Page 11 of A Dream of Stars and Curses

I haven’t even entered Leverett’s shop yet, but my legs already feel like rubber. Even my hands are shaking a little. I’ve never before waited outside someone’s home too nervous to knock or ring the doorbell, but here I am, waiting a few steps down from his door on the busy high street so he doesn’t know I’m fighting myself.

This is beyond ridiculous. Has he put some kind of vampire spell on me to make me fall for him so hard? That would imply that he has feelings for me, too, so... I think I can easily brush that idea aside. Besides, he’d never do that to me, at least I don’t think so. It doesn’t seem like him.

Not that I really know the man.

Fuck.

He did mention something like that, though. Something about how vampires used to charm humans into oral sex.

Well, there’s a thought I don’t need as I walk into his shop, but it’s too late now.

I’m so relieved he can’t read minds.

If I could stop being a hormonal teenager now, that’d be awesome.

Leverett sits behind the counter with a book. When the bell over the door chimes, he looks up and relief floods his face.

‘Esta!’ He jumps up and hurries over to me. A few steps away from me, he stops like he isn’t quite sure what to do now he’s so close. Like his rush to get to me surprised him, too. His voice calmer, he says, ‘I’m glad to see you. How are you feeling?’

I swallow and hope it takes the awkwardness away. ‘Fine. I can sleep again, which is nice. My dreams are... normal. They are normal.’

I blush at the lie. My dreams are anything but normal right now.

Leverett smiles. ‘I’m glad to hear it. Can I interest you in a cup of tea?’

‘I don’t want to keep you from work.’

It’s more an excuse than a reason. His shop is usually empty, he’s the only employee so he makes the rules, and he’d know if anyone entered the shop. His vampiric hearing would tell him. But it’s one thing being alone with him down here, where the shop windows face the high street. Being alone with him upstairs, in his very private flat, is another challenge. I’m not worried I’ll lose my cool and throw myself at him because I’d never, but as for what I might say? How I’ll act? There’s awkward and then there’s whatever that would be.

‘It’s fine,’ he says. ‘I’ll know if I’m needed down here, but we can talk down here if you’d prefer. You’ve had some time for everything to sink in. I understand if you don’t feel comfortable alone with a predator.’

Well, I can’t say no now or he’ll think I’m scared of him. He said it with a smile and a little glint in his eyes, but that doesn’t make it less true.

‘It’s not that, it’s—’ And just where were we going with that, brain? I cannot elaborate. Please don’t ask me to elaborate. ‘Upstairs is fine. I’d love a tea, I mean.’

He smiles again. Hopefully, he won’t do too much of that upstairs or I’ll have serious logicking issues. That’s a word, right? Logi— Reasoning. I meant reasoning.

Oh gods.

‘If you change your mind, you can leave any time,’ he says. ‘Please know that I never want to make you uncomfortable.’

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