The Reluctant Vampire Page 0,119

"Between your brainstorming and the arrangements Harper has made, you have everything under control."

Drina's eyes widened. She wasn't at all sure she had anything under control, and she didn't have a clue what he was talking about when he said "arrangements Harper has made."

"So we return to Port Henry?" Harper asked.

"After the repairs and renovations you commissioned are done," Lucian said. Drina glanced to Harper with surprise, and he explained, "I made some calls last night a er arranging for the helicopter to pick us up."

"Stay here till then," Lucian ordered. "Keep Stephanie inside unless you can find a way to disguise her."

Drina nodded solemnly, knowing that Leonius was s ll a worry. While the man was supposedly in the States, that could change, and Toronto was one of the places he'd look for the girl.

"I'll see what I can find out from the few older edentates, and tell Bas en to help you any way he can with whatever drugs he thinks might be useful," Lucian announced.

Drina glanced worriedly to Stephanie. That idea had come up a er the girl had fallen asleep. It was Tiny who had suggested that perhaps there was some sort of drug that might help block the thoughts of others for her un l she learned to do it herself. It wasn't a first choice, but a last resort to help her hold on to her sanity until she was able to deal with the thoughts, energy, and electricity herself.

"I want regular reports," Lucian barked, drawing Drina's a en on again as he pressed the bu on for the elevator. He then glanced back. "And I want the truth. Help her if you can, but if you can't, I need to know about it."

Drina nodded reluctantly, and his eyes narrowed on her.

"This is a temporary gig, Alexandrina. Elvi's already raised and lost a daughter. She and Victor were happy when I asked them to be in charge of Stephanie, and I won't take it away from them now. They make final decisions un l it's safe to put the sisters together again." He didn't wait to see how she reacted to that, but turned and led Anders onto the elevator. "I'll have blood deliveries set up for you while you're here."

Drina let out a slow breath as the elevator doors closed, and then glanced to Stephanie and Harper.

"Well, that went better than I expected."

"Yes," Harper said dryly.

Drina chuckled at his expression and glanced to Stephanie. "How are you doing?"

Stephanie forced a smile. "Good. Tired though. I didn't sleep much last night."

"Well, there are three guest rooms in this apartment," Harper said at once. "All of them have their own a ached bath. Go take a look, pick which one you prefer, and have a nap, then we'll figure out how to disguise you so we can see some plays and stuff while we're in the city."

"Plays?" Stephanie peered at him with interest.

"Yeah, I hear there are a couple good ones in Toronto right now," he said easily. "And you'll need a break from all the work Drina and I are going to make you do to try to learn to block thoughts."

She nodded and started to turn away, then quickly whirled back and hugged Drina, mumbling, "Thank you for wanting to help me, and for my room at Elvi's," she added as she then hugged Harper. Before either of them could respond or even hug her back, she was off rushing across the living room and away up the hall toward the bedrooms.

"Her room at Elvi's?" Drina asked with confusion.

Harper smiled faintly and turned to slip his arms around her. "When I called about repairing the fire and smoke damage to Elvi's house, I also arranged to have insula on, a wall of brick, and several different kinds of soundproofing and whatnot put in Stephanie's room. I'm hoping that will help block thoughts and give her a quiet place to get away when it gets too much for her."

"Oh." Drina sighed and leaned against him. "You're a clever man."

"I like to think so," he said lightly, rubbing his hands up and down her back. "I'm thinking I might do it to whatever room she chooses here too."

Drina pulled back to peer at him with surprise. "But we're only going to be here un l the house is repaired."

Harper shrugged. "I can afford it. Besides, that way she'll be comfortable if we can bring her back to Toronto for visits. Elvi and Victor may be