Page 78 of Hallow Hill at Halloween: Part One

I leaned closer so as not to be overheard. “You have nothing to be mad about.”

He sighed. “Glad to hear it.”

“So can I havemyKeir back?” After a couple of seconds, I saw a trace of smile on his beautiful mouth. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

His smile broadened, thankfully, and he seemed to relax more with each course served.

After dessert, John David stood and announced, “As some of you may know, we’re enjoying a super blue moon tonight. In celebration, there’s also a rooftop treat in store. If you’re subject to chill, bring your wraps and follow me.”

Jarvis waited at the foot of the stairs with two rolling racks of coats and jackets. Each guest claimed theirs and followed the vampire up the grand staircase as instructed.

Keir hadn’t worn a coat because his nature was blessed with not needing one, but like the consummate gentleman he was, he took mine off the hanger and helped me into it.

“You haven’t noticed I’m wearing the faux Tiffany Diamond,” I said.

“I noticed,” he replied as we began our climb up the stairs. “It’s nice, but your best look is in nothing.”

Plays me like a violin.

I could tell by the sounds of guests that they were excited to see what John David had in store for us up top. I supposed I was the only guest who knew what to expect, but I was wrong.

Nothing could have prepared me for the enchanting sight of the estate rooftop lit by thousands of fairy lights, enough to see, but not enough to obscure the moon just rising. The vampire did know how to party.

How would he ever top this?

I turned around to say something to Keir, but he was watching Vuk like the werewolf was prey. I looked for Kagan. Same thing. Uh oh.

“Um, Keir?”

“Yes,” he said without looking away from Vuk.

“Do you have a, um, problem with werewolves?”

That did get him to look at me.

“You’re joking,” he said.

“Well, let’s pretend I’m not.”

He smirked. “Yes, Rita. I have a problem with werewolves. And that one has no business being here.”

“Word on the street is that he may be the last of his kind.”

I thought that might appeal to Keir’s sense of sympathy, but no. He simply said, “Good.”

Alrighty then.

I opened my mouth to say something without knowing what, but was saved by an explosive opening by Adam’s Antics and “Goody Two Shoes”. I turned to share the moment with Keir, but he was focused on tracking Vuk’s every move. Within seconds so would everybody else at the party, including me.

Vuk reacted to the music by taking to the dance area and, well, I guess it was dancing. Vuk was throwing his body about with a wild and wanton abandon that I had never seen, using moves usually seen only by spectators at Cirque du Soleil. He threw his body into the air facing the sky, twisted in midair, and came down facing the floor. Muscular grace combined with the total absence of inhibition was mesmerizing.

Adam Ant was no less captivated than the rest of us. The difference was that he was one of those rare individuals who couldn’t be embarrassed. So, unlike the rest of us, he took to the dance floor, mic still in hand, and did his best to copy Vuk’s crazy moves. He was somewhat restricted by the inflexibility of human anatomy but, still, he tried.

The scene played out for another minute before Vuk pulled Esme onto the dance floor. That was the moment when everything went south. Apparently unable to help himself a moment longer, Kagan shifted into his sephalion form and perched on top of the terrace half wall. In solidarity, Keir joined him seconds later. The two had both ears and wings flattened against their bodies. I wasn’t sure what that meant but surmised it couldn’t be good.

That was confirmed by the sounds the sephalien were making. Even their softest growl was enough to reverberate and send adrenaline through my body.

Somewhere behind me, I heard Jeff laugh and say, “This is the best party ever!”

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