the summons or be cut off. She’d wrongly assumed the threat would scare him into staying with his family. It hadn’t. He didn’t respond to bullying, even from his own mother. He’d made his money by working hard and rising in the ranks, not to mention investing well. He’d gotten into that school on his own, too.
Which he’d screamed at Charity after losing his temper yet again.
Her response?
Snorting and looking out the window. As if she didn’t believe him. As if he wasn’t living up to her expectations.
For some reason, he alone ticked her off. Now he had to live with her, work with her—thank God he had different classes, or he’d quit his job altogether.
Part of him wanted to scream at her. Or wrap his fingers around her neck and shake. But as the hideaway key turned in the lock, those thoughts fled.
He snatched her back from the door and thrust her behind him.
“Wait,” he seethed. “Anything could be in there.”
“I thought you said they couldn’t go out in daylight?”
He felt her palm press to the center of his back, keeping tabs on his body movement. She wanted to feel his intentions so she’d know which way to dive. Smart.
“They sleep during the day, but it doesn’t mean they won’t go active if their territory is invaded. This is Samantha’s residence. She’ll define it as her territory, and if she’s inside, as soon as it’s breached, she’ll rise to defend it. And any other vamp with her.”
Charity sucked in a breath. In a shaky voice, she asked, “How do you kill them?”
He took in the smells—the stale whiff of vampire, a pungent, musty scent that clashed with the sweetness of Charity—and lowered the gun as a car drove past. “With a gun, you shoot them in the heart. You can also rip off their heads or expose them to sunlight. The problem is, these bloodsuckers are beyond fast. If there are more than one or two in here, we need to get out. No fighting, no trying to defend yourself—get out.”
“I know.”
Yes, she did. Probably better than he.
He nodded and put his shoulder to the door. It was the first time he might have to confront one of these creatures without fur.
“Keep your wits,” he whispered. “We need to stick together. We need to have each other’s backs.”
“Like a pack.”
Dillon was right—give her the rules, and get out of the way. This all might be new to her, but she had street smarts in spades. “Exactly. Like a pack.”
He took a deep, steadying breath. He needed to trust her like he would his pack mates, but it was hard, given everything she didn’t know about her own magic.
“If anyone’s here, I’m banking on it just being Samantha,” he said, grabbing the handle. “New vamps are solitary beings. They’re hunters. Only when their appetite is sated will they fall back into their previous lives as humans. They’ll remember schedules and clutch on to their failing humanity. For a while, anyway. Until that erodes away.”
“I know what you and the others think, but Samantha isn’t one of these creatures,” Charity murmured, defiance in her voice. “She made it out. She did. She would’ve seen through it—she’s smarter than people give her credit for.”
Devon stayed silent, letting her keep that fantasy for a while longer.
He peered into the gloom without crossing the threshold. The vampire stench thickened. He could only pick out one signature, though, and it lacked the subtle aroma of lingering decay, something common with the older ones.
A young vamp had blown through. It had probably come here to escape the mayhem at the party. It hadn’t known to seek refuge in the Realm, so it had gone home. But it was starving. It would have had to leave to find food.
Unless…
Had the vamp come for solace, or dinner?
He turned slowly to glance down at Charity’s fearful yet determined features. She knew the truth—he could see it in those velvet-brown eyes—she just didn’t want to believe it. Samantha probably pissed on her constantly, but Charity thought of her as a friend. She was preparing herself to see a friend die.
Devon’s stomach twisted in sympathy.
“I don’t think anything’s in here,” he said softly.
Charity met his eyes, a plea not far from the surface.
“I’ll still go in with you, just in case,” he continued after a pause.
“A vampire has been in here, hasn’t it?” Charity asked. Her chin raised a fraction, but the action didn’t hide the worry in her eyes.