Page 10 of Midlife Vampire Unexpected

“No,” Bianca said. “It’s what shows us who is in the coven. There was a blood pact made and when required, those who are part of the pact will come together to protect the cemetery.”

“And that time is now?” I asked, a little bit surprised.

“Apparently, yes,” Mae said. “But we’re about as new to it as everybody else. The Cougar Creek Coven was established a hundred and fifty years ago here. They still hold the foundation wards on the cemetery. But the blood pact is bound to the coven through the high priestess.”

“That’s her.” Bianca pointed a finger at Mae.

“So, you’ve all just found out about the supernatural world also?” I asked glancing from Bianca to Jane to Mae.

“Yeah,” Jane nodded. “But we’ve met some supernaturals who help us out. Mae has a cougar and Bianca has a satyr.”

“Not to mention, her monster,” Bianca motioned towards Jane.

“Who else is in the coven?” I asked.

“Hilda, Trina and her two kids. They are great and can do a lot of magic but having the unique skills of the blood pact are crucial to us figuring out the wards and protecting the cemetery,” Jane said.

I glanced over at Antonio, who was now standing but still bound by the silver thread.

“I don’t know about the blood pact, and I don’t know much about Cougar Creek Coven, but the whole reason why I became a bounty hunter was to protect lone wolves,” he said.

“She’s not a lone wolf. She’s got us,” Jane crossed her arms over her chest.

“No offense, but you’re an untrained witch, a brand-new Fae, a fresh werewolf, and now what, a baby vamp?”

“I’m not a baby vamp,” I interjected.

“Do you even know what you’re up against?” Antonio asked, his gaze sweeping the four of us.

“Well, so far we’ve been up against vampires, bone creatures, and apparently demons.” Jane listed them off on her fingers.

“Not to mention monsters,” Bianca said. “I took one for the team with the monster.”

“They’re talking about the spider monster, not my boyfriend monster,” Jane explained to me.

This was all still new to me. I tried to nod, but it came out as me shaking my head. “Well, it sounds like you guys have your hands full,” I said, heading toward the door. “And honestly I’ve got to get back down to the sheriff’s office. I’ve been on vacation and they’re going to be wondering where I am.”

I stopped in my tracks and turned around, looking around the room, my gaze finally resting on Bianca. “What day is it? “I asked, trying not to let my concern show in my voice. The truth was, I was hungry. And the more I stood in the room with all of them, with their beating hearts, the hungrier I was getting.

“It’s Thursday,”

“You’ve been gone a week,” Antonio said. He motioned his hands towards Mae. She frowned but waved a hand and the silver thread fell away from his wrists.

“She’s hungry,” Jane said, her expression full of worry as she turned toward me. “It’s pretty bad.”

“How do you even know?” I asked.

Jane shrugged. “Air Fae. Can you believe it? Here I was raised to be a voodoo priestess and the whole time they were my surrogate parents.”

“Well, I am finding,” I concurred, “that truth is so much crazier than fiction.”

Antonio walked over to me and lifted his wrist, preparing to undo his bandage.

“What the fuck?” I said, looking down at his hand. “You can’t do that. Not here. I’m not going to do that in front of all these people.”

I saw the women of the coven exchange looks.

“What, is it kinky or something?” Jane asked.

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