She didn’t want to incur her father’s wrath, but she was fed up with being locked away. She’d managed to escape today because her father was away at the royal estate and would be for quite some time.
“Let me get this straight. You’re offering me a chance to see what’s out there in our world. What do you get out of it?”
“Oh well, I quite like the idea of having a partner in crime.”
His grey eyes glinted again.
I don’t know what his game is, but it would be good to have someone to protect me if things go wrong. Besides, I don’t have many friends.
She put her hand out to him.
“Okay, friends then?”
He looked down at her hand for a moment. He slid his palm over hers, gripping her hand in an iron hold. His skin was cool to the touch. When they’d shaken hands before, she’d had the distinct feeling that Jamie was someone she’d either entirely regret meeting or he’d show her what she’d been missing. She was apprehensive about finding out which one it would be.
“Friends.”
Chapter Two
Dani left the bar in a daze. Jamie had been quick to exchange numbers with her before she said she had to go. She hadn’t expected to meet anyone tonight, let alone a vampire who promised to show her a taste of the world outside the fae. Sort of went better than expected. Doesn’t mean I trust him entirely. Who knew what Jamie’s real intentions were.
She summoned her magic to her; it shot out creating a purple light in front of her. She was careful not to use too much. Like many of her kind, she would need to breathe a human in order to replenish it. That came with its own set of complications for her.
She stepped through the portal and landed near her father’s city residence. Ducking down a side alley and hopping the fence, she snuck in the backdoor. She shrugged off her coat and hung it up before walking into the living room.
“Well, well, who’s a dirty little stop out?”
She froze, spying her brother, Novus, lounging on the sofa with his feet up on the coffee table.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She sat down next to him, flicking his ear. He batted her hand away.
“Ouch! Quit that. And don’t try act like you’re all innocent. I smell vampire on you.”
Damn. Novus really needs to stop getting up in my business. He’s been on my case since he got home from Romania.
“I went out.”
“Dani, you know Father will go mental if he finds out.”
She struck, grabbing him around the neck and digging her fist into his scalp.
“Lucky for me, he isn’t going to find out.”
Her phone buzzed in her bag. Novus struggled in her grip.
“Get off.”
“Not until you promise to say nothing to him.”
“Okay, okay, just let go.”
She released him. He sat back, scowling. Novus looked most like her out of the six of them. They took after their mother, who’d passed away when Dani was small. Theodus, Belladonna, Peony and Verbena looked like their father with light green eyes and brown hair. Although, Verbena insisted on changing her hair to match her eyes because she just had to be different.
My sister. The world’s biggest hypocrite.
“You still have to tell me where you went.”
Dani sighed. There wasn’t much point trying to get out of it since he’d probably tickle her. Novus was closest to her in age, but he was still ten years older. Dani hadn’t been planned. Her parents were surprised when they discovered her mother had been pregnant again.
“That vampire bar you told me about. Fright Night.”
“And why do you smell of vampire? Did you let one come near you?”
“What? No.”
She had shaken Jamie’s hand, but that was being polite. Novus gave her a look.
“I spoke to one and shook his hand. That’s it.”
She tugged her phone from her bag, checking the message.
Jamie: Come by the bar on Friday. We can start your initiation into my world then.
Her cheeks turned pink. Novus snatched her phone from her. He scanned the message before she had a chance to grab it back.
“Initiation into my world? Just what have you gotten yourself into?”
“Novy, give me my phone.”
He tossed it away, making her scramble to catch it. She scowled.
“You know I hate it when you call me that.”
“Why, because you can’t say no to me?”
He knocked his shoulder into hers, grinning.
“Little sister, you really are a handful when you want to be. Now, tell me exactly who this Jamie is.”
“A vampire who agreed to show me the supernatural world. You, Theo and the girls have gotten to see the outside world, but me? Not a chance.”
“You know why that is.”
Of course I do, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
Why did she, of all her siblings, have to inherit the worst possible curse imaginable?
“Is it really so bad that I’m tired of being mollycoddled and kept away from everything and everyone?”
He sighed, resting his head on her shoulder.
“No. It’s not. Just be careful.”
“You’re not going to tell Father?”
“No. He’s got enough to worry about. Besides, I’ll just have to make sure you stay out of trouble.”
She grinned. Novus would never tell tales on her. They’d always been close. She’d missed him these past three years he’d been abroad.
She unlocked her phone and tapped out a message to Jamie.
Dani: Time?
Jamie: Say eight?
Dani: See you then.
Jamie: I promise it’ll be fun
Of that she had no doubt.
§
Dani fidgeted as she made her way down the steps to
