Page 21 of The Vampire in the Potting Shed

“I notice you didn’t bring a bag, but you have plenty of things here.” He guided me into his office, where I was only ever brought if I was in trouble. But I had a feeling if he knew about the note, or the vampire, I wouldn’t have received such a warm reception. “Have a seat, Peanut, and let’s talk this through.”

Lowering myself into the chair across from his desk, I played the role of dutiful daughter to the hilt.

“The incidents at GSG are escalating, and I can’t, in good conscience, allow you to remain there alone.”

“I have Sloane,” I cut in, “and there’s always one sentinel on the property.”

“I’m glad to see you and Sloane are getting along so well, but she’s not enough protection for you.” He sat on the edge of his desk, clasping his hands in his lap. “The sentinels are a limited resource, and right now they’re needed here.”

“What’s going on?” I was starting to feel like Harvey as often as I repeated those words. “The truth.”

“There’s a new pack moving into the area,” he said slowly, picking and choosing what to share. As usual. “The alpha wants to claim Brentwood as their territory. The Sartoris have a strong presence in the town because of you, but I can’t very well tell them no since it’s not mine.”

Heart crumpling, I struggled to unstick my tongue from the roof of my mouth. “I see.”

“This new pack—the Walshes—are the ones targeting you. They don’t take kindly to us having a sentinel presence in what will soon be their town, which is understandable. They’ve givenus thirty days to settle your affairs and vacate the premises. Though they’re willing to allow you to return for signing legal documents to offload GSG and the house your aunt left you.”

“Sell my…?” I shoved to my feet. “You’re asking me to sell myhouse?”

“Either we honor the Walshes’ requests and make room for our new neighbors, or we fight them for it. We hadn’t planned on an expansion, not so soon, and not in that direction, but if it’s what you want…”

The burden of making a decision that could get my packmates killed slammed down on my shoulders. As a latent, I couldn’t be alpha. Any standing I held within the pack was due to my father’s position. I hadn’t been raised to make these kinds of decisions, or any decisions for myself period. “Can I have tonight to think about it?”

There was no choice, not really, but I wanted the time to mourn what I had and what I was losing.

“Why don’t you and Sloane stay in your old room?” He brought me in for a tight hug that smelled like frost and pine, like my childhood. “The trundle is still tucked under your bed, so there’s plenty of room.”

“Sure,” I mumbled against his shoulder. “That sounds…”

…like the end of my world as I knew it.

nine

Sloane broughtoatmeal raisin cookies the size of my hands and two glasses of milk upstairs, but I was too depressed to move from where I had dropped face- first into my pillow to enjoy the treat. Sloane, who I was learning was a nervous snacker, nibbled and gulped until I wanted to burrow under the pillow to avoid hearing her chew.

“Myrtle has to pee.”

A muffled grunt was the best I had to offer.

“She’s doing a cute littlegotta godance.”

More grunts with a grumble for spice was my answer.

“She’s squatting over your boy band rug.” She hummed. “Good choice, Myrtle. I never liked Nick either.”

Growling, I shoved onto my knees and then clambered off the bed, ready to tear into them both for ganging up on the clearly superior member of my favorite singing group from my teenage years.

Except Myrtle was curled in a ball on my ratty beanbag chair, and Sloane was smirking at me.

“Wallowing never fixed anything.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Let’s go for a walk.”

“Whatever.” I scooped Myrtle against my side, snarling at the guards flanking my door, and pounded down the stairs. I locked gazes with the sentinel on duty and bared my teeth. “Keep out of my sight.”

Usually, I was more polite, but tonight I wasn’t feeling nice.

Not when the world had cocked its leg and kicked me square in the lady bits yet again.

We took a winding path meant to give humans a safe trek through the woods, and I stuck to it until the house was lost in the trees. I waited until we hit a small creek then walked through it, muddying our scents, and hit a slope that led up to my favorite vantage point of the property.

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