Page 28 of The Vampire in the Potting Shed

Beside me, Sloane grew pale, and a frown pleated her forehead as she stared off into space.

Not the most reassuring gestures, but hey. I was hitting my stride. I could rationalize myself out of this.

“AndDad wouldn’t have told me to pack up and get out of Brentwood if he had engaged us.”

“Ana…”

“Therefore, we are not getting married, and I am going to go home to…”

…start boxing up my things.

That was what I meant to say, since the Walsh occupation of Brentwood was fact given the numbers I had witnessed since my arrival. But it gutted me knowing I would be required to move to my childhood home until I talked Dad into letting me purchase another house in another town.

How was this my life? I was an adult. I shouldn’t have to ask my dad to let me do anything.

“You don’t have to leave.” Rían coiled like he was seconds from springing across the desk to grab me before I walked out. “Brentwood is your home. You’re the only reason I’m here. The betrothal is a lot, I get it, but it’s not like I’m slapping you with an ultimatum. There’s no timeline. No rush. All I’m asking is for you to please stay.” His hesitant smile tugged on his scarred lip. “Get to know me and the rest of the clan before abandoning the life you worked so hard to build here.”

This was too big. I couldn’t hold it all in my head without it exploding. But I had to start somewhere.

He was giving me what I wanted, what had gotten me in that SUV, without my having asked for it.

“Explain how you ended up in my shed.” I started off easy. “Who did that to you?”

“Mercer Bates caught up to me after a heated meeting with your father. He decided I should be taught a lesson in respect.” He spread his hands. “I couldn’t shift within Brentwood city limits, not then, but Mercer didn’t have that problem. I can hold my own, giraffe legs and all, but not against a wolf with the element of surprise and three sentinels to back him up if he started losing.”

I wish I could say I was shocked Mercer would stoop so low, but where I was concerned, Dad placed few limits on what his second could do to protect me. Even if it was dishonorable to attack someone unable to defend themselves with tooth and claw. Or whatever Rían had aside from his great height.

“Why couldn’t you shift?” I found myself curious what his answer might reveal about his character. “Part of the bargain for the meeting? To remain on two legs for the duration?”

“You really don’t know?” He raised his eyebrows at Sloane. “You have a token, I’m sure.”

“I have a charm that allows for instantaneous shifting,” she admitted after I nodded my permission.

“Can I see it?” He extended a hand, and Sloane, to her credit, only hesitated for a second before she placed her charm on his wide palm. “This engraving on the front?” He indicated the wolf’s head. “It’s the rune for instantaneous shifting.” He flipped it over. “This one?” He showed us a magnolia blossom. “This one grants the bearer the ability to shift within the city limits. Otherwise, you’re locked in whatever form you enter in until you leave. Though we’ll be tweaking that soon.”

“That’s what Fayne meant by wards.” I had trouble wrapping my head around it. “I had no idea.”

“I had no idea it was possible.” Sloane accepted her charm. “A whole town on magical lockdown?”

“I imagine there are several aspects of life in Brentwood you weren’t privy to,” Rían said with a frown. “Sartori didn’t want to chance Ana smelling a lie on you or suspecting you of being complicit. Anyone he thought was getting too curious he got rid of before they could voice any concerns to her.” The chair hit its breaking point, crunching under Rían, who grimaced but appeared confident it wouldn’t outright dump him onto the floor. A man his size was probably a better judge of such things than me. “Bowie had reason to believe you were next. Not for asking questions, but from concerns raised by your behavior.”

A growl tickling the back of her throat, she leaned forward, into his space. “What behavior?”

“Thatbehavior.” His peculiar eyes crinkled at their corners. “Your loyalty to Ana was growing too deep.”

“From where I’m sitting, that’s a plus. Not a minus.” Sloane’s upper lip quivered. “She’s my friend.”

“I think…” I swallowed hard, “…he might be right.” I curled into myself. “You’re the first person who ever pushed me to be open, to trust them. Everyone else kept their distance, and that was fine with me. I had gotten used to the revolving door.”

I told myself I didn’t need them. That I didn’t need friends. Never had I considered the sentinels who wound up in my employ might have wanted to forge a connection, or that Dad might have warned them away from forming an attachment.

Why would he do that? Isolate me? Force me to be so alone?

More than once I had fallen asleep in his lap as a child, crying because no one liked me. I had shed more than a few tears in high school too, when I got dumped for not being enough. Not being arealshifter.

“Can I take her home?” Sloane started rubbing my back, as if sensing I was near my breaking point. “She’s had enough for one day.” I started to protest, but she cut me a glare. “You need food and sleep.”

“Today was a lot to take in.” He rose with caution, but the poor chair had given up on life and toppled on its side. “Today’s not looking any easier.” He pointed at the wreckage. “I’ll, uh, replace that.”

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