Page 19 of Hitched to the Vampire King

“Think it’ll do?” she asked.

I bit my bottom lip. “It’ll have to. Maybe we’ll cover him with another blanket, just in case?”

“He won’t overheat?”

“He’s essentially dead,” I said, and I caught her wince. “Yeah, that was how I felt when this all started too.”

“How’d you get over that? I mean, there’s a dead man in your bed.”

“I said he’sessentiallydead,” I groused. “He isn’tactuallydead.”

“Hey, whatever floats your boat, kid.” She turned and faced me, her exhaustion evident in the purple bruises under her eyes. “Did the phone work?”

Heat scoured my cheeks. “I, uh, don’t know anyone’s number.”

To that, Avery laughed. “Well, you’re in luck. Cuz I do know some numbers.”

“Thank goodness. Let’s get Gabriel tucked in up here and go make some calls.”

Together, we tromped back downstairs, and between the two of us, hauled my mate up to bed. It wasn’t too difficult of a task, thanks to our preternatural strength, waning or otherwise.

Avery helped me lay him down, then left me to do the rest. I appreciated the gesture. A moment alone with Gabriel, even while he was unconscious, was better than nothing. I still hadn’t taken the time to deal with everything we’d gone through. And I didn’t have the time to stop and deal with it now. But I did want to take this moment just to be with him.

I brushed the hair off his face and kissed his cheek before pulling another blanket up and over him. A final layer of protection, just in case. Then I hurried back downstairs.

Avery stood in the kitchen, the phone up to her ear. Excitement bubbled in my stomach as I strode toward her.

“Yes, ma’am,” she said, her southern Louisiana accent thickening as she spoke. “I’m at the south New Orleans safehouse. Not alone. Two civilians.”

I bristled at that. I was hardly a civilian. I was a vampire slayer and a werewolf, for crying out loud. A warrior. And Gabriel was the freaking King of Vampires.

“Requesting pickup, asap. One is a vamp, so we’ll need equipment to safely transport him.”

My body relaxed, and I slumped against the wall.

Avery was about to hang up when she paused and glanced at me. “And can you get in contact with Sam? Let him know I have his sister-in-law here with me.”

Tears sprang to my eyes, and I nodded my thanks to Avery. I longed to speak to Lucy myself, but I would take this as a win. The instant the pack called Sam, he would tell Lucy, and with luck, she would tell everyone else. Soon they would know Gabriel and I were alright.

“Yes, ma’am. I understand. We’ll be ready for transport at fourteen-hundred hours.” Avery said goodbye, then hung up the phone with a small smile. “Well, that’s taken care of. And we’ll be gone from here before sunset, meaning we’ll have a lead on the vamps.”

“Thank you,” I said. “For asking them to contact Sam. It means the world to me.”

Avery nodded, then turned to the fridge. When she opened the door, our stomachs simultaneously growled.

“Yeah, I figured you would be as hungry as I am,” she commented. “How about we make some sandwiches, and then we take a few moments to acquaint ourselves? I have some questions, and I suspect you do too.”

Oh, I hadsomany. Now that we weren’t running for our lives through the bayou or racing the dreaded sun, I was itching to ask them all.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” I said.

I leaned into the fridge, then burst out laughing when Avery and I both reached for what looked like shredded rotisserie chicken.

“Werewolves gonna werewolf,” I teased.

“Luckily, there’s plenty for both of us. Now, let’s get nomming.”

And nom we did.

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