Page 126 of Blood and Bonbons

“The wolves are here. Tell them everything she said. I will return to you soon.”

He brushed his lips across my forehead. The touch was there and gone in less than a heartbeat, and so was he.

Vena and I looked at each other and then at Sierra. She didn’t try anything, though. She continued to sit there calmly, looking at us.

A few seconds later, Shepard appeared in the doorway. He inhaled deeply, his worried gaze sweeping over everyone in the room then landing on me.

“I smell vampire and your blood. Where are you hurt?”

I looked at the vibrant scar on my arm. “It’s fine.”

His gaze turned sad as he looked at the new mark. Then, he wrapped me in his arms, holding me tight as he stroked his hand over the back of my head.

“Sweetheart, it’s not fine. A vampire fed on you. Until he’s dead, he’ll continue to call to you. I’m so sorry this happened. But don’t worry.” He pulled back to look me in the eyes. “I’ll take care of it.”

“It wasn’t like that,” I said quickly. “I was cut, and he healed it. That was all.”

Shepard studied me for a moment, kissed my forehead, and hugged me again. I knew he didn’t believe me, but convincing him of Cross’ innocence would only make me look more crazy. And why wouldn’t it? Vampires were dangerous. I knew that too. So, I settled on trying to reassure Shepard and maybe comforting myself a little by hugging him back.

After the morning I had, it felt really nice,

“Can you tell me what happened and who the man on the bed is?” he asked.

I eased out of Shepard’s hold and looked at Vena. When it came to telling half-truths, she was our group expert.

“This is Miles, my brother,” she said, still holding his hand. “He went missing five days ago. It turns out that vampires compelled Sierra to kidnap him, but she doesn’t know why.”

“She’s a feeder who was just following orders,” I said. “She was also compelled to work at Blur and provide her vampire friend information about all of you. She doesn’t know why or his name.”

Shepard growled and turned toward the door where Anchor stood, his gaze locked on Vena.

“Take Sierra,” Shepard said. “We need to figure out what she was doing.”

Anchor tore his gaze from Vena and tossed Sierra over his shoulder like a bag of sand.

“I’ll be back,” he said before disappearing as Cross had.

“Whoa. Are you all that fast?” I asked.

“Yes. We’re as fast as our prey,” Shepard said.

I glanced at Vena, worried about Cross.

“How did you know to come here?” Vena asked.

“Gunther didn’t report in. It smells like his bottles were spiked with something.” He moved closer to Miles and sniffed. “Same stuff she’s been giving him, I think. It would be better if we didn’t involve any authorities, but if you’d like to take him to the hospital, I’ll drive you there.”

Vena looked down at Miles and slowly shook her head.

“Sierra said the sedative she gave him should be wearing off soon.”

Miles moved his head again, rolling it toward the sound of Vena’s voice.

“Let’s give it a few more minutes then,” Shepard said. “Gunther was already waking up, too. How did you know to come here to look for your brother?”

“It turns out that fairies aren’t the mindless trash diggers we thought they were,” Vena said. “The one that lives in the shrubs outside of Miles’ apartment pantomimed that a woman with a fairy tattoo had come for Miles. Guess whose fairy tattoo I saw during last night’s fight?”

“Why didn’t you come to me?” he asked, looking at her then me.

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