Page 88 of Zomromcom
“Agreed.” Sabrina rose to her feet and began preparing something at the stove. “Let’s relax for the rest of the evening and get as much rest as possible. I’ll make us Starla’s famous spiced apple cider, then get a fire started.”
“I can help with the cider.” Kip ambled in her direction. “It’s nonalcoholic, right? Ripping off zombie heads would probably be less fun with a hangover.”
“No alcohol,” she confirmed. “No hangovers.”
“Good.” Lorraine rose—and kept rising—to her feet too. “I’ll take care of the fire.”
“And I’ll keep Starla company for a while,” Gwen said.
“We’ll figure out the sleeping situation, if you’d like?” When Sabrina nodded, Edie turned to the Girl Explorers. “Once Max and I have a plan, all of you can divvy up the blankets and pillows, okay?”
Together, she and Max went in search of bedrooms and possible linen closets. But as soon as they rounded a corner and found themselves alone in a dim, cool hallway, he propped himself against the wall and gathered her into his arms.
“How are you, ma puce?” he asked quietly. “Did you get enough to eat?”
“Yep. I’m good.” Leaning forward, she rested her head on his shoulder and allowed him to support her weight. “I’ll feed you later tonight, once we have a bit of privacy, if that’s all right with you.”
“Of course.” His fingers sifted through her hair, the gesture already familiar. “Edie, I’m not…”
When he didn’t finish his thought, she raised her head to look at him. “What?”
“Given our resources, I think we’ve formulated the best plan possible.” His gusty exhalation tickled her forehead. “I’m not sure it’s good enough.”
“Yeah.” She couldn’t say that thought hadn’t occurred to her. “I know.”
His eyes bored into hers, intent and pleading. “If I promise to stay and fight to the absolute best of my ability, how would you feel about returning to my—”
“Nope. Not happening.” When she sagged forward again and nuzzled her face into his neck, his throat rumbled with a growly sound. “I’m not going anywhere, except into battle by your side.”
His fingers closed on a handful of her hair, gripping it near her nape.
“If you were hurt…” His voice had turned hoarse. Rough. “I don’t know what I’d do. Edie, you have to keep yourself safe. Promise me.Promise.”
“As safe as I can. I promise.” Soothingly, she stroked her palms up and down the tension-taut curve of his lower back. “Honey, there’s no point in agonizing over what might happen tomorrow. We’ve made our plans. We’ll execute them soon enough. But we still have tonight, and we still have each other.”
Slowly, his body softened against hers. The rhythm of his breathing slowed, and he lowered his head until his cheek rested against her crown.
“Let’s drink our cider and warm ourselves by the fire.” She pressed a tender kiss against his cool neck. “Then we’ll find a bed and some time alone before we have to face whatever comes next. Okay?”
His shoulders slumped, and she rubbed them soothingly. “Okay.”
“Okay.”A spill of red. All over you. If she scrunched her eyelids tightly enough, fireworks appeared behind them and erased the vision of Max soaked in blood, still and silent. “Promise you’ll keep yourself safe too. Please.”
“As safe as I can,” he echoed, then paused. “I’m not sure I trust the witch enough to drink something she’s prepared for me. Fuck knows what she might have done to that cider.”
Were all vampires such drama queens? Or was that just a Max thing?
“Don’t be so cynical.” Her teeth gave his throat an admonishing nip. “It’ll be fine.”
***
Everyone drank Sabrina’scider. Even cynical, mistrustful Max.
It was fucking delicious. Sweet and tart and cinnamony. Kip and Lorraine, their resident gourmands, gave the beverage four enthusiastic thumbs up and nearly broke a lamp and a ceiling fan in the process.
And approximately ten minutes after they all took their first sips, the effects of the spell the witch had cast upon the beverage became unmistakably evident. In retrospect.
Neither Edie nor anyone else recognized those effects at first. No, she was too busy enjoying an unexpected and unusual sense of well-being to notice anything amiss. Sprawled back on the comfy sofa, belly warmed by the cider and the prospect of another night spent in Max’s embrace, she looked around at their compatriots and smiled happily.
