Page 48 of Bite of Passage
“Not much more than you.Just that they’re somehow connected.”
“It follows my life?How’s that possible?”
“I have no clue.A friend of mine let me borrow the disc with the show’s episodes.She did some sort of spell on me, but she swears it wasn’t something that could have allowed me to cross into your world.Which implies there’s something about the disc that’s bespelled.”She took a sip of the cider.“Why do you do what you do?The monster-hunting jobs?Why not be like your brother and be an assassin?”
“Technically, Cade isn’t an assassin.He enforces the Directorate’s rules.”
“Why do you go around like a mercenary killing magical weirdoes?”
His shoulders lifted and dropped, which seemed forced.“I need money to maintain this monstrosity.”
She scrunched up her lips.“There’s no way ‘just because’ is why you do it.The creatures you face off with are upper echelon scary shits.”
He stared at his cup, blinked twice, and his jaw hardened.“Don’t be fooled into thinking me a hero.I enjoy killing, especially the scary shits.It ups the challenge.Killing is something I was trained to do since the moment I could hold a sword.I might as well get paid for it.Going after monsters pays better than being an assassin.I tried that too for a while.”
“It pays more since it’s twice as dangerous and no one else wants to do it.Something made you start facing off with paranormal wackos.What?”
A shadow passed through his eyes.She could tell there was a reason—one he wasn’t going to share.“I found I have a knack for it.”
She bit into a piece of chicken.A low moan escaped her.“I might spontaneously orgasm from eating this.It’s so good.”
The darkness left his expression as he watched her chew.
She put a hand over her mouth.“Oops.Do women here not talk like that?”
He shook his head slowly.
“I’m not sure I can change.”She took another bite of chicken and moaned.“Be warned, I have a potty mouth.I’m not a slut or anything—honestly, I haven’t slept with a guy in…” She looked heavenward and squinted as she tried to remember the last time.“A long time.Even then, it wasn’t memorable.”
“That long?”
She waved her next bite of chicken on the fork.“I haven’t found a lot of men brave enough to step up.Of course, as you’ve discovered, I seem to attract loser guys these days who are all about their insecurities.No way would I lose my clothes with anyone like Dylan, the one you…took care of.”She shook her head to herself.“I’m scaring you, being too forward, aren’t I?Women here are more buttoned up than where I’m from.”
“You’re not like anyone here.That’s for sure.”His pupils had dilated and dropped to her boobs again.
“Want me to check and make sure they’re behaving?”She peeked down the shirt.“Yep.All good.Want me to take off the shirt and take a chance they might escape?”
He shook his head with a smile.
“Too tempting, huh?Suit yourself.”She chuckled.“Anyway, no argument from me you’re incredible at what you do.I mean, the fighting evil shits.Can’t comment on the sex.I am curious, but…” Her face scorched.“Back to you fighting things.There’s no one else to do it.You realize you’re the only one whocando it, don’t you?There might be a few humans trained to handle dark magic, but they’re not strong enough physically.You’re uniquely perfect for it.Do you think Cade could’ve handled VanFliet’s possessed psycho vampire girlfriend?”She shook her head.“He wouldn’t have known all the counter curses you chanted or had the potions and trinkets you used to contain her.I’m not even sure he’d have had the balls to kill her.I don’t know him that well, though.”
“You would know about his balls.”He snort-laughed.
She smiled at his happiness.“I’m right about Cade, aren’t I?”
He stared into his cup.“I think we both know he’s not ball-less.He’s decently good under pressure in a fight.Dark magic, though?It scares him like it does most of our kind.”
“Like it does everyone in this world except you, and maybe Serish.I don’t think that old guy is as crazy as he comes off.”
“He’s not all good guy.Don’t let him fool you.”
“I’m well aware he’s not what he seems.I think he knows a hell of a lot more about me being here than he’s letting on.”
By the time dessert arrived she’d eaten far too much, whereas Skarde had barely touched the food.
“Cade mentioned a prophecy.He said you’d never…” She reached out and took his hand.“I’m not here to become a vampire or force you to do something you don’t want.I feel like I have to say it out loud again.I didn’t have any sort of ulterior motive when I fell into your world.”She glanced down at her arm, unnerved by what the dwarf had shown her.She almost mentioned the part about being a medicinal.Instead she asked, “How long have you been a vampire?”
He sighed and ran a hand over his face.“Too long.”
