stop. He is older and I was under his direct command.”
At this, I deflated a little, staring into my lap. “Can we just agree that both of us were in unfavourable positions then? Knowing what I know now, perhaps I would’ve told you the truth, asked for your help. But sadly, I can’t turn back the clock. None of us can.”
A deep frown marred Ethan’s features as he gazed straight ahead. He didn’t reply, but I sensed he was dealing with some deep inner turmoil. Maybe I just needed to give him more time to come around.
When we arrived at the airport, the arrivals gate was bursting with people waiting for friends and loved ones to arrive. I was distracted when Ethan touched the small of my back to guide me through the crowds. I stepped away from him, putting some distance between us. If he wasn’t prepared to forgive me, then I wasn’t going to let him touch me anymore. There would be no more stolen moments, no more secret trysts where he claimed to hate me yet couldn’t keep his hands off me.
Ethan didn’t comment on me moving away from him as we stood watching people walk through the gate. “I’ve spotted your professor,” he said after a few minutes. “Don’t approach him just yet. I sense something in him. He’s not entirely human.”
Ethan motioned me over to a quiet corner where we could observe Edwards from afar. I scanned the crowd until I finally spotted him. He stood on the other side of the wide hall, looking around at the people who passed him, a brown leather suitcase at his side. He looked the same as he did in his picture, but now I could see that he was less than five feet tall. People towered over him.
“If he’s not completely human, then what is he?” I asked Ethan. “He just looks like a normal little old man.”
“I can smell demon blood in him.”
My eyes widened. “So, there are demons now, too? Fabulous.” I was just getting my head around vampires, dhampirs, witches, warlocks, and shapeshifters. Now I had to add demons to that list as well.
“There is everything,” Ethan said. “Most of the myths adults told you as bedtime stories held some truth.” His attention returned to Edwards. “One of his parents was of demonic origins, that would be my guess.”
“Well, it makes sense that he isn’t human. No human would know how to retrieve a person from another dimension. Come on, let’s go and introduce ourselves. You’re a vampire. Surely you can handle a little old half-demon.”
“Wait,” Ethan said, but I was already gone.
Edwards spotted me immediately as I approached him, a big smile lighting up his face.
“I take it you’re Tegan,” he greeted enthusiastically. He reminded me of Bilbo Baggins, setting off on an adventure. I shook his offered hand before his attention went over my shoulder, and I knew Ethan was standing behind me. “And who is this fine strapping young fellow?” Edwards asked, taking in my vampire companion.
“Ethan Cristescu, it is a pleasure to meet you, Professor Edwards,” Ethan introduced himself, all charm and chivalry. Too bad he couldn’t use some of that with me.
“My word, of the Romanian Cristescus?” Edwards questioned.
“The very same,” Ethan said, seeming pleased that this man knew of his family.
“Well, it truly is an honour. I confess I didn’t expect to be meeting with vampire royalty tonight. Life is just full of surprises.”
Ethan was vampire royalty? How did that work? I remembered something about his father being powerful, but I didn’t know he was considered royalty.
“We better get going,” I said, eager to get out of there.
“Of course, lead the way,” Edwards said, allowing Ethan to carry his suitcase.
When we reached the car, Edwards insisted that we make a start on things right away. He didn’t want to spare a single moment. “You’ll need to find me a small animal, preferably a cat or a dog. Then we must visit the location where the dimensional door was opened,” he said, getting straight to business.
“Okay,” I replied while he began rummaging in his bag, pulling out all sorts of random items. I caught sight of a magnifying glass and a high-end digital alarm clock.
“What do you need a cat or a dog for?” I asked, eyeing him in my overhead mirror.
He waved me off, now flicking through a deck of cards and securing the stack with a rubber band. “It’s just a necessary component for my journey. Nothing