You know what I need?” I asked. “A chocolate fountain?” Ethan suggested. “A complete paper set of the Encyclopedia Britannica? A lifetime supply of grilled meat?” “I like all those ideas, but I was thinking a magical spray I can use on Mallory to wash the crazy off her.” “Like Lysol for evil?” Paige asked.
In case you’ve forgotten, Ethan Sullivan trained me. And in case you didn’t know, Catcher Bell schooled me in sword craft. I was raised on ’difficult to work with.
Get to the Point: Vampire Contributions in Western Architecture. Fangs and Balances: Vampire Politicians in History. To Drink or Not to Drink: A Vampire Dialectic. Blood Sausage, Blood Stew, Blood Orange: Food for All Seasons. And the awfully named Plasmatlas, which contained maps of important vampire locales.
Love wasn’t perfection. It wasn’t always roses and candy. Hell, it wasn’t even mostly roses and candy. Sometimes it was battling back fear that loomed like a leviathan, trying to find a way through misery, being grateful to have a companion who knew your strengths and weaknesses, and loved you not just in spite of them, but because of them. Love was acceptance. Love was bravery. Love was sticking it out.
I accept that he has a past. I wasn’t a saint before we met.” She slid me a glance. “I wasn’t.” “You were a nerdy English lit student; you were as close as it gets without beatification.
I glanced mildly at Lindsey. “Did you spike his blood with caffeine?” “Die Hard marathon was on TV last night,” she said. “He’s been weaponized since then.
I ignored the teasing tone of the man who stood beside me, the four-hundred-year-old Master vampire who ruled Chicago’s Cadogan House and the parts of my heart that weren’t devoted to great books and good pizza.
Screw them,” Ethan finally said. After a moment of utter shock, I enjoyed my second biggest smile all night. Malik’s wasn’t much smaller. “I’m sorry,” I said, “did you just say ‘screw them’?
Oh, I get it. You’re doing the girlfriend – what’s her name? Megan?” “Merit,” answered the girl at the table. “And it’s a pretty good costume.” I opened my mouth to object, to proclaim that I wasn’t doing Ethan’s girlfriend, I was Ethan’s girlfriend, and I was doing Ethan.
Morgan threw tantrums that would impress a two-year-old.
Girl! I hope you did lots of nasty with Our Dear Sullivan and made us all proud. Please bring him back in a good mood. And eager to give us all raises. We need shoes. Hearts, Lindsey.
Mallory leaned toward me. “FYI, your eyes are silver. I’ll just add ‘horny’ to the list of reasons that happens.” I nodded absently.
There are few things in the world that he loves more than this House, Merit. Possibly only one.” At the knowing gaze in his eyes, my cheeks flushed. “And in all the world, he entrusted one girl, one scholar, with the right to defend it.
Are you afraid I’m going to kick your ass? Because you seem to be holding back,” I said. Ethan’s lip curled. “That’s not an answer,” I said, “but it is a pretty good Elvis impersonation.” I gestured him forward with a crooked finger.
Why, Sullivan, I think I just kicked your ass.
It sucks because you’re trying to do the right thing, but the result isn’t showing it. You’re at the stage where good intentions meet crappy abilities. Welcome to my first eleven months as a vampire.” “You’ve only been a vampire for ten months.” “My point exactly.
I’m a reader, not a fighter.
I nearly bit one of them, and yadda yadda yadda, we learned they had nothing to do with the color change.” “You can’t yadda yadda yadda nearly biting a fairy,” Paige said.
My spreadsheets bring all the girls to the yard. Hi, Merit.
The man was walking power and confidence, and he was all mine. “Seriously,” Lindsey whispered, “well done.” “I know, right?