Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 122030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Like we’ve done this before, like we’ve met before, like he’s somehow connected to me.
I think that seeing the vampire Paul in that forest dreamwalk is what started all this. It was so unsettling for many different reasons. First, of course, because this is the first time I’ve seen his face and he was terrifying. Which is not surprising, in and of itself. It was the way he held that baby. The way he gazed down at it before he looked up at me. Like he… loved it, or something.
It’s weird. Because if a monster can love, is he a monster?
But also because the second time I saw him he was beautiful. And that’s just gross. Because eh was drinking a little girl in that dreamwalk.
“Ready?”
“Huh?” I realize I’ve been staring into my purse for several minutes as these thoughts ran through my mind.
“What are you looking for?”
I wasn’t really looking for anything, just zoning out. But Zusi will start asking questions about this, so I just pull out my lip balm and hold it up for her. “This.”
“OK. Well, Tristin has the car so let’s go.”
I get up, hike my purse over my shoulder, and we leave the tent. I sigh and look over my shoulder at it as we walk away. “I’m gonna miss this place. This was the closest thing I’ve had to a vacation in, well, ever.”
Zusi smiles at me. “I’m sorry that things got so stressful back in Colorado. And I know that it was hard to leave your grandma.”
“It’s fine. I was emotional. She and I went our separate ways years ago. You know that.”
“I do. But still. It was sad. You were sad.”
Was I sad? I can’t really decide. I’m so unaffected by things these days. Life has always been unfair to me. I’m used to it now and getting emotional about things just doesn’t seem helpful.
So I change the subject. “Where are we going now?”
Zusi winces.
“What? Why are you making that face?”
“I’m being called back to the Guild. Tristin and I both.”
“Oh.” Now this does make me sad.
“I’m sorry.” She reaches over and squeezes my arm. “But the Guild says you’re totally safe now and, well”—she shrugs—“they pay my bills, ya know?”
“I get it. I’ll be fine.” But will I? I don’t even have a place to go.
“We’ve set you up in a house in Idaho.”
“Oh.” My tone is brighter. “Well, thanks. What kind of house? What kind of town?”
“It’s a little tourist place. Mostly for fishing and rafting, but it’s dead right now. Still very much winter up there.”
“Yeah.” I sigh as we approach the car and give the five-star beach one last look over my shoulder before I get in.
“But it’s pretty,” Zusi says, continuing our conversation.
Tristin is driving. He turns around to look at us in the back. “What’s pretty?”
“I was telling her about the place up in Idaho.”
“No one cares if it’s pretty, Zusi. It’s safe. That’s the only thing that matters.”
Zuse and I exchange a look. He’s so uptight. But we forgive him because he’s about as handsome as they come. Six-foot-two, broad shoulders, dark blond hair that is just long enough to casually slick back with a sweep of his fingers. And he dresses nice. Usually, he likes a suit, but he looks good on the beach too.
I’ve been teasing Zusi about him since I woke up. They make the most ironic couple. She’s all tiny and cute and he’s all tall and cut. Plus, her personality is what most people would describe as bubbly and his is… well, uptight really is the right word for him. But it’s uptight in an adorable way.
She should date him.
When I said that, she slapped my arm. “It’s so forbidden. The Guild would shit a gold brick if we dared to even hold hands, Syrsee. It’s not gonna happen.”
And I replied, “What I just heard is, ‘Yeah, he’s hot and I want to jump his bones, but I’m temporarily choosing my kickass job over love. But one day—’”
She slapped me again. Playfully, of course.
Still, I just have a feeling that they will end up together.
Tristin drives us to the airport, but he doesn’t park. He pulls up to departures.
I look over at Zusi. “You’re not coming in? Not even to walk me to security?”
“I can’t, Syr. We have a flight waiting for us at the private airfield. But here’s your schedule. It’s a ten-day journey.”
“What? Why? I thought you said it was safe.”
“It is.” Tristin turns in his seat to look at me. “But we can’t be sloppy. You will leave here, land back in Miami, then you will take a bus—”
“A bus? Zusi!”
“It’s only to Pensacola.”
“When you get there, you’ll take another plane to Portland.”
“Oregon, right?” I raise one eyebrow at Tristin.
“Maine.”
“Dick! No! What the fuck? That’s literally three thousand miles away from Idaho.”