Page 108 of Your Coffin or Mine
“That’s so cool.”
Gran would adore all of this.She’s been the reigning champion of Halloween for as long as I can remember. I take my phone out, ignoring the many messages, and start snapping pictures for later. Maybe we can do red punch instead of wine next year.
“Here’s your dog, sir,” one of the waiters says, holding Fifi away from him while the dog bares his teeth, growling at the poor man. One of his fake teeth pops out as he fights the wiggling tawny ball of rage.
George reaches for him. “Hi, Fifi, did you miss Daddy?”
Before he can take Fifi, the waiter accidentally drops him. George and I gasp, stepping forward to grab him as the waiterlooks horrified. Fifi is honestly a tiny ball of hate and I’m not surprised he can’t be contained.
“I’m so sorry,” the waiter says, trying to grab him, and I almost smash heads with him.
“Fifi!” George shouts above the music.
The dog’s short little legs gain ground fast as he heads toward the kitchen. I think the music and people have just freaked him out.
I cup my mouth, shouting, “I’ll get him!” over the heavy bass.
This is the last thing I want to do right now, but I don’t see that drunk little man making it out of the ballroom without tripping over something. I wanted to wait for Vlad, but I know how important Fifi is to George.
The bass thumps in my head and I can feel a headache coming on, my anxiety ramping up a notch when I hear a sharp squeal in my eardrum from a happy partygoer to my right. Balloons start to fall from the ceiling, and I fight my way to the edge of the ballroom. Jeez, whose idea was that?
Ugh, I head toward the open door Fifi went through.
Maybe I’ll find Vlad on the way. I bet the dog is camped out in the kitchen with Whitley, eating sweets. If I were a dog, that’s where I would want to be.
I haven’t had nearly enough to drink for a blaring hotel rave.
I doubt any of this was Vlad’s idea.
Chapter 33
VLAD
“I cannot believe you,”Doyle practically growls, his voice deep and menacing. It’s rather cute how he thinks to admonish me.
We walk through the castle, attempting to appear like all is normal as he sniffs the air every now and then, searching for Jekyll’s scent. With this amount of people and so many new smells, it’s near impossible. The castle is large, and it takes time to walk through it, which annoys me even further. I will find him faster flying.
Uneasiness eats at me. The idea that Aubrey is alone with this many guests in the castle makes my skin crawl. Not only are my instincts screaming to protect her, it’s difficult to determine and sense where everyone is. Not to mention Jekyll being here unannounced has my hackles rising.
“You not only told her about us, but you bit her, didn’t you?” he asks.
I continue staring ahead, as I concentrate on locating one person among many. It’s not the easiest thing to do, especially with him yammering in my ear. “I fail to see how that’s any of your business.”
“How could it not be my business, Vlad? There are other supernaturals who could be your mate if you would just go out and meet them. How can it be Aubrey, a human, Vlad? It doesn’t make sense. You’re just hungry and haven’t eaten properly for a hundred years. You were insane for a while there.”
Finding a born vampire was uncommon, and turning a human mostly resulted in death. The odds of finding a true mate have always been slim, and the idea of picking a bride just to see her die never interested me. But with Aubrey being my mate. . . I just know the fates wouldn’t be so cruel as to give me the one woman I seek, only to take her away from me.
I could choose a mate if I really wanted to, could force a bond, but nothing is as special as a true bond.
“Other supernaturals? I can’t see myself with a wolf woman,” I say with a scowl.
“I find that rather offensive,” he scoffs, and I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. Once the others find out, they will want to stick to the rules. They’ll come for her.”
“Be offended, I don’t care.” We round a bend in the hallway. “And that won’t happen.”
“As soon as they find out about her, I promise you they will want retribution. That was the deal. You stay away from humans and so will they. Frank?—”
“Frank can whine all he likes. It is irrelevant because she is the exception.”
