Evie emitted anervous laugh. “You have a magnificent home… I think I might havecome a bit underdressed.”
The vamp smiledwidely, keeping his lips together, so he didn’t show his fangs.“You look splendid as you are, but if it would make you feel morecomfortable, perhaps Mummy could find you something to wear?”
Mummy?She went to speak, but he cut her off.
“Mummy,darling, where are you?” he called out.
Mummy,darling? Even worse.
A second later,as though she’d been lurking behind a curtain, a womanappeared.
Evie did adouble take. The austere woman was dressed as Queen Elizabeth Ι;long medieval dress, high neck ruffle, huge puffy sleeves, andchest flattened by a stiff bodice.
She had an urgeto curtsy.
“This isEvangeline, Mummy. Isn’t she exquisite?” said Henry.
The womanregarded her like a slice of juicy steak, cooked rare, with bloodoozing onto the plate. “Quite delicious, I’m sure.”
What have Igotten myself into? She swallowed. “Hello, pleased to meetyou.” Not.
“Mummy,darling, don’t scare our guest before we’ve eaten.” Henrychuckled.
Evie wasn’tentirely convinced he was joking. She fidgeted from one foot to theother, her palms clammy.
“I thoughtperhaps you might help Evangeline find something more suitable towear?” Henry continued. “Something of yours, Mummy.”
Dead or alive,she’d never wear a getup like that, not to mention howuncomfortable it looked. “No, really, it’s fine,” she assured. “Idon’t want to be any trouble, and it would be a shame to let allthe lovely food get cold.”
Henry bowedagain. “As you wish.”
He pulled out achair for Evie. She sat, but only because her knees wereshaking.
Next, Henrypulled out a chair next to her for his mother, then sat oppositethem.
Perspirationdampened her brow. She wasn’t aware ‘Mummy darling’ was invited totheir date. She smiled too widely.
Evie picked ather food to be polite when all she wanted to do was get out ofthere.
Mummy darlingproceeded to grill her with the doggedness of an interrogator.“Where do you want to be in five years? Do you see yourself stillliving in that hovel of a flat, or have you set your sights onsomething grander?”
She suppresseda frown, shocked by the nature of her questions and puzzled by howHenry’s mother had found out where she lived. Granted, she’d givenHenry her address for the chauffeur to pick her up, but why wouldhe tell his mother?
Theinterrogation continued. “Do you consider marriage to be acommitment between two people, or would you consider an openrelationship?”
Evie answeredas civilly as she could—she didn’t want to come across asrude—while Henry sipped something from a golden goblet. Shesuspected it was blood since he didn’t offer her any. Her stomachchurned. What she wouldn’t give for a glass or three of vino rightnow.
Finally, Henryput down his goblet and spoke. “Mummy, darling, I think the angelhas answered enough of your questions.”
Mummy rose andwalked around the table, her long skirt swishing on the floor. Sheclucked like a mother hen at her son. “What have I told you aboutslurping too quickly? Mummy’s mucky little puppy has blood on hischin.”
Gobsmacked,Evie watched as she picked up a linen napkin, spat into it, thendabbed her son’s chin with the moist cloth. And worse still, Henrylet her, turning his face towards the candlelight.
She would havelaughed had it not been so disconcerting. Evie stood. “Thank youboth for the, err, lovely food, but I have to go now.” She edgedtowards the door, praying they didn’t intend to have her fordessert.
To her relief,they didn’t even notice.
“You’re so goodto me, Mummy,” said Henry.
“What did Itell you, silly boy?” said his mother. “You know I’m the only womanyou need.”
Evie legged itout of the manor, spread her wings and flew the heck out ofthere.
Two of herthree dates had been nothing short of disasters. Maybe the thirdtime would be lucky. How bad could a date with a half-dragonbe?
ChapterFive
A few dayslater, Caleb tapped a text into his phone.
Fancy somecompany? C.
Five secondslater, his phone tinged, and Evie replied. I was just thinkingabout you. How’s the dating going?
Brilliant.Couldn’t be better.
Don’t lie,Caleb, you’re rubbish at it. *Wink emoji*
He grinned atthe screen. How did she guess, even in a text message?
Be over in 10mins.
Bring wine.I’ve run out.
Dating goingwell your end too?
Yep. Brilliant.Couldn’t be better.
I’ll bringbrandy instead. x
He laughedagain and headed for the door.
Twenty minuteslater, he landed on the fire escape outside her apartment windowwith a whoosh of his powerful wings.
Evie wasalready waiting for him, her chin raised, her smile indicating shewas enjoying the balmy early summer evening. The sun lit herpeaches and cream complexion with a warm, golden glow and made herturquoise eyes sparkle like a tropical ocean.
“What time doyou call this?” She tapped her watch face in an exaggeratedfashion. “You said ten minutes.”
“You didn’t sayif you wanted wine or brandy, so I brought both.” He folded hiswings and handed her the brandy and a bottle of red, an excellentyear, better than the stuff she usually had.
She eyed thebottles and smiled. “Okay, you’re forgiven.” Evie sat down. Shepoked her legs between the iron railings and placed the bottlesnext to a mug, a glass, and a corkscrew. Patting the rusty metalgrating beside her, she said, “Tell your bestie all about yourdates.”
He sat too, hislegs dangling above the city lights, his wings resting behind him.“You first.”
She opened thebrandy and poured some into the chipped mug and glass tumbler.Handing him the glass, she sipped from her mug. “Ooh, that’s goodstuff.”
“Your dateswent well then?”
She blew out abreath. “I so wanted to tell you they were great, but they were atotal disaster.” She stretched out her wings and gave her feathersa flutter. “How about you?”
“Mine went frombad to worse. For a start, the mermaid looked nothing like herprofile picture. How is that possible?”
“She probablyphoto-edited it; used filters and such.”
“Do I even wantto know what that means?”
She shook herhead and laughed. “Doesn’t matter. What happened?”
“The crazy fishwanted me to marry her, then she tried to seduce me with hersiren’s song.”
Evie choked onher brandy. “She didn’t?”
“If it hadn’tbeen for a kind fellow who worked at the bowling alley, I’d havebeen a goner.”
She clasped herhand over her mouth. The corners of her eyes crinkled. “I’msorry.”
“It’s notfunny. Wait until you hear the rest.”
“There’s
