Reign of Night (Thorne Hill 7)

“And a whole-wheat bagel with cream cheese, hotcakes with syrup, bacon, and a fruit salad.” She looks in the bag and then hands it to me as well.

“Perfect. Did you want to come in or anything? I know I won’t be able to eat this all. Lucas ordered for me, and I think he forgets human portions sometimes.”

Monica laughs. “At least he remembers you need to eat,” she says, making me think she’s speaking from experience. “And no, it’s okay.” Her eyes dart behind me, and then it dawns on me that the windows in this house are enchanted, and while most still have the automatic blinds drawn, Lucas raised the blinds in the kitchen for me to both test to see if the spell is still working and so I could have a bit of natural light while I eat. “I should get going. My boyfriend and I are meeting for a brunch date during his lunch break. He’s an EMT,” she adds proudly.

“So he’s not a vampire,” I say, though vampires can be EMTs. Well, if they can resist the blood. But an EMT who works during the day has to be human.

“Nope. I’m, uh, kind of taking a break from vampires for a while.”

“That’s probably a good idea…I say as someone who’s married to one.”

She laughs again, this time high-pitched and forced. “Congrats, by the way. I never got to tell you. I saw a wedding photo, and you looked really pretty.”

“Thanks,” I tell her and shiver. “Have a nice date.”

“I will. Bye, Callie.” I close the door and pull the stopper out of my coffee. It’s still hot and smells so good.

“I’m going to bed,” Eliza tells me, walking down the hall as I head to the kitchen. “I’m glad you didn’t die.”

“Me too.”

“Oh, and your sister called, and I answered. We’re going to start planning your baby shower.”

“Isn’t it a little early?”

“To plan?” Eliza blinks, long lashes coming together rapidly. “Never. And from what I’ve read online, most new mothers wish they had their showers closer to six months than waiting until eight. And given your track record, who knows what will happen?”

“True.”

“Sometime in March would work, possibly on the anniversary of the very first time you walked into the bar. I thought you were crazy then.”

“And I’ve proven you wrong.”

“Only in the sense that crazy doesn’t even cover it.”

“That’s fair. And on the anniversary of when we met…I like that.”

“I knew you would, and no, it won’t get in the way of your niece’s second birthday party. We already worked that out.”

“Thanks, Eliza. Do you want to know what kind of theme or whatever I have in mind?”

“No.”

“But it’s my shower.”

Eliza shrugs one shoulder. “Did you like your wedding and reception?”

“Yeah,” I say, smiling when I think about it. “I did.”

“You’re welcome.” She gives me a wink. “All I need from you is a list of people to invite. And you’re going to leave the rest for me.”

“That sounds more like an order than an offer.”

“It is. If I left this to you or your friends, you’d all be sniffing melted chocolate in diapers.”

I wrinkle my nose. “I have heard of that game.”

“It’s disgusting.”

“It’s a waste of perfectly good chocolate is what it is.”

“I’ll never understand humans.”

I laugh. “Honestly, we don’t understand ourselves. Have a good night—day? Sleep well.”

“Thanks. Don’t be loud and wake me up. I need my beauty sleep.” She winks. “Actually not, but I do like sleeping.”

“Me too.” Right on cue, I yawn and take another drink of coffee. Eliza zooms up the stairs, and I go into the kitchen. Lucas sits with me while I eat.

“I know we planned on going home after breakfast, but if Abby’s home, do you care if I go over and visit for just a little bit?”

“By yourself?”

“Usually, when I visit her, she’s there so I’m not alone.”

Lucas frowns. “You know what I mean, and I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go somewhere alone right now. Invite her over here. If anything happens, I can protect you.”

My heart swells in my chest, and I’m finding it hard to be annoyed with him. My risk level is at an all-time high right now, but I’m only eighteen weeks along. There’s no way I can survive another twenty-two weeks of being on house arrest. “I know,” I say gently, also realizing that Lucas is on house arrest of some kind as well. He cannot go outside during the day. I could be screaming in the streets and he’d have to choose between not burning to death or saving me, and we both know what he’d choose. “I’ll text her and see if she’s even free. Do you know where Eliza put my phone?”

“She was talking in the living room. I’ll get it for you.”