Lynsay Sands - The Reluctant Vampire

Drina was actually salivating by the end of that long list of ingredients. “That sounds delicious.”

“Oh, it is,” Stephanie assured her on a laugh. “So you want one?”

“Yes, please.”

“Okay, see you soon.”

The door closed, and Drina promptly unplugged the stopper and switched the shower on. She was suddenly in a hurry to get downstairs and try this Kitchen Sink sandwich.

“I hear that Lucian finally called.”

Drina glanced up from her cards and smiled at Teddy as he settled at the table with his plate of pork chops, potatoes, and salad. Leonora had made dinner tonight with Drina, Harper and Stephanie basically getting in her way as they tried to help. Everyone else had eaten two hours ago, but Teddy had just gotten home. She suspected the poor man had worked late to avoid coming home to his presently overcrowded house. She couldn’t blame him.

“Yes, he called just before we sat down for dinner,” she said finally, and then smiled apologetically. “Lucian’s going to make arrangements, and then call back. I’m not sure what’s going to happen.” She discarded so that Harper could take his turn, and then added, “Tiny should be waking up soon. He’s calmed considerably and hasn’t needed to be drugged for the last couple of hours. That usually means they’re through the worst of it.”

Teddy nodded as he started to eat.

“Does that mean Leonora, Dawn, Alessandro, and Edward will go home soon?” Stephanie asked, reaching for a card when Harper finished and discarded.

“Yes,” Drina said, and then added wryly, “In fact, I suspect they’ll leave the minute Tiny opens his eyes.”

“Oh,” Stephanie murmured, but Drina could see the relief on her face and knew it was for two reasons. One, while everyone was being really considerate, they were all exhausted, the house was just too small, and they were getting on each other’s nerves. On top of that, though, she knew Stephanie would be relieved to have four less life mates in the house. Drina and Harper had been playing cards and board games with the girl all day to try to distract her, but she didn’t think it had helped much. It would have been nice if they’d been able to take her out to Wal-Mart or a restaurant or something to give her a break from the energy and voices bombarding her, but all the vehicles were still back at the house, and Teddy had been at work. They’d been stranded here in his house in the country, which might be for the best until they sorted out who was behind the attacks. They were guessing Leonius, and Teddy and his deputy had been asking around about any sightings of strangers in town, but no one had seen anyone fitting his description.

“Teddy, I think I’m going to have to make another run to the blood bank,” Leonora said, entering the dining room. “As a new turn, Tiny will need a lot for a while, and Stephanie’s still growing, so she needs a lot as well. I don’t want them running low after we leave.”

Teddy glanced around with a frown. “How is the supply holding out? Do we need to hold a blood drive?”

Leonora considered briefly, and then shook her head. “No, we should be fine. Well, so long as there aren’t any more incidents, we should be fine.”

Teddy nodded and glanced back to his plate, then pushed it away with a sigh. “I’ll take you now and warm this up when we get back.”

“It’s after eight o’clock, Teddy,” Harper said quietly. “Finish your dinner, I’ll take her.” Harper stood, then paused, and frowned. “I forgot, I don’t have-”

“Use my car,” Teddy interrupted, withdrawing keys from his pocket. “You’d best use my boots and coat too.”

“Thanks.” Harper grabbed the keys, then glanced to Drina before asking him, “You don’t happen to have an extra pair of boots and another coat Drina can borrow, do you?”

“In the closet,” Teddy answered, pulling his plate back in front of himself.

“Can I come too?” Stephanie asked, as Drina stood to join Harper.

“Only got the one extra coat,” Teddy announced around a mouthful of pork chop.

“It’s probably better you stay here anyway,” Drina said apologetically. “We’ll be right back.”

Stephanie looked so despondent that Drina asked, “Is there anything you want us to get while we’re out? We could stop at a store on the way back.”

“Chocolate,” Stephanie announced at once. “And Coke. And maybe you could stop at the house and pick up my coat on the way back?”

“Good thinking,” Harper said as he led Drina out to the front hall and the closet beside the front door. He handed Drina a coat and pair of boots, then pulled out the same for himself. “We can pick up our coats and boots too while there and stop borrowing Teddy’s.”

“And you can drop me off so I can collect the SUV,” Anders announced, jogging lightly down the stairs behind them, already in coat and boots.

“Also good thinking,” Drina decided, as the other hunter moved past where they were donning their gear and slid out the front door. It would be better not to be dependent on Teddy for transport. The man had enough responsibilities in this town and didn’t need them being any more of a burden than necessary.

“Maybe we should pick up my car, too,” Harper murmured, apparently thinking along the same lines.

“Your car is toast.” Drina reminded him quietly of their accident.

“Oh, right.” He frowned, and then said, “Well, Victor said I could borrow his car while they were gone if I needed it. We could pick that up.”

“That’s probably a good idea,” Leonora commented as she stepped into the entry to take her coat from the closet. “We could go to the house first. I can drop you two and Anders off there, and go on to the blood bank alone. Then you’d just have to stop at the store on the way back to get Stephanie her treats.”

Harper immediately stuck his head into the dining room, and asked, “Would you mind if Leonora drove your car, Teddy?”

“Nope. She’s had her license longer than I’ve been alive,” he said easily. “I was only going to drive with her so she didn’t have to go alone. But if she doesn’t mind. .” He shrugged.

“She will no be alone,” Alessandro announced, coming down the stairs to catch the conversation. “I too will go.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Harper said wryly, quickly pulling on his coat and dragging on his boots. When Drina straightened from completing the same task, he took her arm and urged her around Alessandro and Leonora toward the door. “We’ll go heat up the car and give you two some room to get your stuff on.”

He didn’t wait for a response but urged Drina outside. She stomped out onto a small porch, her feet sliding about in the overlarge but warm boots. The coat was too big as well, but also did the job, protecting her from the cold night.

Harper kept a hand on her arm as they descended the stairs and headed for the driveway in front of the house. Watching her tramp forward through the snow, he asked with concern, “Are you going to be all right in those?”

Drina grimaced as his hand tightened on her arm, preventing her from falling when her feet slipped about inside the boots, and the boots slid on the slippery snow. “For now. But tomorrow I think I will have to visit Wal-Mart again.”

Harper nodded, and then said, “I suppose Stephanie won’t be able to come?”

“I’m not sure,” she said on a sigh. “I’d think Lucian would want her restricted to the house after these attacks, but since the last one took place in the house. .” She shrugged unhappily.

“Yeah,” Harper murmured, then they both glanced toward the house as the front door opened and Leonora and Alessandro came out. Harper whistled, and when Alessandro stopped and glanced his way, he tossed them the car keys, saying one of them may as well drive since they were essentially just dropping everyone off.