A Fire in the Blood(61)
“Shall we go traditional?” Jilly asked. “Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce?”
“That’s always good. Or we could have prime rib and mashed potatoes.”
“Prime rib. Wow, that sounds even better.”
“Maybe we should ask Luke what he wants.”
“No way,” Jilly said. “We’re the ones doing all the cooking. We’ll decide.”
“All right,” Tessa agreed, laughing. “So, what’ll it be?”
“I had my taste buds all set for turkey until you mentioned prime rib. So, let’s be nontraditional this year.”
“Okay by me. Do you want to cook here, or at your place?”
“Here,” Jilly said. “Your kitchen’s bigger and so is your oven. What’ll we have for dessert? Pumpkin pie?”
Tessa shrugged. “Tradition!” she sang in her best Tevye imitation.
“Well, how about hot fudge sundaes smothered in whipped cream and cherries?”
“Now you’re talking my language! Okay, I’ll buy the prime rib and seasoning and make cheesy potatoes, and you bring a vegetable and dessert. And some sodas. We’ll plan to eat around, oh, four, I guess.”
“Sounds good,” Jilly said. “You know, it’s been so long since I’ve stayed at my own house, I won’t know what to do. You’re probably glad to be rid of us.”
Tessa laughed as she followed Jilly to the front door. “Don’t be silly. I’m just glad the danger’s passed and life is back to normal. See you tomorrow.”
“Maybe we can catch a movie Friday afternoon.”
“Okay. Night.”
Still smiling, Tessa closed the door. It felt good to think about mundane things, like Thanksgiving dinner, instead of worrying about vampires.
Sitting on the arm of the sofa, she took a deep breath. Three days without a hint of trouble. Finally, they could all come and go without always looking over their shoulders, or jumping at every unexpected noise and shadow.
Glancing at her watch, she saw that it was still early. Maybe she would go shopping tonight rather than waiting until morning.
She looked out the window, trying to decide if she wanted to put on her shoes and a jacket and head for the market, or just stay home and relax.
A sound from outside drew her attention. It was probably nothing, she told herself. Just the wind. Maybe her neighbor’s tomcat prowling around. “Nothing to worry about,” she said, her voice a bit too loud. “The vampires are gone.”
She had almost convinced herself she was imagining things when a shadow passed in front of the window.
Jumping to her feet, Tessa closed the curtains, then checked to make sure the door was locked.
Shaking all over, she dropped onto the sofa. She told herself there was nothing out there, she was overreacting. But to no avail. Grocery shopping could wait until tomorrow. Cowardly or not, she wasn’t leaving the house until the sun was up.
* * *
Andrei listened intently to Tessa’s description of what had happened. He hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary when he returned to her condo, but he went outside to scout around anyway, just to reassure her.
Standing on the landing, he opened his preternatural senses. He was about to go back inside when he caught it. A faint scent reminiscent of Bailey after she shifted. He inhaled slowly, drawing in the scent. Definitely a shifter of some kind. Had Bailey lied when she’d said she didn’t know any others of her kind? Or had this one been tracking her?
“Well?” Tessa asked anxiously. “Did you find anything?”
“Yes and no. I’m going to have a little talk with Bailey.”
“What about?”
“I think there’s another shifter in the neighborhood.”
“Mind if I listen in?”
“Of course not. It’s your house.”
At Bailey’s invitation, Andrei stepped into her bedroom.
Tessa waited by the door.
Sitting on the bed, a book in her lap, Bailey glanced from one to the other. “Is something wrong?”
Andrei shook his head. “Are you sure you don’t know any other shape-shifters?”
“I’m sure,” Bailey said, frowning. “Don’t you believe me?”
“There was one here a little while ago.”
“Here?” The girl’s eyes widened in alarm. “How do you know?”
“I caught his scent a few minutes ago. It’s very faint, but it’s there.”
“But how . . . who?” She shook her head. “Are they looking for me?”
“I don’t know, but it seems logical. Any idea who it might be?”
“No.” Laying the book aside, she wrapped her arms around her middle, the color draining from her face as she stared up at Andrei.