Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“I have work to do, my darling.” He kisses me and runs his fingers up and down my side.
“I know.” My eyes flutter shut. “You’ve become quite popular the last few days, too. Mabel showed me that you’re trending on TikTok.”
He chuckles. “The VC is good at PR.”
“I don’t disagree, but I think a lot of it is you.” I bite my lip, feeling desire for him again. “But you’re a married man now.”
“Happily married.” We lounge around together for a little bit longer before Xavier has to leave. The demon might be gone, but the issues with the coalition haven’t been resolved. I remind myself Xavier, Theo, and Ezekiel have been doing this for centuries—seven to be exact—so they can handle whatever we’re up against.
I stay in bed after Xavier leaves, mindlessly scrolling through social media. My fingers are moving fast, swiping by anything that doesn’t instantly hook me, but I pause when a clip of breaking news flashes on screen. The reporter is talking about Camp Dogwood. This isn’t breaking news anymore. Ready to swipe to something else, because I’ve heard this all before, I almost miss it.
“Authorities confirm they are pursuing multiple persons of interest, though no names have been released at this time,” the reporter says. If that’s true, then it is news. I read through some of the comments and then waste an hour watching videos of people pranking each other.
Delphi texts, interrupting my doomscrolling.
Delphi: My Hinge date just canceled but I already made reservations at a hard to book place downtown. Want to go with me instead?
Me: What time?
Delphi: 9 but we can go there around 8:30 for drinks at the bar
Me: Sounds good! Would you mind if Mabel tagged along?
Delphi: The vampire?
Me: Yeah…is that an issue?
Delphi: No, but what will she eat?
Me: LOL she just likes to have a reason to go places where she can dress up and take pictures
Delphi: She’s in good company then. I’ll send you the details!
I set my phone down and get up, jogging down the stairs to find Mabel. She’s in the kitchen, filming herself making cupcakes again.
“Hey,” I say, stopping at the counter. “Want to go out with me and Delphi tonight?”
“Yes,” she replies before she even finds out where we’re going. “I like the werewolf doctor.”
“She’s pretty cool. I think she’ll get along with us.”
Mabel claps her hands together. “Maybe I’ll have two friends now! Ohh! Should we all wear one matching accessory? I have three red Van Cleef bracelets we can wear. I kept losing them but really, Ellen went through a phase where she took my jewelry.”
“Glad she grew out of that,” I say, knowing Mabel is talking about her creepy doll. Maybe the thing actually is haunted. “What kind of cupcakes are you making today?”
“Confetti. Look how pretty! It’s disappointing how good it smells but how bad it tastes. I’ve tried it.”
“We were just talking about this the other day,” I say and then tell her about how Xavier and now Devon got grossed out by watching me eat Taco Bell. I help Mabel make cupcakes and as we’re cleaning up, the doorbell rings. We both look at each other and shrug.
Seeing as I’m the only one who can answer the door during daylight hours, I pad my way through the foyer.
“Hi,” a man says as soon as I open the door. “Just wanted to let you know we’ll be out back doing the measurements.”
“Uh, okay,” I say and look beyond him at the van he pulled up in. Another man is getting out, pushing one of those wheel-things surveyors use. They’re from a pool company.
“Here is our catalogue,” he goes on, handing me a big binder. He looks inside the house, apprehension on his face. I think everyone in North Carolina knows vampires live here. “You have enough land, I don't think there will be any restrictions.”
“Okay,” I just repeat. “Thanks.”
“Of course, ma’am.” He gives me a nod and then joins his partner, going around to the back yard. Taking the binder in, I go upstairs and get my phone to call Xavier.
“Hello, darling,” he answers.
“Hey, some guys are here measuring for a pool?”
He chuckles. “Don’t sound so surprised. You said you wanted a pool.”
“Yeah, but it was just something I said. Like I’d love a million dollars.”
“Do you want a million dollars?”
“Yeah, but wait, we’re really getting a pool?”
“Any excuse to see you in a bikini more. And happy. I like seeing you happy.”
“I like being happy. Okay, get back to work. And, uh, thank you.” I end the call and go to the closet to pick out something fancy to wear tonight. Now that I have some breathing room, maybe I can go shopping again, without Nina.
Since I’ve been slowly converting to “vampire hours” I don’t see the staff as much anymore, but they have to come sometime early in the morning because the house is always spotless and the fridge is always full of groceries.