The Vampire’s Fake Fiancée

Tessa tapped a finger against her lip. Duncan leaped off the couch and headed for the kitchen. By the quiver of his tail, she could tell he was up to no good. So the usual. “True.”

“And I know this is a risk, and you don’t take risks. But just this once, please take a chance. Mom and Dad are going to be touring Europe for the rest of their lives. We’ll be lucky to see them at our weddings, if we ever get married. Wouldn’t it be nice for us to be close enough to hang out whenever we wanted? We could spend Christmas together if you lived here. We could go shopping and do spa days and all that kind of stuff together.”

Tessa’s librarian’s salary didn’t allow for much shopping or any spa days, but she got what her sister was saying. “It would be nice to be closer.”

Jenna went on. “Also, isn’t Ohio like completely covered in snow and ice? Winter in Georgia isn’t nearly as bad.”

“I don’t mind the snow, but it would be nice not to have to scrape my windshield every morning.” She looked around at her cramped apartment that her job barely paid for and thought about her sister’s house in Nocturne Falls. She’d seen pictures. Not only was it pretty and on a street with big trees, it had a backyard, which meant Duncan could go out and run around. Fresh air. Sunshine. A chance to wear himself out.

And the chance for her to be near her sister.

“Come on, throw that cat into a carrier and start driving. I’ll talk to one of the Ellinghams and see about getting you a tour of the school before your interview so you can see for yourself exactly how amazing it is.”

“I can’t just leave like that. There’s a ton of things I’d have to take care of first.”

“Like what?”

“I still have to give the library my notice that I’m quitting and turn off my water and electric and let the landlord know I’m breaking the lease and—”

“Find your inner warrior and make it happen. Besides, I already submitted your name. They’re expecting you.”

“What? Why did you do that?”

“Because you never would have done it.”

“I might have.”

“Tessa. This is the kind of change you need. The kind of job you deserve.”

Tessa squeezed her eyes shut. She and her inner warrior hadn’t really communicated in a long time, but she knew Jenna was right. She needed a change, and being near her sister would be great. “I can be there in four days.”

“You can be here in one.”

“Impossible. Two is the absolute minimum.”

Jenna whooped into the phone. “Yes! I knew I could talk you into it. See you in two days, sis!”

“Wait—” But Jenna had already hung up. Like she knew she’d just talked Tessa into something she’d only change her mind about.

Tessa blew out a breath. She was already having doubts. What had she just gotten herself into? She shook herself. No, this was a good thing. She really wasn’t happy at her current job. And this apartment was dreadful. A change would be good. Being near her sister would be great. Jenna was so brave and daring and didn’t let a thing stand in her way. Tessa wanted to be more like that. In theory.

She walked over and pulled Duncan out of the trash can, then hugged him against her chest for a second before holding him up to look him in the eyes. “I realize you’re just getting the lay of the land, but don’t get too comfortable. Change is afoot.”

He meowed at her, a loud, squeaky sound that made her grin. “I know! This is a big step for both of us, but Jenna will be there and she’s got a yard you can play in. Plus, I promise you can take all of your new toys, too.”

He tried to eat a piece of her hair.

She pulled it out of his mouth and shook her head. What on earth had she just agreed to?

Sebastian would be lying to himself if he tried to deny the slightly righteous pleasure that he’d taken from keeping Evangeline waiting. It had been only three days. And after all, she’d kept him waiting nearly three hundred years. Seventy-two hours seemed a drop in the bucket in comparison.

It had been a calculated move. Not just to keep her waiting, but to time things so that his meeting with her happened the morning of interviews at Harmswood. He’d be dressed sharply and have a place to go afterward, giving him a reason not to linger.

He also wanted her to know he was a busy man. Occupied with many things. None of which were her. He sighed. If only that were true. She did occupy some of his time, which irritated him to no end, but it was a responsibility with which he’d learned to live. A duty.

A chore.

And then of course, there was the matter of the time they were meeting.

Eight in the morning. A time that, despite the blazing sun high in the January sky, did nothing to deter his ability to be outside. Unlike most vampires. He had the bespelled amulet that he and all the members of his family wore to thank for that miracle. Unless Evangeline had found similar magic on her own, she had no such amulet. She’d left him before Elenora Ellingham, his grandmother and the woman who’d turned him, had saved the life of a very powerful witch.

In thanks, the witch had created the amulets for them.

Being able to daywalk gave Sebastian an edge over Evangeline. Something, quite frankly, to hold over her. Had she stayed, she’d have an amulet too. Not that he was about to reveal that. The amulets were a closely guarded family secret.

And so, because he’d chosen to meet her at such an early morning hour, they were meeting at the bed-and-breakfast in which Evangeline had ensconced herself. When Sebastian chose to leave, she’d be unable to follow.