Aurora Sky Vampire Hunter - By Nikki Jefford Page 0,58

you mean how much time? You have all the time in the world."

Fane took his eyes off his fingers and looked straight at me. "That doesn't make the seconds away from you go by any faster."

My heart skittered. I drew in a breath and nearly forgot to release it. "You shouldn't say things like that."

"But it's the truth."

It was all I could do to get out of the car and make it to the front door without looking back. I lay awake all night thinking about Fane. I thought about him being around for over three centuries and all the changes he'd seen.

Mostly, though, I replayed the chase through the woods. But instead of the scarf he ripped down my jeans and made love to me in the fallen snow.

Every part of me tingled.

I was seriously screwed.
Chapter 20 Code Red
"You are the luckiest girl ever!" Hope said when I met the Mouseketeers for lunch in front of their lockers. "How did you manage to snag Fane Donado?"

I sat on the ground between Hope and Whitney and stretched my legs across the hall, my back up against the lockers. Noel sat Indian style a foot away, hooded head bent down like the grim reaper.

"It wasn't exactly planned," I admitted.

Whitney pouted. "You're not going to want to party with us now. Not when you have your own little private party for two."

"So you and Fane are still going out?" Noel asked.

I couldn't see Noel's eyes from under her hood. "Yeah, I mean we talked and..." And I didn't know what else to say.

What I needed right then was to reestablish some good habits - normal habits - like attending class.

I also needed to study and get my homework done.

That was the plan anyway when I walked up the hill after school. Right up until I found Dante's white Rubicon parked in our driveway.

Okay. Now I was getting seriously annoyed. I was actually trying to get back on track if people would just let me.

Then a thought occurred to me.

Did Dante know about Fane? No. He couldn't.

"I'm home!" I yelled once I got inside.

"We're in the kitchen," Mom called back cheerfully.

I shrugged out of my backpack and jacket and casually strolled into the kitchen. "Hi, Mom. Hi, Dante, I wasn't expecting you."

He leaned against the counter and shoved a leftover brownie into his mouth. He actually swallowed before responding. "Hey, Sky. We've got a Code Red down at the station. Agents want us both in now."

I moved across the room so he wouldn't catch my shiver. "What's going on?"

"Don't know yet."

"I hope everything's okay," Mom said.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Sky. We can handle anything."

"Oh," she said with a smile. "I'm sure you can."

Dante turned to me. "Ready, Sky?"

"Do I need to bring anything?"

"Nope."

I turned to my mom. "I don't know when I'll be back."

"Take your time," Mom said.

"Where's Tommy Moe?" I asked as I clicked my seatbelt on.

"I left him at home."

"Oh." I wouldn't have minded some furry comfort at the moment.

"Don't look so worried, Sky. From your face you'd think you just got caught with your hand in the cookie jar."

I grimaced. He was closer to the truth than he knew.

The Jeep zoomed backward onto the road and turned down the drive. Once on Jewel Lake Road, I watched him shift down, over, up, and down. We lurched forward then flew down Minnesota Avenue.

"So you don't know what this is about?"

"Nope, but we'll find out soon enough. Melcher loves to toss in a Code Red every now and then. He takes this all very seriously, you know."

Apparently Dante and I were the last ones to arrive at the party - a rather startling surprise party that included...

"Noel?!"

Noel looked grim-faced sitting in front of Melcher's desk. To her left I saw Valerie, dressed in a turtleneck and a pair of tall boots pulled over tight jeans. Her hair cascaded in red waves down her shoulders. She leaned against the wall, arms folded. My heart dropped.

Busted.

Melcher smiled when he saw me. "Come in, Aurora. Have a seat." He indicated the spot next to Noel.

If Valerie's was standing so was I.

"Hi, Aurora," Noel said, barely audible.

Agent Crist raised a brow. "You two know each other?"

"We're friends," I said.

Valerie scoffed at this. She looked right over me to address Noel. "And you didn't suspect her? Fine informant you are."

"Ladies, ladies," Dante said, laughing. "Let's play nice." He crossed over to Crist's desk and settled on the edge. "So, what's with the little powwow?"

"Team, we have two problems,"