Page 124 of Vampires and Violas

I’ve been feelingoff since breakfast, but I don’t have time to be sick today. Transitioning to the next stage will just have to wait until after work.

I ignore my rolling stomach as I put the final touches on the arrangements for Kayla’s daughter’s party.

Noah opens the door to the cellar just as I’m finishing.

“Pink ribbon or green?” I ask him when he joins me at my workbench.

All my tools and supplies hang tidily from a pegboard, and various vases, mason jars, and decorative pots are tucked into cardboard boxes that rest underneath the bench.

It’s a good system, but I never wanted to be a part-time florist. I’d much rather grow the flowers than arrange them. To keep my mind off my nausea, I’ve been daydreaming about my nursery, imagining happy customers wandering the flower fields as they pick their own bouquets and the cheerful sight of greenhouses filled with baby plants.

I haven’t talked to Cassian about it again, but things have been a little chaotic. For all I know, he decided it was a lousy investment and politely forgot we had the conversation.

“Green,” Noah answers, watching as I pull a length of ribbon from the spool. “I think your check came, by the way.”

“From Tea Rose Floral?” I ask, surprised.

“That’s what the return address said.”

“It’s too bad it didn’t show upbeforeI sent you out in the dark to check the mailbox.”

“Ironically, I think it was there, but I forgot to look for it after the attack.”

I frown at the ribbon as I tie it into a bow, deciding the money was more trouble than it was worth.

“There,” I say, finished with the arrangements. “All done.”

Kayla picked pink gerbera daisies, pink and white roses, and the sweetest white forget-me-nots for the arrangements. To tie everything together, I added some greenery and a few sprigs of pearls. They’re perfect for a seven-year-old’s princess party.

“I have some news,” Noah says.

“Good news?”

“Not particularly. I just got off the phone with Daniel. The police department called this morning. There weren’t any fingerprints on the gun except ours.”

I nod, disappointed.

Noah has assigned several hunters to the case, but Ethan’s assassin might as well have vanished into thin air—again.

Thankfully, I’ve been busy enough with work that I’ve been able to keep my mind off it.

Mostly.

“We’ll find them,” Noah promises, and then he nods to the flowers. “Are these ready to go?”

“Yeah.”

Noah helps me carry the arrangements to the truck. The sun beats down on us, too hot. It’s bothered me all summer, but right now, I’m wilting in the direct sunlight. My skin feels like it’s burning up even though I put on sunscreen.

“Want me to drive?” Noah offers, frowning in my direction like he senses something is wrong.

“Please.” I head to the passenger side of the truck. “I’d like to text Kayla and tell her we’re on our way.”

We’re halfway to Kayla’s house when my phone rings. I glance at the screen and then answer. “Hi, Sam.”

“Hey, Piper. Kayla asked me to call. There’s been a change of plans. The party has been moved to my place. Kayla forgot to call you last night.”

“That’s no problem,” I say. “We’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.”

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