Page 88 of Magic and Muffins

“Positive,” Hugh said. “She’s after conversions. If a few meetings go bad, she won’t care about the casualties, which is why we need to get our people in there quickly. We’re hoping, at this next meeting, we’ll be able to capture a vampire or two to interrogate.”

“If she let every vampire know where she was, Cross would already know how to find her,” I said, a little impatient with Hugh.

“Everly’s right,” Cross said. “She wouldn’t let just anyone know.”

“The guy on the stage sounded like the guy on the phone when Vena got the meetup call. I think he was also the one our driver was talking to about the supposed no-shows along the route. If you capture anyone, that’s the guy you need.”

Hugh nodded. “Our hunters tracked the vampire who got him out of there but lost the trail after a few miles. They had a car waiting. We’ll be better prepared this time.

“Now that the Night Club scheme has been exposed, we’re hoping fewer people sign up for them, and we’ll get Piper and Robyn in sooner,” Hugh said.

As they discussed the plan's finer details, including werewolf backup, I set out cookies and water for everyone.

“I missed your cookies,” Piper said with a barely suppressed moan that made Robyn roll her eyes.

“That’s because you’re part Cookie Monster. Don’t think I didn’t see that the box of cookies you bought for emergencies yesterday is now empty in your car.”

Eventually, the meeting wrapped up. Hugh and his people got up to leave. Piper and Robyn stood as well but paused at the table.

Hugh paused as well. “Is there something wrong?”

“No,” Piper said. “If it’s okay, Robyn and I will find our own way back. We want to talk to Everly first.”

He nodded and looked at Cross and Shepard. “I’ll see the three of you at the studio at four-thirty. Dress professionally, and no kissing or hitting.”

When Hugh left, Shepard and Cross went to the living room to give me a little space with my friends. I pointed my finger accusingly at them.

Before I could say anything, Piper said, “We saw their first interview with Denise. It was pretty funny.”

“No changing topics. You both have a lot of explaining to do.”

Piper laughed and sat back down at the table. Robyn followed her lead.

“What do you want to know?” Piper asked. “I swear we weren’t keeping anything from you on purpose. We operate under secrecy for a reason.”

“I understand that, but you’re in college. What’s with the hunting?”

She waved it off as if it was no big deal. “Hugh is my dad. I was born into this. Robyn, too.”

Robyn nodded. “I come from a long line of vampire hunters.”

I slow-blinked at both of them as I wrapped my head around the fact that my friends had a history and ties to creatures I hadn’t even known were real before falling into Cross’s cave. Vena and I hadn’t had a clue.

“I would have never guessed in a million years,” I said.

Piper shrugged. “Sounds like you’ve been up to a lot during summer break, too.” She leaned forward then flicked her gaze to the living room. The questions in her eyes were as clear as if she’d asked them out loud.

“It’s been a long summer already,” I said. “Shepard is now my mate, and Cross is my…”

I didn’t know what to call him. Boyfriend seemed too weak of a word when I was already committed to him. Yet, fiancé or husband wasn’t right either.

“Vampire mate?” I said, unsure. “It’s still new, and I’m figuring things out as I go along, but I’m really happy. Well, not about the issues with vampires. Or the Effora issue.”

Piper and Robyn both grimaced at Effora’s name.

“She’s so horrible,” Piper said. “You should see some of the people who come out of her house. Some make it to the hospital, but others aren’t that lucky.”

Robyn nodded. “As far as I’m concerned, she’s no better than Orphia. They just go about their tyranny differently.”

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