Blood Kissed (Lizzie Grace 1)

“Done. Give.”

Memories stirred, as did fear, but I somehow managed to shove both back into their boxes. I wasn’t ready to deal with either right now.

“Bare bones,” I said, voice tight. “Last night our vampire raised the dead, and then he sent Karen after her mother. Aiden and I didn’t get there in time and both are now dead.”

Belle’s gaze widened. “Holy fuck—”

“And,” I continued grimly, “Aiden wants me to make an attempt to find the zombie using the kid’s watch, and I’ll need you to be at full strength in case something goes wrong.”

She blinked, visibly shaken. “And to think we’d imagined Castle Rock was going to be a nice, sleepy little town in which to settle down.”

“It probably was until they ran the local witch out of town and left the wild magic to its own devices.”

Her gaze narrowed. “Meaning what?”

“Bare bones, remember?” I waved a hand toward her bedroom. “Go rest.”

“As if I can after that sort of news,” she muttered, but nevertheless pushed away from the doorframe and walked into her room.

I headed down to the kitchen and, for the next six hours, lost myself in the daily routine of running the café and looking after the customers. Belle came down just as the lunch rush hit, meaning we had little time to think, let alone talk. From my perspective, that was a very good thing.

Aiden arrived just as demand was beginning to taper off, and claimed the table in the corner of the room—the one I usually sat at. I finished serving a young couple, aware all the while that he was watching me, and then walked over.

His usually bright eyes were bloodshot and there were dark circles underneath them. “You look as if you need a nuclear-strength coffee.”

“I’m not sure even that would be strong enough.” He scrubbed a hand across his unshaven jaw then leaned back in the chair. Weariness seemed to ride every inch of his body; even his usually vibrant, if dark, aura was muted. It was almost as if he simply didn’t even have the strength to maintain his rage and grief. “It’s been a rather long night.”

“Something of an understatement, considering it’s almost two in the afternoon. Have you eaten?”

“I haven’t had the time.”

And didn’t really have it now, if his expression was anything to go by.

“Can we talk?” he added.

I nodded. “Just let me grab your drink—”

“I’d rather not talk here,” he cut in. “I don’t want to start untoward rumors.”

I couldn’t help smiling. “Which is exactly what you’ll get if you and I disappear upstairs for a private chat.”

A somewhat reluctant-looking smile tugged at his

lips. “Probably, but better that than the truth.”

“At least you prefer me over a zombie,” I said. “But don’t worry, no one will overhear us here—I’ll make sure of it.”

He raised his eyebrows but didn’t say anything as I walked back to the kitchen. I ordered him a deluxe burger with the lot then went behind the counter to make his coffee and my tea.

“Your ranger is looking a little worse for wear,” Belle murmured, as she plated up a couple of cakes. “But it rather annoyingly makes him look even more attractive.”

That it did. “Can you join us once you finish doing that? Penny should be able to cope with the remaining customers.”

“Will do.”

I picked up Aiden’s coffee and my tea, and headed over. He accepted his mug with a nod of thanks and regarded its cartoony Christmas decorations with some amusement. “I get the feeling you’re one of those people who is heavily into Christmas.”

“I am, but you also looked as if you needed some cheering up.” I pulled out the chair next to him and sat down. The table was small enough that our knees brushed, but he didn’t pull away and neither did I. And there was something very comforting about that. “I asked Belle to join us. She needs to know what is going on.”