Page 92 of Road Trip with a Vampire
“Maybe we shouldn’t go to Indiana tomorrow,” I said.
“I have to go,” Peter said. He pulled the latest letter from his pocket again and waved it in the air. “If I don’t, these notes will keep coming.”
“Who cares?” I asked. “You don’t know what you’re walking into. What if it isn’t safe for you to go?”
“I don’t care if it isn’t safe for me,” Peter said, eyes flashing. “I have to know—”
“WellIcare!”I shouted.
Silence so complete you could have heard a pin drop followed my outburst. I was trembling—both from strength of emotion and from the shock of realizing for the first time just how strong my feelings were when it came to this man. I was dimly aware of Reggie smirking at me from his end of the kitchen table. I ignored the shit out of him.
Peter’s mouth hung half-open, his eyes round with surprise.
“Zelda,” he said, clearly at a loss for words. His throat worked. “I…”
Reggie leaned in close and clapped him on the shoulder. “This is the part where you tell her you care, too,” he whispered sotto voce. “Trust me.”
If a look could burn someone to ash, the glare Peter gave him would have done it. “Thank you,” he muttered through gritted teeth, sounding anything but appreciative.
“Don’t mention it.” Reggie’s eyes darted between the two of us. “I…just remembered. I have to go to bed.”
I barely noticed as he scurried down the hallway and into his bedroom, closing the door behind him.
Peter’s eyes were a tempest of emotion. On instinct, I took his hands in mine.
“I hate the idea of you putting yourself in danger,” I said.
He shook his head. Stepped closer. “Likewise. Which is why I think you should stay while I go.”
“I can take care of myself,” I said flatly. “I was getting myself out of dangerous situations before you were even born.”
That earned me a reluctant smile. “I knew you’d play the age card sooner or later.”
“It was inevitable,” I agreed, barely resisting the urge to trace the shape of his smile with my fingertips. “It’s true, though. Idohave more experience with this kind of thing than you do. I also have magic.”
“I have fangs,” he countered.
“Which won’t help you against other vampires,” I pointed out.
A muscle feathered in his jaw. He looked away. “Right.”
“I have magic,” I said again very quietly. “Youneedme tomorrow, Peter. Even if you don’t want to admit it. In fact…”
I bit my lip. I had never told anyone about the cache of magic-enhancing supplies secreted away in my suitcase. But if telling Peter about them now would convince him I’d be more than able to take care of both of us tomorrow…
“What is it?” he asked, concerned.
I took a deep breath. Peter could be trusted with this. “I have more than just my magic with me,” I said.
“What does that mean?”
Another deep breath. “My natural powers are tied to, and limited by, the elements,” I explained. “I brought some items on this trip that allow me to do things beyond my ordinary abilities.”I began ticking them off on my fingers. “Two magically enhanced metal daggers tipped with removable wooden stakes that can kill both vampiresandnonvampires. One magic powder that can incapacitate opponents for a solid five minutes if it’s thrown directly into their faces. And another powder that can teleport any object, or person, wherever you wish them to go.” I smiled at him. “I also brought a groovy plastic ring that does nothing but looks really cool.”
He huffed a laugh at the last part. “Those do sound useful.”
“They are.”
Peter’s brows knit together as he considered his next words carefully. “Why did you bring them with you on this trip in the first place, though?” He reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “Were they to help you with your experiments, or was it something else?”
