by Kasi Blake
She nodded in acceptance of that part of the story. “How does it work?”
“I’m still testing it.” He slid his hands into his jean pockets and shrugged. “Sometimes if I touch a person with a question in mind, I get a flash of memory that answers the question. But it doesn’t always work. When I touched you at the hospital, I found myself in your head one night when you were thinking about me.”
She paled. “What night? What was I thinking?”
A new dilemma hit him. Should he tell her everything? Should he share a fraction of what had actually happened? Or should he lie through his teeth? Which would make her the least angry?
He took a deep breath and admitted, “It was the night you realized you were in love with me.”
And there it was, out in the open, the biggest secret standing between them.
Flushed cheeks, Scarlet gasped.
Because he worried she might turn and run, disappearing from his life forever, he rushed to give her an emotional exit. “But that was just one night, one thought. I know you don’t actually love me like a boy-girl thing. Right? I mean, we’re still young, and our hormones are raging. Sometimes it’s confusing.”
Trick held his breath and waited for her response. He had given her an emotional escape hatch. All she had to do was tell him she didn’t love him. He’d pretend to believe her. Then they could go back to being friends.
Instead of grabbing onto his explanation for her feelings, she shook her head in a slow show of denial. Her eyes glistened as if she was on the verge of crying, and she blinked them rapidly. Once again an accusatory tone entered her voice as she confronted him with another secret, one of his. “You asked Ballerina Barbie to become a vampire.”
“How do you know about—”
“I live with your vampire buddy, and I heard him talking to Summer. He thinks you’re making a mistake, by the way, and so do I.”
“I can explain. That was just—”
“Do you love her?” Scarlet swallowed while visibly fighting the tears. She went on a rant, talking so fast he could barely keep up. “You must love her if you want to spend an eternity with her. I thought you were just crushing on the girl and you would see she wasn’t right for you. But you asked her to turn for you. Are you that sure about her?”
“I don’t—”
“You haven’t even gone on a real date with her. I know you think you’ve known her forever cause she lives next door, and you’ve been mentally stalking her for years. Why can’t you see it’s all in your head? You don’t even know her. How could you ask her to turn for you?”
“I’m... it’s just that...” He pursed his lips. “I really thought you’d interrupt me before I got this far. I have no idea what to say.”
Too bad she didn’t have the same problem.
A tear broke free and slid down her face. She twisted her fingers and took a step closer. “While I was driving away from you in the parking lot after your confession, I was wishing I could do it. Just once. I wanted to see me through your eyes.”
“Scar—”
“But I wouldn’t like what I saw, would I?” She laughed and sobbed at the same time. “You just see me as some dumb kid, your little sidekick, and that’s all I’ll ever be to you.”
He remembered the pain he’d felt while inside her memory, the pain he’d caused. All he wanted to do was make it stop. If he could turn back time and find a way to keep her from developing feelings for him, he would.
He reached a hand out, but she slapped it away.
Sobbing, she said, “The stupid thing is, you wouldn’t have to ask me twice. I wouldn’t have to think about it. If you asked me to turn for you, I would do it in a heartbeat.”
Her statement blew his mind. How could she love him that much? He wasn’t what you’d call a nice person, not like Matt, and he had more baggage than a wealthy diva. He was selfish and angry and probably a borderline serial killer like his dad’s friend Bash.
She added, “Dani does not love you the way I do. She will never give up her plans, her future, or anything else for you. That girl is going to break your heart, and even though part of me wants to see it happen because you kind of deserve it, it’s gonna kill me too.”
He couldn’t breathe as he pondered the statement. Was it true? Was he fooling himself into believing Dani loved him when she didn’t?
“I’m sorry,” he said even though he wasn’t sure why he was apologizing for liking another girl.
“As your best friend, I can’t let you make a huge decision like who you want to spend eternity with until you have all the facts.”
She crossed the room and kissed him.
It happened so fast he didn’t have time to blink let alone stop her... if he’d wanted to stop the kiss. In truth, he’d been curious about Scarlet’s lips for a while now. At thirteen, playing video games in the living room, the thought of kissing her had crossed his mind. Briefly. He had wondered what would happen if he leaned over and planted one on her mouth.
She probably would have punched him. What had kept him from doing it? The fact they wouldn’t be friends once he stumbled over that line. Either they would start to like each other and that would ruin the friendship, or she would be disgusted by his impulsive act and that would be the end of them.
Scarlet grabbed his shoulders when she kissed him. Her chewed-up fingernails bit into his denim shirt and flesh. Curiosity kept him from pushing her away. Deep down he wanted to know what it would be like to kiss her.
Explosive was too tame a word.
True to her nature, Scarlet was an aggressive kisser. She pulled, pushed, scratched, and clung to him. Her artful tongue became a brush in the hands of a skillful painter. She used it to tease and explore and tempt him.
His hands dropped to her hips, and his fingers dug into the rough denim. His brain warned him to push her away, but he dragged her closer instead. Then something totally unexpected happened that rocked his world; her emotions became his. It wasn’t like when he was inside her head hearing her thoughts. He was still him. But he experienced her emotions along with his. Excitement, desire, and a touch of fear. Her body trembled against him, and he realized she hadn’t felt anything like it before.
Neither had he.
Then it was over.
She shoved him back, breaking their connection.
Her wide eyes stared up at his face.
They both gasped for air.
Before he could think of something clever to say, something to lighten the mood, she spun around and darted out the back door. Left with nothing but the taste of her—coffee and spicy cinnamon from her favorite gum—he sank into the closest kitchen chair. He was in trouble now. As much as he’d like to deny it, his body had reacted to hers in a way that assured him it was stronger than pure lust.
Suddenly, he found himself trapped between two girls.
He couldn’t be in love with both of them.
The problem was, he didn’t know who had his heart.
He didn’t know which was real and which was fantasy.
Trick scowled at the wall. He’d rather fight another Shadow Faerie than deal with this.
And what was he supposed to tell Dani? If she found out Scarlet had kissed him, she’d demand he stay away from the other girl. If she found out he’d kissed Scarlet back, she would move away as her father wanted. He’d lose her forever.
What was he supposed to do?
His eyes went to the ceiling. Regretfully, he was alone in the house and couldn’t ask for advice. At this point, he’d even be willing to turn to his socially awkward brother for help. He was that desperate.
What in the world was he going to do now?
CHAPTER NINE
Summer
Summer woke up smiling every morning thanks to Matt. She giggled to herself under the blanket, thinking about Matt Donovan. Happy didn’t begin to describe how he made her feel. Having Matt in her life turned the bitter, sweet. Even when she wasn’t thinking about him, there was
an extra bounce in her step. It bothered her that he refused to commit to becoming a vampire. He wasn’t in love yet. But once it happened he was sure to make the right decision. He’d want to spend eternity with her.
And that was what she wanted as well.
Cowboy didn’t know it yet, but Matt was destined to be their fourth.
She worried about Trick’s reaction though. He had fangs now, but he was still a hunter at heart. She remembered the crazed expression on his face when he tried to kill her upon their first meeting. She did not look forward to him finding out she was trying to turn his brother. Knowing him, he would overreact and try to stake her.
Not even the threat of death could dampen her good mood. She had the best of both worlds, vampire and mortal. Sunlight spilled through partially opened curtains. Beautiful. Warmth bathed the exposed parts of her skin, and it felt incredible. She was also able to enjoy chocolate again. What else could a girl want?
Dressed in a pretty floral nightgown that ended high on her thighs, Summer sprang from the bed. She made her bed before changing into a cute pink crop top and white shorts. Since she was staying inside today she could wear whatever she wanted. There weren’t any hunters—besides Trick—in the mansion. No one would see her today beyond people who already knew she was a vampire.
Another thing that made her happy was the fact they were putting down roots for the first time in decades—as long as Trick stood his ground and refused to leave town. Matt was only part of the reason for her happiness. The other part was waking up in the same bed day after day, and she had three closets filled with incredible clothes. After she had packed her own walk-in closet with stunning creations, she’d gone across the hall to the vacant bedroom and put clothes in there. Then she had started using the one next door.
Fashion was her passion.
Summer believed a girl couldn’t have enough clothes, shoes, or jewelry. She went to the bathroom and got ready to wash her face as per her usual morning routine. She caught her reflection in the mirror while turning on the faucet. For a moment she thought it was a joke, some sort of mean prank courtesy of Cowboy. It wouldn’t be the first time he had set her up while she was sleeping.
Cold water splashed her hand, and her insides turned to ice. She stared in horror at her once beautiful face. Overnight she had aged at least fifty years. Wrinkles, sagging skin, and brown spots made her look at least seventy; she didn’t feel a day over eighteen.
Covering her hideous face with both hands she screamed like a banshee.
Feet came running.
She locked the bathroom door.
Cowboy yelled from the other side. “Summer?”
She shouted, “Go away! I don’t want you to see me.”
“Did you find a pimple?” He chuckled. “Put some make-up on and come out here.”
“It isn’t a pimple, moron! We don’t get pimples.”
She began to pace in the spacious bathroom, a huge weight on her shoulders. She hurried past a long counter with double sinks, a glass shower that was big enough for six people, and a huge garden tub beneath a picture window with white shutters. There had to be an explanation for her hideous transformation. “Something went wrong,” she said as she traced her steps to the door. “I’m older, a lot older. Maybe the faerie blood we drank goes bad after a while.”
“I don’t think so,” Cowboy said. “If it was the blood, I would be older too. I drank it before you did.”
True. But what other explanation could there be? Vampires didn’t age fifty years overnight without reason. She stared down at her wrinkled hands, and suicidal thoughts filled her head. No way was she staying an old hag. If it was permanent, she would make Trick angry enough to stake her. Problem solved.
She plucked at the skin on the back of one hand. It didn’t immediately snap into place. Visible veins bulged beneath paper-thin skin. Awful. Why had it happened to her?
And how could she reverse it?
She slid down the door until her butt hit the floor. “What can I do?” she asked. “I can’t let Matt see me, not until I find a cure.”
“Do you want a mask? I can pop out and buy you one.”
She sighed. Cowboy would return with an ugly hockey mask or some stupid plastic kid’s costume. What she needed was the outfit she wore to funerals. The old-fashioned black dress fell to her knees. She could wear dark tights to cover her aging legs. The widow garb came with a hat that had a hanging black net. It hid her face and would be the perfect thing to wear. Stylish, yet functional, she wouldn’t look like a monster.
Summer teleported to her second closet. She put on the outfit in record time and popped up behind Cowboy. She tapped him on the shoulder, and he nearly jumped five feet in the air. The sight of his bulging eyes and gaping mouth would have made her laugh if she wasn’t on the verge of crying.
“Why is this happening to me?” she asked.
He shrugged.
“Who died?” Scarlet asked from the doorway. A bulky overnight bag hung from one shoulder and car keys dangled from her opposite hand. Either she was on her way home or had just come from there. Summer didn’t care which. The girl was an outsider, a mortal, and she didn’t belong in their conversation.
Summer turned her face away, worried part of it might be visible, and Cowboy moved to stand between them. Most of the time he was a total jerk, but once in a while he got protective. She liked that side of him.
“We’re talking here,” Cowboy said. “Vampire business that’s none of yours.”
“As if I care what you do,” Scarlet said in a snarky voice.
“Go then.”
Scarlet shrugged. “Doesn’t matter if you don’t tell me. Trick will.”
Cowboy stiffened. “Leave now or I will—”
“Jerk.”
“—rip your throat out.”
Scarlet continued on down the hallway, and Summer waited to hear the door close before she started talking again.
“Why does she have to live here?” Summer asked. “Why does she have to live at all? In the good old days, we would have already killed her.”
“We bought the house with Trick’s money, and he wants her to have a room. Forget her.” Cowboy waved his hand in a circle to indicate her face. “What do we do about this?”
She thought long and hard about the problem. Someone must have poisoned her. If she was going to die, she was determined to take her enemy with her. She just needed to figure out who was behind her grotesque appearance. Then she’d make them pay.
“What happened to you?” Trick asked from the doorway.
Summer fumed, wishing she’d shut the door after seeing Scarlet standing there. What was with the drop-in visitors? She’d have more privacy in a subway station.
Summer froze. Oh no! What if Trick told Matt? The last thing she needed was for him to run to his brother and tell Matt she had lost her beauty.
“A little late for Halloween, isn’t it?” he asked.
Summer screamed and slammed the bedroom door in his face.
♫
Over the years, Sean Donovan had repeatedly told his boys they would never understand women no matter how hard they tried. “They are a mystery,” Sean often said. “God created them to keep our lives interesting.”
After dealing with girls throughout his teens, Trick believed him. They were complicated. He wondered if he’d understand them if he lived to be two or three hundred years old. Five hundred wasn’t even out of the question now. As a vampire, he could hit a thousand someday. So when Summer slammed the bedroom door in his face, he didn’t wonder about motive. She wasn’t the one he wanted to talk to anyway. He knocked on the door and called the other vampire by name.
Cowboy teleported into the hallway. “Don’t mind her,” the vampire said with a grin. “She’s having a rough morning.”
“I couldn’t care less about her girl problems,” Trick said.
“Yeah. It’s actually more of an us problem. Remember when Jersey told you Oberon likes
to curse people? I think he started with Summer.”
Trick’s eyes narrowed. “Curse? Summer? Why would he start with her? Doesn’t make sense. I’m the one he wants cause of the whole I’ve-got-faerie-power thing.”
Cowboy grinned. “Don’t forget you killed his Shadow Faerie.”
“Exactly. So why would he start with the least of us?”
Cowboy shrugged. “Saving the best for last?”
They walked downstairs to the enormous living room while Cowboy explained Summer’s problem. According to him, she had aged decades overnight and looked hideous beneath the thick widow’s veil. Hard to imagine Summer looking anything but flawless. Trick kind of wanted to see it for himself, but there were other more important things on his mind.
Then a great idea came out of nowhere and blew his devious side awake. Summer’s new physical state could be the answer to his prayers. If Matt caught a glimpse of her new face, it might end things between them. After all, it wasn’t love, just infatuation.
Trick stood next to the fireplace and considered his options. If he could snap a picture of Summer’s hideous face, that would be a lot better than just telling his brother. He could teleport into her room, but he might see something he couldn’t un-see. What if she was naked? He’d have to gouge his eyes out with the nearest blade.
Cowboy flopped down on the couch. “Wonder which of us will be next.”
“Next?” Trick blinked. What were they talking about? He had lost track of the conversation.
“The curse,” Cowboy reminded him. “Oberon likes to curse people, and he started with Summer. So which of us is next on the list? You or me?”
“Hold that thought.” Trick considered popping home to tell his brother about the interesting event. Maybe seeing Summer as an old lady would cool Matt’s interest in her. Reason and logic interfered with his teleporting plan. All the things that could go wrong built a wall between him and his intentions.