Blood of Dawn Read online

“I’m driving.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  “Either I drive, or—”

  He took a step closer. “Or what?”

  “I’m thinking.”

  His eyes traveled to the keys.

  Out of sheer instinct, I stuffed my hand down my shirt, shoving the keys into my bra.

  I’d never done anything like that before. Now I knew why. Bras weren’t meant to house anything sharp or cold. I gritted my teeth and jerked my chin up. “You won’t get your keys.”

  “You want to bet?” His eyeballs honed in on my boobs.

  Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

  Before things got carried away, I back-stepped, holding my hands palms out. “Look, I’m not trying to cause any trouble. I just want to stay alive long enough to catch this unsub. And whether you want to admit it or not, you were driving like an ass earlier. I was scared for my life. So . . . if you want to go to the party with me, you’ll get your butt in the passenger seat and buckle yourself in.”

  That was telling him.

  He lifted a brow. Then his eyes became shadowed and his expression darkened. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” He circled the car, leaving me to fish his keys out of my Miracle Bra in peace. However, as I was working my hand down to where the keys had settled—gravity—there was a little poof, and the air grew cold and still.

  “Need some help?” Elmer asked, sneering.

  This night was getting better by the minute.

  “No thanks,” I said through gritted teeth. I turned my back to the leering undead guy. “I can take care of this myself.”

  “Nice outfit,” he said. “You never dressed like that for me. Going on a date?”

  “No. I’m working undercover.” Success! Keys in hand, I headed toward the car.

  “Cool. Can I help?” he asked.

  “No. Absolutely not.”

  “Please?”

  I already knew better than to accept the help of a Sluagh, though I still had no clue what he’d taken from me. The fact was, by inviting him along, I would be accepting another favor from him. It wasn’t worth the price he’d make me pay. “Aren’t you supposed to be filming your television show?”

  “I quit. Remember?”

  “You signed a contract. You can’t quit.”

  “I can quit, and I have. I’m wasting my time. Those women are a bunch of flaky nutcases. I can’t marry any of them.”

  “Ask the producer to find some better brides.” I opened the door and angled behind the steering wheel. I reached for the door, to close it, but Elmer stepped in the way.

  “I did talk to Dale. She told me this was the best she could do. I’m telling you, Sloan, they’re all bat shit crazy. Every single one of them. There isn’t a normal woman in the whole batch. You’ve got to do something.”

  “I’ll call her.” I pulled on the door. It struck him in the ass.

  He didn’t budge. “It won’t help.”

  “It’s worth a try.” I jerked my head. “Now I need to go. Please move.”

  His squinty eyes narrowed. “Fine.” He stepped out of the way, but only so he could open the back door. Before I had the car started, he was in the backseat. “Where are we going? A nightclub? Maybe I’ll meet a nice elf at a nightclub.”

  “We’re going to a party.”

  “Better yet. Will there be elves at the party?” Elmer’s eyes found mine in the rearview mirror.

  “No, no elves.”

  “Well . . . what kind of party is that? Everyone knows elves are the life of any party.”

  “This party is for kids.”

  Elmer’s eyes slitted. “Why are you going to a kids’ party? And dressed like that? What kind of role model are you trying to be?”

  “I’m not trying to be a role model. I’m trying to fit in with them.”

  There was a snort. Then a guffaw. “Like that’ll ever happen. Sloan, you didn’t fit in when you were a kid.”

  “Don’t remind me.”

  I shifted the car into reverse, ready to hit the road. We still had a pretty decent drive back to Baltimore, but I expected the party would go on well past midnight . . . if it wasn’t raided by the police.

  But just as I was about to back out of the parking spot, Katie’s car came zooming up the double-wide drive, curved into the spot next to JT’s car, and screeched to a halt.

  I’d never seen her drive like that. Worried, I shifted into park and powered down the window.

  “Katie, are you okay?” I yelled.

  Katie shoved open her door and stomped over to me. “My life sucks.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “What isn’t wrong?” She glanced at JT, then at Elmer in the backseat. Then her gaze lurched back to me. “Where are you going? Somewhere, perhaps, where they sell alcohol?”

  “Um, not legally.”

  “What’s that mean?” Katie opened the back door and joined Elmer. It was my assumption she didn’t care where we were going. So I went ahead and started backing out.

  “We’re going to a kegger,” I told her.

  “Now you’re talking,” Katie said, her voice smiley.

  “It isn’t like that,” I explained as I turned the car around and pointed it toward the street. “It’s a high-school keg party. I’m working undercover again.”

  “That’s okay,” she said. “Beer is beer. I haven’t been to a keg party in ages.”

  Why did it seem I was just now really getting to know all of the important people in my life? “You were at a keg party? You?”

  “Yes. Believe it or not, I did have some crazy moments as a party girl.”

  I felt like this was a whole side of Katie I’d missed. “No way. Tell me.”

  Katie leaned forward, looking through the gap between the two front seats. “When I was in high school, I had a friend whose father lived on a farm in Pennsylvania. Every fall, he would have this big pig roast/keg party and invite all his friends and family. They would eat and drink all night, watching the stupid pig turn on the big roaster thingy. His kids were allowed to invite as many friends as they wanted, but they had to promise not to leave the property.”

  “Did you get totally drunk?” I asked as I waited for a gap in traffic so I could turn onto Woodmont Street.

  “Not exactly. I had one small paper cup of beer, nursed it until it was as warm as pee, and then I dumped it out. Not a fan of beer.”

  “We’re heading to a keg party,” I pointed out. “You said, ‘Beer is beer.’”

  “Yeah, I know. But I’m desperate enough, I think, to choke down more than one Dixie cup this time.”

  One hour later, we were curving down Glenn Street, nearing the party. When we drove within a block of the house, both sides of the road were lined with cars, and the thrum of loud music echoed in the night. It was a wonder the neighbors hadn’t called the police by now. I passed the party house, went down another block, pulled into a driveway, turned around, and found a parking spot roughly a quarter mile away. When I cut off the motor, I turned toward my entourage.

  The drive over had given us plenty of time to formulate a plan. JT and Elmer were going to stick together, pretending to be friends, and Katie and I would do the same. We would spread out, covering as much ground as possible, and then try to eavesdrop for any mention of the dead girls.

  “Okay,” I said, pocketing my keys, “since we have two people who aren’t in the bureau, I’ll remind everyone—no drinking.”

  “Won’t we stick out if we’re the only ones who aren’t drinking? It’s a beer party,” Katie reasoned.

  “Right. We don’t need to draw attention to ourselves. So, it’s okay to get a beer. But nurse it.”

  “Right,” Katie said. “No real drinking. Only sipping. That’s okay. Like I said, I’m not a big fan of beer.”

  “You’re taking all the fun out of this,” Elmer grumbled. “Do you think there will be any elves here? At least it’ll be worth it if I can find an elf—”

  “They’re u
nderage,” I reminded him. “Jailbait.”

  Elmer grumbled something I couldn’t make out.

  “Hey, it was your choice to come.” I opened my door. “You could always—poof—materialize right back on the set and film the next episode of Who Wants to Marry—”

  “I’m good.”

  My phone rang. It was Dale, the producer of Who Wants to Marry an Undead Prince? “Speaking of the devil.” I held up my phone.

  “Don’t answer it,” Elmer said.

  I answered, “Hello.”

  “Hello, Ms. Skye, this is Dale Nessinger. I’m trying to locate Elmer Schmickle. I realize you’re no longer his agent.” I’m not? This is definitely news to me. “But I wonder if you might know how I can reach him. He walked off the set two nights ago, saying he was ill, and we haven’t heard from him since. He’s now in breach of his contract, and he’s costing me a lot of money. I need to get in touch with him immediately.”

  I squinted at Elmer. “Since I’m no longer his agent, I haven’t been informed of his whereabouts. But I can see if I can track him down for you. I’m sure there’s just been a misunderstanding.”

  “I hope so. This is very serious. I appreciate your help. We can’t delay the filming any longer. I need him here tonight.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Thank you.”

  I clicked off, pushed out of the car and pocketed my phone. To Elmer, I said, “You’re going back. Tonight. As soon as we’re done here.”

  Elmer shook his head. “No.”

  “Elmer, if you don’t, she’s going to sue you for breach of contract. That could cost you millions of dollars.”

  Elmer shrugged. “I don’t care.”

  I couldn’t imagine not caring about the loss of millions of dollars. It made me wonder exactly how rich Elmer Schmickle was. “Since my father helped you make this connection, it’s going to reflect poorly on him too,” I pointed out.

  Elmer considered that statement. “I’ll make it up to him.”

  “Elmer.” I glared. I stomped ahead of him a few paces, then stopped and turned. “If you don’t keep your end of the bargain, then I’ll have no choice but to break mine too. I won’t be your backup bride. Nor will I help you find a wife. You’ll be on your own, and who knows how long it’ll take for you to find a decent elf who will be willing to marry you? Especially if you’re destitute.”

  Elmer laughed. “A few million isn’t going to leave me destitute.” Then his expression sobered. “But I don’t appreciate your blackmailing me.”

  “Take it or leave it.”

  “I’ll give you back your memory. The one I took for payment for that little favor I did. . . .”

  “I have no idea what memory you took.”

  “Have you noticed anyone sort of popping into your life in the last twenty-four hours? Someone you haven’t seen in years?”

  I searched my brain.

  “Someone who you had a little crush on in college?”

  “Gabe Wagner?”

  Elmer pointed at his nose. “Wouldn’t you like to recall what’s happened with your Gabe Wagner between your freshman year in college and this morning?”

  In the time we’d had our little discussion, we’d made our way up to the party house. Katie was walking at my side, listening in. JT was trailing behind. He’d been uncharacteristically quiet since we’d left my parents’ house. I glanced over my shoulder to make sure he was still back there. He was.

  “What is the little freak talking about, Sloan?” Katie demanded. She shot Elmer some mean eyes.

  “We need to get inside. I’ll tell you later.” To Elmer, I said, “You’ll do the right thing or else.”

  Elmer humphed.

  Katie crossed her arms over her chest and gave her head a short nod. “Yes, do the right thing.”

  JT nudged me. “Let’s get this over with.”

  A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.

  —George Bernard Shaw

  11

  I was squashed on all sides, pinned between sweaty teen bodies, unable to breathe or move—or see more than twelve inches in front of me. This was no party. It was a sweltering pack of inebriated humanity.

  Trying to make the best of things, I did what I could to listen in on conversations nearby. The problem was, it was nearly impossible to hear much of anything. The music was cranking so loud that my eardrums were ready to burst, and the bass was vibrating my fillings loose. When the scent of rotten eggs hit the back of my throat, I inched around, facing Katie, and pointed at the exit. I mouthed, “Let’s go!” She nodded.

  I’d never in my life wondered what a salmon swimming downstream might feel as he fought to go the wrong way. But now I knew. We tried to wriggle ourselves into tiny gaps amid people, but it just wasn’t working. Katie gave me a forlorn shrug and we went back to moving with the flow, rather than against it. At least, we hoped, we’d eventually make our way into a room that had some space to breathe.

  A half hour later, and we’d traveled maybe eight feet.

  “I can’t believe this. It’s insane,” I shouted into Katie’s ear. “The minute you see an exit—be it a window, a door, a hole in the wall, anything—tell me. I’ve got to get out of here. It smells like old gym shoes soaked in beer.”

  Katie nodded. She was a few inches taller than I am, so she rose on tiptoes—a dangerous move, when you consider people were pushing against us from all sides. “I think I see something.” She grabbed my wrist and pulled, shoving her way past a few smaller kids toward the rear of the kitchen. A few agonizing moments later, we were standing outside, sucking in huge gulps of fresh air.

  I pulled on my earlobes. “My ears are ringing.”

  Katie yelled back, “Mine too!” She glanced around. “Where to now?”

  “Back to the car.” I checked my phone. We’d agreed to meet at the vehicle in an hour. We weren’t off by much. When we shuffled up to the car, we saw the guys hadn’t made it back yet. I took the driver’s seat; Katie took the front passenger seat. We watched a couple of kids stagger down the road. They fell over, knocking someone’s garden gnome on his face. They laughed, then hauled each other back on their feet. “That was a total waste of time. It was too loud and too crowded to see or hear anything!” I yelled.

  “What were you expecting?” Katie asked.

  “Nothing like that.”

  “No need to ask if you’ve ever been to a keg party.” Katie gave me a little nudge with her elbow. “Check that out.” She pointed out her window at a couple that was grinding and pawing at each other next to a tree. The girl had silvery hair. It flashed in the moonlight, making her look almost unearthly.

  “I never did that when I was in high school either,” I said, unable to tear my gaze away. It was a shocking display of underage lust. The kids involved were practically having sex right out there on the street. Why couldn’t I look away?

  I honked my horn, and the lovebirds broke it up. Both of them glanced our way before turning around and heading down the street.

  Katie sighed. “That was the most action I’m probably going to see in a while.”

  “Why’s that? What happened with Viktor?”

  “I wish I knew. I haven’t heard from him since the day after your mom and dad’s wedding. Everything was great the last time I talked to him. He said he had to go out of town on business, and he would call, but then . . . nothing.” Katie fiddled with her necklace, a gift from the man we were talking about. “I guess I scared him away.”

  “Do you want me to talk to Damen? See if he knows anything?”

  “No.”

  “But brothers talk.”

  “That’s exactly what I’m worried about. He’ll tell Viktor that I was asking about him, and then I’ll look like a crazy stalker. No. If he wants to talk to me or see me again, he’ll call.”

  “Okay. If you change your mind—”

  “I won’t. But thanks, any
way. To hell with him. I’m not going to sit around like a pathetic, lonely, old . . . chemist . . . and wait for him.” She visibly perked up a bit. “Oh, I didn’t tell you, I heard from our complex. They have a vacancy for us. It’ll be ready a week from today.”

  “Wow, that was fast.”

  “I know. I guess we caught a lucky break. No offense, but I’m ready to get out of your parents’ house. I can’t do my work, and your mother is driving me nuts, begging me to run errands for her all the time.”

  “Is that why I haven’t seen you around much?”

  “I’ve been camping out in the chemistry department’s office. At least it’s quiet, and I can get my work done.”

  “Sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault. You didn’t start that fire. And it’s still a roof over my head. Better than living under a bridge.”

  “I’d never let you do that.”

  The back door swung open, and JT fell into the car. Literally fell. He mumbled something, and instantly the stench of beer filled the tiny space.

  Katie fanned her face, eyes blinking. “Whoa, smells like someone made it to the keg.”

  The other door opened, and Elmer shoved JT into an upright position, then took his seat. “Your friend nearly got us beat up,” he snapped.

  I swiveled around. “What happened?”

  “He did something involving a lot of beer, a long plastic hose, and a funnel—more than once. And then he got in some guy’s face—and he was huge—and started yelling at him about how he was treating his girlfriend. Sloan, I know it’s none of my business, but you need to be more careful about who you pick for your friends.”

  “He just received some very painful news today,” I said, feeling I needed to defend him. “He’s not himself.”

  Elmer humphed and buckled himself in.

  JT groaned. His skin turned a little green.

  This wasn’t going to be a pleasant drive home.

  But there was one somewhat-bright spot. At least it wasn’t my car.

  JT was lying facedown on my parents’ lawn.

  Katie was inside, drowning her sorrows in chocolate.