Once Bitten (Shadow Guild: The Rebel #1)(63)

“Go on.” Mac gestured to the door. “Go check out your new place.”

I smiled at her and turned the key in the lock. I took the stairs two at a time, leaving Mac at her place as I continued up to my own. As I pressed my hand to my door, the strongest sense of possibility yawned through me.

A grin stretched my face as I pushed open the door to my new flat.

It was as cheerful and bright as I remembered it, but two things caught my eye. A small stack of books in the middle of the floor . . . and Cordelia.

The fat little raccoon looked at me, and a voice echoed in my mind. Not a bad place we have here.

I gaped at her. “You can talk?”

I’m your familiar. Of course I can talk.

“But…but…”

I like to dig through rubbish bins, but that doesn’t mean you should make assumptions about my ability to hold a conversation.

“Um. True.”

Mac appeared at my side, having followed me up the stairs.

She pointed to a pile of books on the floor. “What are those?”

I frowned in recognition. They were the ones that Beatrix had given me. The ones I’d had to leave behind at my old flat and hadn’t been able to find after my name had been cleared. “Did you bring me those?”

No. That Devil bloke had them delivered.

Grey had them delivered?

My heartbeat fluttered. “She says the Devil delivered them.”

“Oooh, I don’t know about that,” Mac said.

I looked at her. “What do you mean?”

“You heard what the Oracle said. He’s dangerous to you. Cursed Mates.”

“You believe her?”

“Of course I do. Did you see her? She looks totally legit. And Fated Mates are a thing, so Cursed Mates could be one too.”

“I know I’m not up for that kind of thing.”

“Then you know what they say. Don’t make a deal with the devil.”

I nodded. I would avoid him. It was the only smart thing to do.

But more than ever, I had that feeling that we were two stars spinning through space, about to collide with each other. I would see him again. I was sure of it.

I thought of his bite, and how I wanted more. It was crazy, but I wanted more.

This was all happening too fast. Magic. A familiar. Gifts from a vampire. A new life.

I liked it.

I’d had a bite of this new life, and despite the danger and craziness of it, I wanted more.

I grinned at Cordelia and Mac. “How about a girls’ night?”

A girls’ night! I will consult the rubbish bins for a treat.

“Could do,” I replied, leaning out the window to look at the restaurant below. “But why don’t we spring for a kebab? My treat, to celebrate our new life.”

~~~

I hope you liked Once Bitten! Book two will be here next month. Sign up for my newsletter at www.LinseyHall.com to get info about when it comes out, as well as a novella about other characters in this world.