He straightened, the first hints of steel tightening his face. “Erica, your hormones are jumping up and down right now. One night you have control in a stressful situation, the next you lose it while you’re watching TV. You aren’t wearing your caps like you’re supposed to, and I don’t want you to accidentally bind someone to you.”

“Daddy!” she cried, flushing a dull, embarrassed red.

Getting two glasses from the cupboard, Ivy snickered. My uneasiness faded slightly.

“I know…” her father said, his head bowed and a hand raised. “A lot of your friends have shadows, and it looks like fun having someone trailing behind you, seeking your attention and always there. You’re the center of their world, and they see only you. But Erica, bonded shadows are a lot of work. They aren’t pets you can give to a friend when you tire of them. They need reassurance and attention. You’re too young to have that kind of responsibility.”

“Daddy, stop!” Erica said, clearly mortified. I sat as Ivy got a carton of orange juice from the fridge. I wondered how much of this was for Erica and how much of it was his way of trying to scare me off from his eldest daughter. It was working. Not that I needed any encouragement.

The living vampire’s face went stern. “You’re being careless,” he said, his gravely voice harsh. “Taking risks that might put you in a place you don’t want to be yet. Don’t think I don’t know you take your caps off as soon as you leave this house. You aren’t going to that concert.”

“That’s not fair!” she shouted, spiked hair bobbing. “I’m pulling all A’s and working part-time. It’s just a concert! There won’t even be any Brimstone there!”

He shook his head as she huffed. “Until that bad Brimstone is off the streets, you will be home before sunrise, young lady. I’m not going down to the city tombs to identify and bring a member of my house home. I’ve done that once, and I’m not ready to do it again.”

“Daddy!”

Ivy handed her father a glass of juice, then sat down with her drink in the chair adjacent to mine. Crossing her legs at the knees, she said, “I’m going to the concert.”

Erica gasped, her jewelry tinkling as she jumped. “Daddy!” she cried. “Ivy’s going. I won’t take any Brimstone and I won’t bite anyone. I promise! Oh God! Please let me go!”

Eyebrows high, Ivy’s dad looked at Ivy. She shrugged, and Erica held her breath. “If it’s all right with your mother, it’s all right with me,” he finally said.