Page 73 of Hunters and Hydrangeas

“Or it’s a trap, and he’s going to kill us all.”

“Or that.”

I groan, rubbing my neck. “Now what?”

“Now we’re going to drive down to NIHA and make use of their training room. You need a self-defense refresher course.”

“No, thanks.” I pull a face. “Come to think of it, I have an impressive backstroke. I’ll take my chances with the sharks.”

Noah laughs, shaking his head like I’m ridiculous. “It won’t be that bad. This time, I’m going to show you how to use a special tool.”

I’m not sure I like the sound of that.

“What kind of special tool?” I ask.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Will you stop saying that?”

He drops his arm around my shoulders. “You’ll be fine.”

My special toolis a set of slim, needle-like hair pins laced with a sedative that’s strong enough to take out a fully grown African elephant…or one average-sized vampire. I have four, and thanks to Noah, I know how to use them. The tricky part will be pulling them out of my hair without stabbing myself.

Noah stands in front of me in NIHA’s padded training room. “What do you do if someone tries to abduct you?”

“I stab them,” I parrot obediently.

We’ve been over this a dozen times already.

“And if someone tries to hurt you?”

“I stab them.”

“What if someone tries to bite you again?”

“I stab themreallyhard. Maybe with more than one hair pin.”

He smiles. “You got it.”

I slowly exhale, looking around the room, my eyes landing on a stand of practice stakes. I wonder if they’re hiding a dead pig around here somewhere. “Now what?”

“Now, we need to buy you something to wear tonight.”

“It’s my first yacht party.” I pull out my phone, looking for local discount stores. “What do you think I should get?”

Glancing at my screen over my shoulder, Noah chuckles. “How about you let me choose the store?”

I narrow my eyes and turn my head to look at him. “And by you, you mean Cassian, right?”

He smiles. “Obviously.”

17

I’m standingin a clothing boutique that’s so upscale, I feel like I’ve wandered into another movie. My hair is still a little wet from the shower I took in the women’s locker room outside the training area, and I’m in shorts and a T-shirt.

Or Iwas. Now I’m in a dress that barely covers my butt. It’s the fourth one I’ve tried on, but the attendant keeps bringing me more.

Outside the changing room, Noah sits on an upholstered bench like a young CEO.

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