Chapter 2
Yuki was glaring daggers at me overthe back of the couch while the coffee maker sputtered behind me. Jaeren andEllis, both coloring, were looking intently at the books sprawled out on thetable in front of them. That was their excuse not to look at the impish vampireglaring daggers at me, and me pretending not to notice. I was sorting throughthe mail like there wasn't an absolute fucking thing wrong in the world.
"Anybodywant ice cream?" I asked without looking up from the stack of mail on thecounter.
"Whatis ice cream?" Ellis whispered the question to Jaeren.
"Frozenmilk from cattle with fruit mixed into it. Or sometimes chocolate. It is quitedelicious."
"Whatis chocolate?"
"Asugary confection made from the nuts of a tree."
"Yes,I'd love to try some," Ellis called to me over Jaeren's head.
"RockyRoad?"
"Whatis–"
Jaerensilenced Ellis with a wave of his hand. "Yes. For both of us, please,Lady."
Ichuckled under my breath. Maybe Ellis would be good for the overbearing king.Hard to be an asshole when you're stuck teaching elves about the mortal realm.Ellis had taken to him like the older brother, even though they were asdifferent as night and day.
Jaerendidn't seem to be harboring any open hostilities toward his unseleighe cousin, either. I was shocked andpleased, almost crying when he offered him some of his color sticks and books.
"I'llbe back in a little bit," I said to them, grabbing my purse, and headingfor the door.
"There'sseven different flavors of ice cream in the fridge, Master." Yuki got upand walked into the kitchen, pulling out the freezer door and showing me ourstock.
"Huh.No Rocky Road. I'll be back in a bit."
"There'sfudge nut brownie. Put some of the little marshmallows in it."
"Notthe same."
"Itis and you know it."
"Youwant to go with me?" I asked as a peace offering. She had been more thanpissed I'd traveled halfway across the country, unsupervised and without her.
"CanI drive?"
"I'veseen you try. Let's go with no, you can't."
"Oh,come on. I'm getting better."
"Tellthat to the seven squirrels."
"Ican't. They're dead."
"Exactly."
"Theyweren't people."
"Hadthere been any by the road, I'm sure you would have found some way to get them caught up in the wheel well. Youcoming?"
"Fine."She huffed and headed for the front door.
"Hey,Yuki?"
"Yes?"
"Wantsome hot cocoa?"
Herfrown turned into a grin and she ran out the door.
Emovamps were so easy. I laughed and grabbed my keys, tilting my head as arealization came to me. My little Yuki wasn't so emo anymore. She was evenwearing a bright, lime green shirt. Her hair was still purple, but it wasn'tspiked, and she had forgone the heavy black lipstick and eyeliner for a while.I sniffed as I walked out the door, pleased. My little Yuki was turning into alady.
"Didyou really want to buy me a cocoa, or are you just checking on the storebecause you haven't been there all day?"
"Littlebit of both," I said as I got into the car. "It's the day afterChristmas. The place should have been a madhouse. I want to survey the damage."
"Thinkthere's a body count?"
"Idoubt it. Jason is one smooth ass talker when he wants to be."
"Ifthe customers were female. Betcha there's ten dead guys stashed in your office."
"I'lljust reanimate them and send them home. Their wives might appreciate thesilence. Hard to fight when all you can say is, Glaaaaah."
Yukigiggled. "I miss Squishy."
"Idon't miss the smell."
"No."
Sheflicked on the stereo and we danced in our seats to K-Pop for the five minutesit took to the bookstore. Even from outside, I could tell it was still busy,even though they were closing in an hour. "We should check to see if theyate. Or if they even had time to eat."
Yukiwasn't looking at the bookstore, she was staring at the diner and frowning. "Goahead. I'm going to pop my head into the CFD."
"What'swrong?" I already knew it had to do with the town's vampire population.That worried me, and I wanted specifics.
"Nothing'swrong… I don't know what it is. But I'm going to find out."
"Wantme to go with you?" I pulled into a spot in front of the police stationand put it into park.
"No.Not sure how the vamps will react. I'm going in cautiously and planning onrunning if I have to."
"Keepme posted."
"Yes,Master." She got out of the car and weaved through the moving traffic onMain like a ballerina on speed. Hopefully, nobody noticed her display.
Showoff.
Worried.
Okay.Be careful.
Gettingout of the car, I stood there for a moment just to make sure nobody came flyingthrough a plate glass window. When I saw Yuki's head as she sat down at one ofthe occupied tables, I relaxed.
Yougood? She didn'tlook like she was in trouble, I just wanted to make sure.
Yes.
Keepit that way.
Ifelt her mental chuckle more than heard it and headed for the bookstore. Chiefwas standing by the front desk of the station but talking on the phone. Smilingand waving, I headed past.
Thebookstore was even more crowded than I thought. The registers were packed, butthe aisles were even more so. "What are you doing here?"
Inarrowed my eyes at Jason. "Is that any way to greet the lady who signsyour paychecks?"
"Whenshe was expressly forbidden from showing up on Boxing Day, yes."
"BoxingDay? Did we move to Canada?"
"We'reclose enough." He chuckled and spared me a smile, stepping a little closerand giving me a quick hug.
"Whoare the new kids?" I motioned to the pair manning one register while Shearan the other.
"That'sPeter," he said and pointed to the kid scanning books and punching keys. "Andthe other one is Suzy. This is her first day so she's learning and bagging. Thetwo of them together can't keep up with Shea. I don't think I would have madeit through the day without him."
"Haveyou guys eaten?"
Hegrinned.
"What?"
"Workedit out with Herb. There's food in the back." He motioned toward the stockroom, giving me a gentle push.
"Don'ttry to feed me, I already ate."
"Justshowing off my brilliant idea and making sure you don't mind."
Ipushed through the heavy swinging plastic door and whistled in
