Page 7 of Thorn Evermore

Actually, I mean prey.

“What can I get you, handsome?”

I twist around swiftly as the scent of another vampire fills my nostrils. A beautiful blonde woman smiles from behind the bar, but it falters as her nose wrinkles.

“I’m not here to cause problems,” she says, leaning closer. “I’m just lying low.”

“What is your coven name?” I ask.

“I don’t have one. I was turned in Phoenix three years ago. I headed out on my own.”

“Don’t you know the rules? You need to contact the governing vampire of any region you settle in.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know, but I haven’t decided to settle here yet. I’m just trying to live a normal life.”

“Normal?” I lean on the bar. “How do you eat?”

Her eyes shift back and forth and she leans closer still, as if I can’t hear her over the music. “I’m struggling. Just getting by. I’m too scared to hunt since I’m not official.”

“Oh sweetie, that’s no way to live. Want me to hook you up tonight?”

Her face lights up. “You’d do that?”

I nod. “Yeah, but I gotta let my coven head know. His name is Yves. He’s cool but he likes to be informed.”

“Is he gonna kick me out?”

“Nah. You’re not causing any trouble. Also…” I dig in my coat pocket and pull out a card. “This is Lair. It’s a place for us. You can feed in peace.”

She clutches the card. “Thank you.”

“Sure. Give me, like, ten minutes. I’ll get someone for you. Can you slip out the back?”

“I can take a break. What’s your name?”

“Thorn. Yours?”

“Jade.”

“Cool. Got a gender preference?”

Jade shakes her head. “No. I’m so hungry I’d eat anything.”

I pat her hand. “Be right back.”

Walking off, I scan the crowd as I pull out my phone and dial Yves.

“Hey, Thorn,” Yves answers. “Everything okay?”

“Yep, just letting you know I found a vamp in the wild. She’s here at Minx working as a bartender. Starving, untethered to a coven, looking for a place to settle.”

“Interesting. Is there impending trouble?”

“No negative vibes. She knows the rules, but she’s been keeping a low profile until she decides where to settle. I’m gonna hook her up with a real meal.”

“Good. A hungry vampire is a dangerous one.”

“Exactly. I gave her the info for Lair too.”

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