Aurora Sky Vampire Hunter - By Nikki Jefford Page 0,39

smiled. "We'll be back by bedtime tomorrow night. Promise."

I hesitated.

"I'm sure you have a lot of questions, and we'll have a long drive on which to answer them."

I scooted back and stood. "Fine. I'll go pack a few things."

Dante grinned. "That a girl."

"You will take your cell phone with you?" my mom called after me.

"Yeah, Mom."

I ran up to my bedroom and threw an extra pair of pants and a heavy sweatshirt inside a backpack. Who knew if this thing would be as messy as my orientation?

I ducked into the hallway and trotted back down the stairs. "Ready."

As I came into the kitchen, Dante stood and nodded to Mom. "Mrs. Sky, sorry to eat and split. This was fabulous. Don't worry. I'll see to it your daughter stays safe and sound."

My mom nodded slowly. "Please do, Dante."

I gave my mom a quick peck on the cheek and headed outside with Dante. A white Jeep Rubicon was parked in the drive. I stopped in front of it. "Let me guess. Government issued?"

"Even better, government paid. I'll even let you drive her." Dante tossed me the keys. I caught them instinctively and stared into my palm. "Come on, Sky, it's all about getting back in the saddle."

I threw the keys back. "I can't."

"Then buckle up, baby, 'cause I'm driving."

I glanced over my shoulder, knowing full well I'd look like a sissy if I ran back inside my house. Training couldn't be any worse than orientation. Nothing could.

A golden retriever stared at me from the backseat when I climbed inside the Jeep. My anxiety dissipated at once.

"Who's this?"

"Sky, meet my best bud, Tommy. I named him after Tommy Moe."

I raised a brow.

"Olympic Gold medalist in men's alpine skiing," Dante said as though I was daft. "Ninety-four, first American male skier to win two metals in a single Winter Olympics, and he was an Alaskan resident at the time."

I resisted the impulse to say something snarky and reached back to pet the silken fur on top of the retriever's head instead. Tommy slapped a very large tongue over my fingers. I pulled my hand away.

"Watch out for that dog - he's a lover."

I settled back into the passenger's seat and buckled in. A long ride up north sounded relaxing...until Dante started driving.

He ripped into Jewel Lake Road and floored it onto Minnesota Avenue. I reached for the roll bar overhead.

"What the hell are you doing?" I yelled.

Dante rammed the clutch into fourth gear. "I'm going to drive the terror out of you, Sky. By the time we get back, you'll be spinning wheelies in parking lots."

"I've never liked wheelies."

"You will soon."

"You're a real jackass, you know?"

"And you're a backseat driver."

"Backseat driver? I'm not a backseat driver! Have I told you to slow the hell down or watch out for cars changing lanes?"

Dante chuckled. "Relax, Sky. We're superhuman, remember? Danger is what we do best."

I folded my arms over my chest. "Whatever."

I glanced back. Tommy must have been used to Dante's driving because the dog moved with the car.

Dante spared me from yelling at him again by slowing down.

"So what do you want to know about our fanged foes and how we've been recruited to rid this world of evil? Fire away."

"All right, are there really vampires?"

"I was told you were initiated."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"It should. The beast bit you, didn't it?"

"Yeah, but any crazy person can bite someone."

A smile worked its way up Dante's cheeks. "Did this one drink blood straight from your vein?"

"Yeah..."

"Welcome to the world of the demonic, Sky."

I stared out the window at the shadowed storefronts as we passed through downtown. There was a certain thrill to leaving town even if we were headed deeper into the darkness.

I shifted in my seat. "Did you believe the agents when they told you there were vampires?"

Dante shrugged. "I don't know. I mean, anything's possible. What I didn't believe is that they'd doped me up on some kind of noxious blood that'd knock a creature out."

"And then they initiated you."

Dante was quiet a moment then laughed. "Oh, yeah. Who forgets their first bite? It's more memorable than the first time you have sex."

"That's gross."

"You'll understand once you have a chance to compare."

Well, I could compare. Not that it was any of Dante's business. Sex and bloodsucking were seriously overrated in my opinion.

I cleared my throat. "I believe we were talking about vampires. Was yours rabid?"

"He was a mess."

"How did you finish him?"

"Shotgun."

"And then you entered a transition period or whatever, met with your