Page 96 of Vampires and Violas

“His daughter is a stage one pre-vamp, and his son is a new conservator. They were sharing the news.”

“Ah…I understand.” His mustache twitches with a smile. “Are you two the con artists?”

“Guilty.” Cassian doesn’t try very hard to hide his smirk.

“Someone better explain what’s going on,” Dad demands. “And why did you call him Montgomery? He said his name wasNoah.”

This is awkward.

“Noah is my middle name—what my family calls me,” Noah explains. “Montgomery is my first and the name I use for work.”

“Montgomery was just promoted to chief of investigations for NIHA,” Sheriff Thompson says. “We met last week.”

“What is NIHA?” Mom asks.

“Nicolau International Hematology Association,” Noah answers. “To put it simply, we govern vampires.”

“This is…” She shakes her head, looking a little faint. Then she turns to me. “You’re telling me…you’re saying…you’re actually avampire?”

She whispers the last word like it’s a filthy curse.

I sit down next to her. “Not exactly. I’m in a stage called pre-vampiric.”

Dad swears. “This is ridiculous.”

“Believe me, I felt the same when I found out about it after I completed my training,” Sheriff Thompson says. “But I can confirm these men’s identities. I assure you, they are not con artists.”

20

Sheriff Thompsononly stays a few minutes longer, and then he leaves us to figure out our mess.

Even though he vouched for Noah and Cassian, it takes hours to convince my parents this isn’t an elaborate hoax. Thankfully, the prescription bottles of blood, the new security cameras, Kevin’s obituary, and all the news reports surrounding his murder scandal are hard to brush off.

It’s almost ten when my mother pulls me aside. “Your father and I would like you to move back home for a little while.”

“Home? As in…with you and Dad?”

“I don’t think I need to list all the reasons why staying here alone with that man is a bad idea.”

“Mom, I’m a grown woman, and this isn’t Victorian England.”

“You’re not going to like this, but you need to break up with Noah and ask him to move out.” She clears her throat. “Obviously, he’s good friends with Cassian, so I’m sure he can stay with him until he finds his own place.”

“Mom.”

“He’s avampire, Piper.”

“I’m a vampire, too,” I point out.

“No,” she says harshly. “You are pre-vampiric—that’s what you said. You’re not…what he is.”

Part of me wants to be indignant, but Noahisa vampire. Of course they’re going to be freaked out. Who wouldn’t be?

“Please, Piper,” she begs, looking like she’s two seconds away from a mental breakdown.

I study her, feeling torn. “Listen, it’s late. I’m tired; you’re tired. You had a long drive today. Let’s talk about this more tomorrow.”

“You’ll come home with us?”

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