Sunglasses at Night (Claws Clause 3)

“Okay. I’ll cut right to it then. What do you know about something called De Vivre?”

He butchered the french, but that was alright. Tabby knew exactly what he was talking about.

Only… how did he?

Tabby blinked, kicking her brain into overdrive. She had to think.

On the one hand, her uncle had spent her entire lifetime warning her against spilling their family’s secrets.

But the elixir wasn’t a slayer secret, was it?

Technically, it belonged to the Nightwalkers. Well, not really. If she was being honest, the elixir really belonged to the witches. Like most potions that were tied together with magic, the ingredients do shit unless you knew what you were doing plus had the power to pull it off. While it would only work on a Nightwalker, a witch would have to make it.

“Why do you want to know?”

“I’ve heard a rumor that it could fix this.” He waved one of his big hands in front of his chest, gesturing at himself. “It could fix me.” Widening his mouth, Adam ran his tongue along the point of one fang before shaking his head. “I’d do anything to go back to being human.”

He was sure as hell proving it. No one came to a slayer with a request like that unless they were desperate. And a Nightwalker? Never.

In her experience, the turned vampires relished being changed into a paranormal. Those who couldn’t adjust didn’t last more than a few days out of their turning; they’d walk right into the sun instead. If they got past the blood-drinking and grew used to the increased sensitivity, they were usually pleased as punch to stay that way.

“How long have you been a Nightwalker?”

“Six months. Since December. Why? Does that make a difference with the… the De Vivre?”

“The elixir,” she told him. “Trust me, it’s easier to spit out and most people in the know will still get what you’re saying.”

“Right. The elixir. Is there a time limit or something?”

Not that Tabby knew about. Supposedly, any Nightwalker who downed the elixir could reverse the change. It wouldn’t be pleasant, and they’d lose everything—the enhanced senses, the speed, the extended life—as soon as they came out on the other side of the spell.

That was the rumor, at least, and with a shrug, she tried her best to explain that to Adam.

If she thought her explanation would be enough to put him off this crazy idea he had, she was wrong.

“That’s it? I just need to find a witch? That’s… that’s great. I actually know one. Shea… she couldn’t heal me, but maybe she can help me get the elixir.”

Tabby felt a tiny twinge at the easy way he mentioned this Shea person. Was it jealousy?

Crap. Maybe.

She shook her head. “I wish it was that easy. It’s not just any witch who can make the elixir. Actually, last I heard, there was maybe… I don’t know. Like five?” Hopefully she wasn’t just pulling that number out of her ass. It sounded right, though. “Maybe five in the whole world who even know how to make it.”

“So… what you’re telling me is that I’m shit out of luck.” Adam’s shoulders slumped. “I should’ve known it was too good to be true.”

Most things in this world were.

Tabby opened her mouth. It was better that he got over the idea now. If the rumors she heard were true, even five witches with the knowledge was probably being generous. And since witches were basically mercenaries, unless he was rolling in diamonds, there was a chance he’d never be able to afford the elixir even if he found one who could make it for him.

She knew what she should do, which was why she was so surprised when she heard herself say, “I can help you.”

“You can?”

I can?

Tabby thought about it. Actually, it wasn’t such a bad idea. Even though her mouth ran ahead of her brain sometimes, she realized that helping Adam Wright get his claws on some elixir was the best case scenario for a couple of different reasons.

One: in her line of work, one less Nightwalker in the world lessened the weight on her shoulders.