The Real Werewives of Vampire County - By Alexandra Ivy Page 0,99
pills. I couldn’t handle it anymore. The stress. My husband is a demon, and I do mean that in the most literal sense. If you have any doubt, just look at my children.”
Demon spawn? They were a little loud, slightly wild, but hardly the offspring of the devil.
“And I have my reasons for resenting my worthless husband,” Erica said. “He’s a dragon. Because of his hair-trigger temper, he hasn’t been able to keep a job for more than a month. And he won’t try anger management therapy.”
“My run-around, cheating ex-boyfriend was a fae. I’m telling you, they cannot be monogamous. It’s simply not in their blood. I know that now. And we”—Lindsay motioned to Samantha, and Erica—“are werewolves. So was Michelle. You saw us. With Samantha.”
My gaze snapped back to Samantha’s eyes. Ice-blue. “There’s no such thing as werewolves,” I said.
“Oh yes, there is,” Lindsay said. “You’re not only sitting at the table with three, but you’re living with one, too.”
This was crazy. Insane. Silly.
A joke. Had to be.
I stood. I sat back down. I stammered. Finally, I was able to speak. “First you tried to convince me that Jon killed his wife. Now you’re telling me he’s a werewolf?”
“No,” Erica said. “Jon’s not the werewolf, although he isn’t what you’d call human, either. Josh is a werewolf.”
“What are we going to do about Josh?” Lindsay asked, genuine concern pulling at her brows. “We can’t take this to the police. You know what will happen.”
“No, we can’t. You’re right about that.” Erica’s gaze swept around the table. “We have to keep it to ourselves. We know the truth at last, and we can let it rest. It’s the best thing for everyone. It’s what Michelle would want. He’s made it through his first Change. He isn’t dangerous anymore.”
Was I buying this?
Hell, no.
Not at all.
Were these people all crazy?
I just wanted them to leave. Now. My skin was feeling creepy-crawly. My insides were twisted into knots.
“Christine, you’re looking a little pale,” Lindsay pointed out.
I stood, bracing my hands on the tabletop. My knees were soft, my head a little swimmy. “I think I need to go lie down.”
They all stood at the same time and filed toward the door.
Lindsay was the last to leave. She touched my arm, and I twitched, some instinct inside of me jumping at the contact. “If you want proof, come outside tonight. Midnight. It’s a full moon. You’ll see for yourself.”
“Sure. Thanks.”
I shut the door and vowed I wouldn’t get anywhere near a door or window after eleven tonight.
Of course, I broke that vow.
At exactly midnight, I stepped out onto the deck. And I watched the three women who were slowly becoming my friends change into wolves.
After swallowing the contents of my stomach a few times, I staggered back inside and stumbled right into Jon’s arms. I flung myself as far from him as I could, then turned to face him.
“Did Josh kill his mother?” I blurted.
Jon didn’t answer right away. He looked torn, guilty, conflicted.
I saw red.
“Jon, you know I’ve sensed something wasn’t right about this place since I arrived. I’m telling you right here, right now, that you owe me the truth.” Folding my arms, I took another step backward, afraid I might do something impulsive if I didn’t put some space between us. I couldn’t ever remember being so angry, so hurt. “If you can’t trust me with all your secrets, every last one, I have to leave. That’s all there is to it.”
His jaw clenched. “Please, sit down.”
Reluctantly, I followed him into the family room and sat.
He sat opposite me, on the ottoman, elbows resting on his knees, body angled forward. “I take it you know about Lindsay, Samantha, and Erica?”
I nodded. Couldn’t say the words yet. It was all too freakish to speak aloud.
“Then you know werewolves exist.”
“But what does that have to do with Josh?”
“What I told you about Michelle having trouble getting pregnant was true. After trying for years, we adopted Joshua, knowing he would become a werewolf someday. I thought we could handle his first turning without help. I was wrong.” He gritted his teeth and stared down at the floor. “I’ll regret that mistake for the rest of my life.”
Werewolves. Changing. What the hell? Was I having a nightmare? Was this all a big joke? I felt like I’d fallen down the rabbit’s hole and landed in some kind of freakish Wonderland that not even Lewis Carroll could have cooked up.