Chapter 18
Archer
Itake up a spot behind a tree near the inn to make sure that stupid human doesn’t return to bother Colette. My blood is hot and I want to hurt him, but I hold myself back. I will not act like those who follow the Vampire Council’s suggestions. I’m not evil. I refuse to be.
My thoughts wander to how Colette looked, staring up at me.
Her soft mouth. That blaze of defiant joy in the depths of her forest-green eyes.
I’ve never felt like this. So wrong and so right at the same time.
I want to do very bad things to those who hurt her and I long to do very lovely things to Colette.
Normally, my passion is reserved for poetry and nature.
I’ve never been so worked up about a person.
Although I know this can’t go anywhere, I can’t help imagining possibilities.
For once, I’m not ashamed of acting aggressively. Defending Colette felt right. It was right. It’s the first time I’ve enjoyed my darker vampire side. I am glad I was able to frighten that horrible man away. I don’t feel an ounce of regret.
The next few days are spent at Colette’s inn. We write. We argue. We eat more of those dangerously delicious Snowlight cookies. The inn magically leaves them in her room every day right before I arrive.
“How do you know it’s the inn doing it?” I ask, taking a break from figuring out a scene about the locking mechanism. “Have you seen that particular magic as it happens?” I am so curious about this sentient inn of hers.
“I haven’t seen it, but the scent of the inn’s magic is always strong after it does something big like that.”
I sniff the air. “I smell newly laundered linens and…”
“And wood polish?” She tilts her head, and a lock of hair falls over her forehead. My fingers ache to push it behind her ear. “Lemons?”
I nod and try to stop staring at her lovely face. “Aye, that I do.”
“That’s the inn’s magical scent.” She smiles widely. “You’ll notice it now when it opens the door for you or delivers Mossette to us.”
“That’s amazing,” I say.
“It really is. Now, I have a wild thought about this mechanism…”
Her lips have fallen from their usual smiling curve, and two lines crease the spot between her eyebrows. Why is this idea stressing her so much?