Chapter 10
Hester | London, present day
Well, that interaction with Will was ...
different and more than a little sexually stimulating.
But also rather fun to be the hunted than the hunter for once.
It’s just a pity that the first time he actually invites me somewhere it’s to McDonald’s.
Seriously? He can do better than that if I have to eat human food.
He could have at least suggested a nearby Pret!
My nerve endings are tingling from our encounter as I walk over to the stairs, leaving him simmering in a miasma of body spray (it’s pleasantly musky, but he does go a tad overboard with it). I can’t resist a hip sashay, sensing his eyes fixed on my ass. Like what you see, hot stuff?
But when I reach the second floor, cold, hard reality sets in. Why am I even bothering to flirt or play hard to get? Even if there’s the slightest chance that Will wants me as much as I do him, the fact I’m a vampire is always going to be a major obstacle.
Look at what happened to the others: Elliott was a thrall for forty years before he was turned, and Damian is now a dentist vampire!
I can’t rob Will of his humanity or take advantage of it. I’ll have to be satisfied with looking at him longingly.
***
After I’ve invited them into the building, the coven pile into my studio and dump their luggage on the lino floor.
‘Wow, it’s really small, hardly bigger than our lounge at home,’ says Sadie. She wrinkles her nose at the neatly made double bed, dark-green two-seater couch, and minimal stainless steel kitchen.
‘Welcome to London,’ I say abruptly, pushing past her to claim the bed before anyone else jumps on it. I feel exhausted all of a sudden and wish they’d all bugger off so I can sleep for a couple of hours.
‘Maybe you could bunk down with Will so we can have it to ourselves?’ Sadie glances at Floss. ‘El and I are first on the schedule, right?’
‘No,’ I say tersely, though heat flickers between my legs at the thought of sleeping in Will’s bed. ‘And for God’s sake, stop going on about him. Nothing’s going to happen.’
But being Sadie, of course she doesn’t. She purses her lips and makes obnoxious kissing noises.
‘I’m warning you. Shut the fuck up.’ She smirks and deliberately blows me one more loud smooch, and I snap.
My fists clench and thigh muscles poise, ready to spring; my fangs start extending.
Shit, this has never happened before! Sadie gets on my wick from time to time, but I’ve never wanted to cause her harm.
I must be really stressed out about acting!
Seeing I’m in attack mode, Sadie growls and bares her own fangs in defence.
Floss gasps. For a moment, it’s touch-and-go whether one or both of us will make it out unscathed.
Then Elliott steps between us with his hands raised, which is brave of him.
‘Hey, hey, calm down, you two. Let’s have a drink.
We’re probably all feeling hangry after that train ride. I know I am.’
His sensible suggestion and soothing voice effectively break the tension.
Sadie throws me a sneer but lets Elliott tug her into the kitchen.
They start opening cupboards, looking for mugs.
He’s brought a cooler of emergency blood, so we don’t have to go out hunting for a while.
But they obviously couldn’t partake of it on the train or from each other as they were in a crowded carriage, hemmed in on all sides by warm human flesh.
No wonder Sadie is spoiling for a fight.
Floss leaves Damian sitting on the couch with his phone and comes over to me. She places a tentative hand on my arm and flinches when she feels my rock-hard muscles. Are you OK? You looked like you were going to tear a literal strip off Sadie just then!
I grit my teeth at the implied criticism, but my fangs are retracting, and I feel more in control now; plus she means well.
Like Elliott said, I’m hangry ... and I’m nervous about the play.
Floss rubs my arm. You’ve got this. You really do. You’ve practised so much ...
I shake my head, feeling guilty. It’s easy when it’s one-to-one. More difficult when you know 1,500 eyes are going to be on you. I’m worried I’m going to forget my lines.
Or not even be able to open my mouth, I think privately with a shudder.
Damian picks up on our conversation since I’m not shielding. My offer for hypnosis sessions still stands, Hester. Think of it as a tool to help you prepare and focus so you can feel more confident. I’ll take you through some visualisation exercises.
Thanks, Damian, I think gratefully. Can we do a session soon?
Yup. He gives me a nod from over on the couch, and I relax. Maybe it will be OK. Perhaps I will be able to act this time.
Floss smiles at me kindly. See, it will be fine. You’re going to wow everyone.
She’s being so supportive. Damian too. But their faith in me is misplaced. I can’t keep lying. I should tell everyone right now what I’ve done ...
‘Here we go.’ Elliott hands us mugs of blood, and I sip mine, feeling the tension in my body ease.
Sadie is keeping well away, sipping her nourishment over by the window on the other side of the studio.
I don’t blame her. Regret for my behaviour is already seeping in.
I hate confrontation, and I’m always the first to make amends.
‘Once we’re finished, we should probably go and buy an air mattress before the shops close,’ Damian says. ‘Since there’s no pull-out couch. I checked.’
Ugh, I hate shopping and crowds.
‘We need to visit Charlie too and see if he knows anything about Alexander that may be helpful,’ Sadie comments.
I groan inwardly. That’s even worse! I’d rather slit my wrists than see my ex again.
‘Why don’t I go and buy the air mattress—’ I start.
But Sadie interrupts. ‘No, we need to stick together,’ she says firmly, her blue eyes piercing me over the top of her mug. ‘You may need to shield Floss and Damian in case there’s any blood bond activation with Alexander. We don’t know where he is.’
I nod slowly. She’s got me there. I don’t want anything to happen to Floss or Damian because of one bad decision on my part. But I’m not looking forward to seeing Charlie again. Our break-up in 1905 was so bad that I had to move to Edinburgh because London wasn’t big enough for the both of us.
‘Hopefully, he’s mellowed in his old age,’ I remark nervously. ‘He vowed that if he ever saw me again, he’d rip my throat out.’
‘Charlie’s full of hot air,’ says Floss soothingly, knowing how much I hate him. ‘He’s jealous that your powers are superior to his.’
‘Yeah, Charlie’s a decrepit arsehole,’ adds Sadie blithely, which makes my lips twist. She never minces words. ‘Any one of us could take him down. Even you, Elliott.’
‘Glad to hear it,’ he replies with a self-deprecating laugh, and she puts her arm around his waist. ‘But he does have a knack for coming up with pertinent information when we need it,’ she continues.
‘After all, he led us to Hester in 1921.’ She smiles at me hesitantly, and I know she’s extending an olive branch, attempting to apologise for riling me up before.
I take it gladly because life’s too long for holding a grudge and return her smile.
‘Fine, let’s all go to Belgravia and visit the decrepit arsehole.’