The Accidental Vampire(55)

"Good." Victor nodded, and then glanced to DJ expectantly.

Rather than leave, the man turned a serious look his way and said, "Have you fed

today?"

Victor scowled. He wasn't a child to be chased after. Besides, the answer was no. He

should have slipped out before cooking when he got up, but he'd wanted to be sure

that breakfast was ready when Elvi awoke, so hadn't. He hadn't even thought of

feeding since then, though now that DJ mentioned it, his stomach was beginning to

cramp.

"You haven't, have you?" DJ's voice was full of the "Ah‐ha!" factor. "I thought you

looked pale."

"I'll see to it." Victor assured him, though there were other things he wanted to see to

first.

DJ nodded. "I'll come with you. I can help keep an eye out and we need to talk

anyway."

Victor scowled. He didn't want to feed now. He didn't want to talk now. He wanted

Elvi. However, it didn't look like he was going to get what he wanted. DJ was waiting

expectantly.

Sighing, he cast one regret‐filled glance toward the closed bathroom door, and then

stepped out in the hall, pulling the door quietly closed behind him.

"Edward mentioned something about an arrow being shot at you this evening," DJ

announced abruptly as they started up the street moments later. He eyed Victor with

concern. "What was that all about?"

Victor grimaced and quickly explained what had happened. He also mentioned Elvi's

thoughts that it had been an accident, but that if it hadn't been, he had been the most

likely target.

"You?" DJ asked with surprise. "Why would she think you were the target?"

Victor turned to the right as they reached Main Street. It was just after two A.M. on a

Saturday night, closing time for the bars. The sidewalk was full of people making their

way home. Victor's gaze slid predatorily over them as he explained, "She says she's

lived in this area her whole life and no one has ever tried to harm her. As the outsider,

she thinks I am the more likely victim."

He rolled his eyes at the ridiculous reasoning, but DJ was looking thoughtful.

"Hmm," he said finally.

"Hmm?" Victor echoed with disbelief. "DJ, no one would have any reason to try to kill

me."

"Hmm‐." DJ didn't look convinced, which actually made Victor take pause.

"What are you thinking?" he asked warily, his steps slowing.

DJ shrugged and released a little breath. "Well, I was thinking that if she's never had

any trouble with the people of Port Henry or the surrounding area in the five years

since she was turned, then it isn't likely they would try to kill her now."

"True, but there's no reason for them to kill me either," Victor said sharply.

"Well…" DJ had a sort of wince on his face.

"What?"

"There is that stake bit," he said reluctantly.

"What stake bit?"

"You know. When you thought Elvi was going to bite that Owen kid and you charged

through the restaurant to stake her." He shrugged. "Someone may not have believed

that baloney about returning the stake as an excuse to see her. They might be trying to

protect Elvi from you."

Victor frowned over the possibility. He'd forgotten that little incident. Now, he

wondered…

"Where were the other men?" DJ asked suddenly.

Victor glanced at him with surprise. "Around in front of the store. Why?"

"They were all there?"

"Yes," Victor said. "Well, no. Edward wasn't there when I first rejoined them."

"Where was he?"

"He'd gone to ' find a handy bush'," Victor quoted the man. "He came around the

opposite side of the building a moment later, though. Why? What are you thinking?"

DJ shrugged. "It might have been one of them."

Victor's head whipped around. "Why would one of them shoot at me?"

"To eliminate the competition?" he suggested.

Victor stopped walking and stared at him with confusion. "What competition?"

"For Elvi," DJ said patiently.

"Don't be ridiculous," Victor waved it away as ridiculous and started walking again.

"They've probably all read her by now and found they can and she isn't their lifemate."

"Then why are they still here?" DJ asked reasonably.

Victor paused to think on that, but finally shook his head, unwilling to even consider

that one of the other men was a lifemate to the woman he was lusting after. A feeling

he hadn't had in a very, very long time and wasn't willing to ignore for anyone's sake.

"I don't know why they're still here," Victor admitted. "But they can't all be her

lifemate."