor was standing there in a sleek black suit with a sapphire-blue shirt beneath it. The colour made his eyes a shade darker than normal, as deep blue as the sea. His curls were sort of tamed, meaning he hadn’t run his hand through them yet. I decided I preferred them wild and I almost mussed them up myself, but it was obvious he’d taken time over his appearance so I didn’t. Besides, I was sure I’d do something to make him run his hands through his hair later. Exasperating him was a gift.

He had brought his Mustang because the roads were clear of snow, and I spotted John and Margrave in thetruck idling at the kerb behind it. Both men were suited and booted, but it was clear they were attending the party as bodyguards.

I walked carefully down the steps, gratefully slid my silk-clad bottom onto the heated leather seats and gave a happy little moan of pleasure. If I ever bought a car, I was definitely having heated seats.

Connor’s eyes never left me and the fire in them warmed me further. ‘If you keep looking at me like that we won’t make it to the party,’ I said with a grin.

‘Is that a promise?’

I tapped him lightly on the arm. ‘No! We can’t be late, we’re supporting Sidnee. Now focus on getting us there.’

He gave me one more scorching look then pressed the button to start the engine. ‘I’d much rather take you up on that than go out.’

‘Same – but we’d never get out of bed without other commitments.’

He laughed. ‘True.’

The motor caught with a roar and we headed to the hotel. ‘How did the council meeting go?’ I asked.

Connor grimaced. ‘About the usual. It quickly devolved into arguing.’

‘Anything decided?’

‘Unofficially we have permission to storm the mines, but if it goes wrong the council will rescind that permission. They’re worried that the dwarves will see it as an act of hostility.’

‘Obviously we don’t want to piss off the dwarves, but would it be so terrible if we did?’

‘The mine is one of the most profitable businesses in town.’

‘Fishing, mining, logging.’ I counted them off on my fingers.

‘Exactly – and mining brings in the most coin and creates a tonne of jobs. It’s not just mining itself, but administrative and logistical and transportational ones too. It’s a huge operation. If the dwarves went elsewhere…’ He trailed off.

‘It would be bad for Portlock?’

‘Very bad,’ he agreed. ‘Keeping the mine stable is the whole reason Calliope, Thomas and Liv bought into it.’

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