Backing out of the room, Tessa closed the door and went to join Luke and Jilly.
“Is she okay?” Jilly asked.
“Yeah, she’s asleep. She had a late night.”
Jilly nodded as she helped herself to a chocolate éclair. “This has been some weekend.”
“It certainly didn’t go the way I planned, that’s for sure,” Tessa said.
“I can’t believe we all walked away from that accident with nothing more to show for it than a couple of bruises.” Luke shook his head in disbelief. “My car was totaled.”
“Yes,” Tessa said, smothering a grin, “it’s a miracle.” And its name was Andrei. He had not only given Tessa his blood, but her friends as well, though they didn’t know it.
“What are you looking so smug about?” Luke asked.
“Who, me?” Tessa asked innocently. “Nothing.”
“Okay, spill it,” Jilly said, licking chocolate frosting from her lips. “I know that look.”
“Are you sure you want me to tell you?” Tessa asked. “You might not like the answer.”
Jilly and Luke exchanged glances.
“We want to know,” Luke decided, his voice grim.
“Andrei gave both of you some of his blood while you were in the hospital. That’s why you healed so quickly.”
“His blood?” Jilly asked, eyes wide with alarm. “I have Andrei’s blood in me?”
“Relax,” Tessa said. “It’s just a little.”
“Vampire blood.” Luke shook his head. “I can’t have vampire blood in me. I’m a hunter!”
“Would you rather be black and blue and in pain?” Tessa asked irritably. “He did you both a favor.”
“You’re right,” Jilly said, reaching for another éclair. “It’s just so . . . I mean . . .” Her eyes widened. “I guess he gave you some too.”
Tessa nodded.
“Where is he now?” Luke asked.
“I don’t know. He spent the night in my hospital room. I haven’t seen him since then.”
“They let him stay with you, even though he’s not family?” Jilly asked.
“They didn’t know he was there, silly.”
“Oh, right.”
“Well,” Luke said, slapping his hands on his thighs. “I need to get to work.”
“You got a job?” Tessa asked.
“I’m a hunter, remember? There was an article in the paper this morning. They found a body drained of blood behind Monk’s Café.”
“How do you find vampires, anyway?” Tessa asked.
“It’s kind of hit and miss,” Luke admitted, pushing away from the table. “Mainly, they like to hide in deserted buildings or abandoned houses. I reckon this is another one looking for you. Fledglings don’t have a lot of experience and sometimes they’re pretty easy to find.”
“What do you do when you find one? Do you just drive a stake in its heart?”
“This is a very grisly discussion for so early in the morning,” Jilly remarked, grimacing.
“Sorry,” Tessa said.
“I’ll be back later. Jilly, why don’t you stay here?” Luke suggested. “I’ll feel better if the two of you are together.”
Jilly looked at Tessa, who shrugged. “It’s fine by me.”
“Okay, then.” Luke kissed Jilly on the cheek. “I’ll call you guys later.”
Jilly stared after him. “I hate it when he goes hunting. What if the vampire isn’t a fledgling? What if he’s old, like Andrei? What if . . . ?”
Tessa covered her friend’s hand with her own. “Hey, aren’t you the one who said worrying about the future would ruin the present? Besides, you can’t think like that. You’ll drive yourself insane. Anyway, he’s got some of Andrei’s blood now. Maybe it’ll make him stronger somehow.”
“Maybe.” Shoulders slumped, Jilly reached for a buttermilk doughnut. “I’m going to be as fat as a pig,” she muttered. “When he’s gone, all I do is eat.”
“I won’t let that happen,” Tessa said, replacing the doughnut in Jileen’s hand with a large green apple from the bowl in the center of the table.
“An apple?” Jilly exclaimed. “Seriously?”
“Much better for you.” Tessa looked up as Bailey, still wearing her pj’s, entered the kitchen. “Morning, sleepyhead.”
“Morning,” Bailey mumbled. “Oh, doughnuts! Can I have one?”
“Take them both,” Tessa said, slanting a grin at Jilly. “I’m doing an intervention.”