Kristy: I don’t want to intrude on sister time.
Me: You’re just as much a sister as she is. Like for real. I’m not actually related to her at all. But don’t bring that up. I think she’s still a little upset over it.
Kristy: I won’t say anything, and what time? I’m just about to leave the store.
Me: Around five.
I yawn and sit up, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. Feeling too lazy to text, I move my finger over the little microphone icon and send Kristy a voice message instead of typing out my message.
“What do babies drink? I feel like I should go out and get something for Penny. She’s a year and some odd months.”
Three little dots show up, disappear, and then Kristy sends another voice message back.
“Water? Apple juice? Oh, babies are always drinking milk on TV shows.”
I send another message. “I know nothing about children. I need to get my ass up and go to the grocery store. I’ll see you later?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there. Don’t expect a present.”
I laugh at her last voice message and get out of bed. I get dressed in a black t-shirt and jeans and put on my favorite combat boots and a pretty silver necklace Lucas got me when we were honeymooning in California.
The necklace rests right above my breasts, and Lucas said he got it so he’d have an excuse to check out my tits. I just rolled my eyes and told him he doesn’t need an excuse. Still, the necklace is pretty, and I love it.
I run my finger over the first little sun-shaped charm on the necklace. A crescent moon hangs under that, and three silver stars dangle from the moon. Using magic, I curl my hair, and then I put on a bit of makeup and head out.
The grocery store is busy today, and it takes forever to get the few things I need. I swing by Jack in the Box, a mom-and-pop owned toy store on the main street of Thorne Hill, and pick up a couple of toys for Penny.
I make it home with plenty of time to spare, and Kristy arrives just a few minutes before five.
“You look good,” she tells me as she steps into the house.
“Thanks. I feel good, too.” I close the door behind her, not sealing it back up with magic since my sister will be here soon. “I know this feeling won’t last long, so I’m going to embrace it.”
She gives me a look. “Have you started drinking already?”
“Not yet. I’ll at least wait until all my guests arrive to open the bottle of wine I bought myself.”
Kristy laughs and bends down to pet Scarlet. “I’m kinda leaning toward Nicole’s suggestion to keep her as a puppy forever. She is really cute this way.”
“I do need to figure out how to adjust the glamour.” I look at Scarlet for a few seconds, thinking. “Do you think she has to be a dog? Could she be glamoured to be a cat? She’d fit in better if she were.”
Scarlet growls, not liking my suggestion, and Kristy and I both laugh.
“Where’s Lucas?” Kristy asks, standing back up.
“He had to go to Chicago to deal with something. He’ll be back right after sunset.”
“Deal with something?” Kristy takes off her shoes and follows me into the kitchen.
“I told you about the group of vampires who are against mainstreaming, right?”
“Yeah, I remember hearing you say something about it. Are they at it again?”
I nod and pull the bottle of wine out of the freezer. It hasn’t been in long enough to freeze yet, and it’s perfectly chilled. I set the red Moscato on the counter and get out four wine glasses, preparing for when Abby arrives.
“They are, and they threatened another vampire who works with Lucas.” I turn around, leaning against the counter. “They’re trying to get under his skin but won’t go after him directly.” I shake my head. “It’s like they’re trying to force him to do something drastic.”
“Did you say he’s one of the oldest vampires in the area?”
“He is, and I know that has something to do with this. Going after him directly would be a death sentence. We still don’t know who the vampires are behind the threats.” I let out a sigh. “It’s annoying and the last thing we need right now.”
“I’m sure Lucas can handle it,” Kristy assures me, reaching across the counter for the wine. “Like you just said: he’s one of the oldest vampires in the area. He’s been able to take care of himself for years.”
“Right. And vampire drama doesn’t seem so bad when all of Heaven would love to murder me, killer necromancers are sending curses our way, and the devil is my uncle.”
“Well, when you put it that way…” Kristy chuckles and pours two glasses of wine. “But don’t let your guard down. I’ll be the first to remind you about the time you were kidnapped and almost killed by vampires.”