Page 73 of Blood and Buttercups

“You think there’s something fishy going on in the organization?”

“I know there’s something fishy going on, and I’m afraid Ethan is connected to it.”

“I don’t just have a stalker…I have a well-connected stalker?”

Noah releases a long, heavy sigh. “I’m afraid so.”

“So…NIHA won’t ever assign an official hunter to my case?”

“Correct.”

“Because Ethan knows a guy who knows a guy?”

“Something like that, yes.”

“What if we go to the police? Can I file a report now, or is it too late?”

“You can, but as soon as the word ‘vampire’ enters the conversation, they’ll turn the case over to NIHA for investigation.”

“This feels like a flawed system.”

“It’s become corrupt.”

“So, what can we do?”

“Wedon’t need to do anything. I’ll figure it out.” He glances at his phone, presumably to look at the time. “You, however, need to take your blood.”

I choose another slice of cucumber from the plate. “No thanks.”

He jerks his chin toward my snack. “No blood, no veggies.”

I growl, setting the slice down next to the radishes, celery, and carrot sticks. “Fine.”

“You want a smoothie again?”

As much as I hate to admit it—and I do hate it—the smoothie is the most palatable way to get it down. “Yeah, okay. But I can make it. You don’t need to wait on me.”

“I don’t mind.” He moves around my kitchen, slowly learning where I keep everything. “You want it spicy this time? Mango, strawberry, and cayenne?”

“Mmm, spicy blood smoothie.”

He chuckles as he pulls the blender out of the cupboard. “At least Clark said you don’t have to eat any more steak. As long as you take your prescription, you can basically go back to your bunny ways.”

“And the extra supplements.”

After looking at my bloodwork, the dietitian gave me supplements for iron, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D.

“You should have probably been taking those anyway.”

“Were you always this bossy, or did that come with the job?”

Noah smirks, but he doesn’t respond.

“Are you this annoying with girlfriends? If so, it might explain why you’re single.”

“Dating is exhausting, and I don’t have time for it.”

“Like…ever?”

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