Love Your Entity(44)

“I’d prefer if we could meet at another location,” Sierra said.

“I already assured you that I would not be revealing your address in the article and that the photos would be taken inside your new home not outside.”

“I haven’t really had time to settle in and unpack—”

“I’m on a deadline. If you’re not interested, then I’ll have to move on to another story,” Bob said.

“No, don’t do that.” Sierra hoped she didn’t sound as desperate as she felt.

“Okay then. So are we on for tomorrow around four in the afternoon?”

“Yes.”

After disconnecting, Sierra turned to face everyone. “Listen, people … er, vamp … er … everyone. I have a reporter coming here tomorrow and I don’t want anyone doing anything weird.”

“Define weird,” Ronan said.

“She means Zoe flying on a broomstick,” Tanya said.

Zoe rightfully looked affronted.

“No, that’s not what I mean,” Sierra said hurriedly.

“She means no blood-sucking,” Zoe said.

Now Nick, Damon, Pat, and Bruce all looked affronted. Ronan merely looked amused.

“Actually, I meant to just let the guy come and interview me without any trouble,” Sierra said.

“Hear that?” Tanya said. “No trouble.”

“Is he bringing a photographer?” Ruby asked.

“I have no idea,” Sierra said, before recalling that she shouldn’t be answering a ghost’s question in front of others. “I mean, I have no idea what to wear for the interview tomorrow.”

“Basic black is always a classic,” Zoe said.

“Because you’re a witch,” Tanya said.

Zoe pointed to Nick, Damon, and Ronan, all of whom wore black. “Vampires like black too.”

“Sierra, as a redhead, you would look great in black,” Bruce agreed. “I watch Project Runway so I do know a little about women’s fashion.”

“Very little,” Tanya said.

“You definitely don’t want to look like her.” Bruce pointed to Tanya.

“What’s wrong with my outfit?” Tanya demanded.

Bruce shook his head. “Where to begin?”

“With the spandex neon lime ultramini skirt,” Zoe suggested.

“I don’t know about you, but I definitely have better things to do than stand around and talk about fashion,” Nick said. “I’m heading back to work.”

Damon tilted his head toward Ronan. “We need to talk again. Now.”

* * *

Ronan sat on the closed coffin in the basement while Damon paced the cement floor. Luckily Sierra’s flashlight had gone out before she spotted it earlier.

“I’m not happy about any of this,” Damon said.

“I need to warn you that the ghosts may be able to hear you,” Ronan said.

“I took care of that,” Damon said.

“How?” Ronan asked.

“I’m a vampire Demon Hunter. I have ways of establishing secure sites.”

“That’s all you’re going to say?”

“Damn right.” Damon was pissed and making no attempt to hide that fact. “You’re the one who needs to do the talking.”

“About what?” There was so much to be pissed off about that Ronan couldn’t decide which took top place.

“About the fact that you told Sierra you’re a vampire.”

“I didn’t tell her. Not at first. I had to save her. Hal had just yanked a huge bookcase onto her. Or that was his intention. She would have been killed. You told me not to kill humans.”

“Yeah, well, I’m having second thoughts about that,” Damon said.

Ronan clenched his fists. He didn’t want to have to fight with his fellow vampires to protect Sierra, but he would do so in a heartbeat.

Damon rolled his eyes. “Relax. I’m not going to hurt Sierra. That doesn’t mean the ghost won’t, though.”

“I’ll protect her.” Ronan was surprised at how intense the need to save her from harm had become. Was this a result of his vampire bond with her? He wasn’t sure. He only knew that he would do anything to ensure that bastard ghost Hal didn’t hurt her.

You haven’t done a very good job of being her protector so far, an inner voice mocked. Ronan was very familiar with that voice. He’d heard it in his head often enough while indentured to Voz. At the slightest hint of a conscience, that inner voice came out to verbally thrash him. Vampires weren’t meant to have a conscience.

He had plenty of inner demons. He refused to give them all a voice. But some remained stronger than others.

“My first priority is the security of Vamptown,” Damon said.