Page 55 of Blood and Buttercups

“The doctor said I can date.” I slide my grandma’s napkin holder across the counter, focusing on straightening the contents instead of looking at him.

“You can.”

“But if there’s Vampiria B in my saliva, how can I kiss…someone?”

Though I’m looking down, I can feel his amusement.

“You’re just in the larva stage of monsterdom,” he teases. “Basically, your body fought off the virus. It affected you—changed you. But you’re not a carrier.”

“You don’t become a carrier until…”

“You’ve been bitten about three times. Sometimes as early as twice, but it’s usually three.”

“How would I know?”

“Your fangs would come in.”

“Fangs?”

“Vampires don’t grow their retractable fangs until the final stage, when they’re capable of passing the disease.”

“Creepy. What do you mean, retractable?”

“They form behind the canine teeth, and like a cat can retract her claws, a vampire can retract her fangs.”

“That’s why Ethan looks normal—his fangs were hidden.”

“Correct.”

“This is so weird. How can you be calm about it?”

“I’ve known about this for a little over ten years. You found out forty-eight hours ago. There’s an adjustment period.” He meets my eyes. “But back to your question, yes, you can kiss anyone you like.”

“I can’t because I’d never be able to tell them what I was. Who would want to date a vampire…amonster?” I shudder, thinking of Ethan. “No, thank you.”

Noah watches me calmly, obviously not struggling like I am. Probably because, lucky him, it’s not something he has to deal with.

“Tell me about your other pre-vamps,” I say. “What were they like?”

“My first was a thirty-two-year-old housewife. Heather picked it up during vacation in Mexico. She was pretty sick initially, but recovered without any issues. We got her regulated, and she and her husband had their third baby a year and a half later. I get Christmas cards from her every year—she and her family are fine.”

“And your second?”

“He was a doctor involved in a car accident. Both he and the other driver—a vampire—sustained injuries. While he was giving the other driver medical care, an open wound came in contact with the vampire’s blood. It wasn’t a usual case and traumatic for everyone involved. Laws for accidental transfer hadn’t been established, and it went to court. The doctor requested all charges be dropped, and eventually they were, but it was a complicated process.”

“Is the doctor okay?”

“He retired a few years ago. Last I heard, he and his wife had moved to Florida.”

“So, my situation, where I was intentionally infected and the vampire is staying in touch…how common is that?”

Noah’s expression goes solemn. “Not very common. Most often, people are infected by rogue vampires who go off their meds—wrong place, wrong time sort of deals. Occasionally, we see people who have consentingly been infected by a partner or spouse, but they usually lie low since transmission is illegal and they already know how to navigate the changes.” He softens his tone. “But what happened to you was different. You were assaulted, and it sounds like the attack was premeditated. The courts punish these offenders severely. When we catch the man who did this to you—and Iwillcatch him—he’s going to serve several life sentences.”

I swallow, twisting a napkin in my hands. “And until then?”

A welcome smile tugs at his lips. “You might want to give me a key so I don’t have to bust through your door again.”

“Are all conservators as skilled at breaking and entering as you?”

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