Page 69 of The Guardian's Curse

“Well, if you’re gonna be out much longer, I’ve got to get some extra help, or promote Janie to full time. I also...” Jolene let out a heavy sigh. “I can’t have men coming to the shop looking for you every other night.”

“What?” Shoshanna spluttered.

“That good-looking guy I told you about has come by several times since I last talked to you,” she said. “I told him I couldn’t give out your information, but he won’t take a hint. Last night, I saw him sitting in his car across the street watching us, so I called the police. Then he left.”

The floor spun beneath her. Of course Elliott had to ruin the good thing she’d dared to enjoy. The lovely floating sensation of her night with Alistair evaporated, bringing her crashing back to Earth.

With her mouth going dry, Shoshanna said, “I hate to do this to you, but go ahead and hire someone else. If he comes in again, tell him that I quit.”

Jolene was quiet for a while before she said, “Are you going to be all right, Sho? If you’re in trouble, I can help. My sister’s got a rental place out in Blue Ridge if you need a place to go.”

Her heart ached as she imagined Jolene’s kindly smile. “I’m okay right now,” Shoshanna said. “I’ll explain when I can. I don’t want him to bother you anymore, but I also can’t come back to work yet.”

“Okay,” Jolene said hesitantly. “You promise me that you’ll keep in touch and let me know that you’re okay. I’ll switch you to seasonal so you can still come back if you change your mind.”

“Okay,” Shoshanna said, her throat closing off. “Thanks.”

As she hung up, she realized she had just crossed another threshold from which she couldn’t return. First it was taking the devilish deal that Paris offered on behalf of the Court, then falling into bed with Alistair and letting him bite her. And this was a hair’s breadth from admitting defeat; it was only a matter of time until she took Eduardo Alazan’s hand and became another asset in his portfolio.

And the most upsetting part of it was that it felt right. A few days ago, this whole situation was a glitch in her otherwise reliable and predictable life. She was just another human scraping by in the sweltering metropolis of Atlanta, with the occasional foray into the shadowy underworld of vampires and magic. And now, she was attending vampire parties and as of twelve hours ago, getting her world rocked up one side and down the other by cursed vampires.

But now, getting up at one in the afternoon with the mark of a vampire on her neck didn’t feel strange. Her morning—now early afternoon—routine was to clean the house a bit, check her emails, and work on the spells she’d been constructing. Her main sigil, the power source, was holding strong and entering the reservoir state, where it would replenish itself from the earth’s power and no longer need her to dump energy into it. She had a meticulous spreadsheet laying out where she’d work each day. When that was done and she was off the clock for the Auberon, she would spend a while analyzing Lucia’s curse. Then she’d prepare Alistair’s meal, and greet him for the evening, and see where his hunger took them.

This life was starting to fit. Maybe the old one had never quite fit, or maybe she’d changed. Either way, it was exhilarating and terrifying to think that she might have crossed the point of no return. Even if she could go back, did she want to?

She squinted at the bright sun pouring through the window of her bedroom, then closed the curtains. Her eyes were still bleary, so she splashed cool water on her face, then headed out to begin her work. In her rush to call Jolene, she’d overlooked a text from Paris, sent around five this morning.

Paris: I’ll have you know I passed on a late-night rendezvous with a pair of enthusiastic redheads. I sacrifice so much for you.

Paris: I’ve got the books Allie requested. And if you’d like to examine me very closely, I’ll be over at 11:00. If you’re naked...well, don’t warn me. ;) I like a surprise.

She laughed and shook her head. As she straightened the kitchen and scrubbed down the counters, she called Ruby. Her friend answered after the third ring. “Girl, I miss you! When are you going to be off vampire lockdown so we can get Mexican?”

“Soon, I hope,” she said. “I have to tell you something, because I know you’ll kill me if I wait.”

“Let me guess. You banged the vampire.”

“Ruby!” she spluttered.

“Am I right?”

“Yes,” she said. “Several times.”

Ruby let out a whoop of victory. “I knew it. I could feel the disturbance in the Force when you got laid. Tell me everything. Did he bite you? Was it amazing? Tell me about his dick. Wait, don’t. Yes, do.”

She burst out laughing. “It was...it was amazing.”

“You can do so much better,” Ruby said. “I need details. I told you all about that thing that Blonde John did with the chocolate syrup, so you have to spill.”

“That’s because you have no filter and no shame,” Shoshanna said.

“Nor should I,” Ruby said. “What’s to be ashamed of? I’m a goddess in bed and people should know about it.”

“I’ll fill you in next time I see you,” Shoshanna said. “But it was mind-blowing. And the rumors are true. The biting thing...unbelievable.” She opened the refrigerator, mentally counting the bags of blood and adding it to her shopping list. “Hey, have you heard from Elliott again?”

“Not since the last time I talked to you,” she said. “Why?”

“Just wondering. He’s been showing up at the coffee shop. Just be careful,” she said.

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