9. The Headlines

Laura - Her apartment

I fumble to close the door, the keys jingling between my fingers. Why do two strigois bother locking their door? I would mourn the fool trying to steal from the undead.

After letting my small purse drop on the counter, I settle my elbows on it too and let my head drop into my palms. What has gotten into me? It’s totally out of character for me to act that way with a man. The need to reply to him in the same style overwhelms me. It’s like I’m a different person when he’s around.

Or maybe I’m more myself than ever before. Not hearing his thoughts relaxes me. The silence of his mind draws me toward him. He’s a mystery to me, while the others are an open book. I can take off all the safeguards I struggle to maintain, so I do not hear everyone all the time.

I take a long breath in and urge myself to relax. As if that would help, given that my breathing is only a part of my fantasy. I keep myself glamoured, trying to feel like a living, breathing human being. Pathetic.

A door creaks open, and I abruptly turn my head in that direction.

“Look who’s in my apartment and at the TV at the same time!” Alisa giggles and goes back into her room, signaling me to follow her.

Pictures of me and Paul cover the entire screen. Our faces are plastered all over the news. If I didn’t know better, I would have said the couple was in love. Seeing the scene from this angle, I now understand how others may perceive us.

A shiver ripples over my body in the places he had touched. The feel of his fingers pressing hard over my skin comes back as I see them in the photo. I have to shake this off.

“I just saved his life. Again.” I plunge onto the couch and hug a pillow. “His associate, Bogdan, gave him a poisoned glass of champagne. I just wanted to make him spill it in a natural way, without giving away my ability.”

“Oh, so you weren’t hitting on him at all.”

"No. I had to bump into him and make it look like a mistake. But he started acting all touchy and steamy out of the blue. ‘For the paparazzi,’ he said. I just played along."

"Hmm…" Alisa nods and scratches her chin as she turns her gaze to the TV. "Poor Laura, getting fondled by a hot alpha CEO. I bet you didn’t enjoy it at all."

"Shut up!" I hurl the pillow at her. She doesn't have the luxury of ducking. Oh, I wish I had her super-strength instead of my mind-reading skill. The cushion would have ripped her head off.

Alisa takes the cushion and stuffs it under her bottom. "Ah, that’s better. Now, where was I?" She nods and scratches her chin yet again. "Yeah, wanted to ask you something. Have you thought about this being all over the news? How will the Council react? A strigoi and a werewolf make the headlines."

"They won't like it, and there will very certainly be consequences. All I can hope is for me to be dead by then."

I never thought Alisa will be the one pointing out this problem. The Council takes care that all strigois abide by some core rules. "Never draw attention to yourself," along with "Avoid wolves at all costs," are at the top of the list.

“You’re a bit selfish, Laura. What about Paul? Won’t he be suffering the repercussions as well?”

"No." Shaking my head, I reach for another pillow. "Only the strigois are subject to the Council's authority. Paul is the supernatural underground's leader, and he has a deal with the Council. They will think twice before taking action against him."

"Hmm…" She continues the ritual of humming, nodding, and scratching her chin. "I guess it’s good to be handsome, rich, and powerful. Now I'm wondering how good he is in the sack. If he nails that too, he’s really a catch."

I raise an eyebrow. “You still didn’t get laid?”

“No.” Alisa clicks her tongue as she sits next to me on the couch. “Those wolves are uptight. I mean, Dan had that spark in his eyes that showed he wanted me, but when I asked him to come with me here, he refused and left. What’s with these guys?”

"Wolves hate strigois. Loving nature and balance, they see us as a disruption of everything they hold dear. For a wolf to kill a strigoi is a feat they would be cheered for. Or that was the case before the accord was struck. For peace and prosperity, the sides decided to end this war as old as time itself." I turn to look at Alisa. "So take your pick as to why he refused you. He has a slew of reasons. Also, you know their bite is lethal, right?"

“It isn’t for you.” She pouts, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Yes, though I hope Paul’s bite will be different.”

"That is, without a doubt, not the worst way to die. But are you sure you trust that old hag? All that Dacian Draco nonsense?"

I sigh heavily. “That old hag is the oldest gypsy witch I could find. Her powers of foresight are legit. And Paul is the only one who fits that pattern, all of my findings point toward him.”

“From what I can see, you two are starting an S&M relationship.”

“S&M?”

“Oh, god, Laura, I can’t believe you lived that long without knowing that much. A relationship between a sadist and a masochist. You’re the masochist with all that ‘Kill me! Please, kill me!’ Do you know how a true sadist replies to that? NO!”

I scowl. “Your jokes are bad.”

“No, I’m quite hilarious. You have no sense of humor.” Alisa makes a hand gesture to leave that aside. “Now, tell me, how are you planning on getting this handsome stud?”

“Apparently, the alpha is immune to my pleading. Therefore, I’ll change tactics. I’ll go for the CEO instead.”