Ten

I watched myself in the mirror above my new, solid-ash dresser as I put my hoop earrings in, the ones big enough for Jenks to ride on. The little black dress looked good on me, and the above-the-knee boots that went with it would keep me warm enough. I didn’t think Kisten had planned a snowball fight in the park, as corny and cheap as that was. And he had said wear something nice. I stood sideways and checked myself out. This was nice. This was very nice.

Pleased, I sat on my bed and snapped my boots up, leaving the last few inches open so I could walk easier. I didn’t want to get excited about going out with Kisten, but the chance to dress up and have a good time had been so infrequent lately that it was hard not to. I told myself that I could be going out with the girls and still feel like this. It wasn’t Kisten; it was just going out.

Wanting a second opinion, I went clattering into the hall in search of Ivy. The memory of her fighting Piscary off in her mind was very real. The undead vampire had given up as soon as Quen was gone, but she had been very subdued the rest of the day, refusing to talk about it as she helped me clean the kitchen. She didn’t want me going out with Kisten now, and I was inclined to agree with her that it was a stupid idea. But it wasn’t as if I couldn’t fight Kisten off. He had said he wouldn’t bite me, and I wasn’t about to let a moment of passion change my mind. Not now. Not ever.

I ran my hand down my sparkling party dress as I entered the living room, hesitating for Ivy’s inspection. Curled up on the couch, she looked up from her magazine. I couldn’t help but notice she was on the same page as when I had gone in to change thirty minutes ago.

“What do you think?” I said, making a slow circle and feeling tall in my spike-heeled boots.

She sighed, closing her magazine on her finger to mark the page. “I think it’s a mistake.”

My brow furrowed and I looked down at myself. “Yeah, you’re right,” I said as my thoughts went to my closet. “I’ll put on something else.”

I turned to leave, and she threw her magazine across the room to hit the wall before me. “That’s not what I meant!” she exclaimed, and I spun, startled.

Ivy’s oval face was creased and her thin eyebrows pinched as she sat up in her chair, fidgeting. “Rachel …” she cajoled, and I knew where this conversation was going.

“I’m not going to let him bite me,” I said, becoming angry. “I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. And after this afternoon, you can be damned sure his teeth aren’t going to get anywhere near me.”

Brown eyes worried, she curled her legs up under her to make herself look uncertain. It was a mien I didn’t see on her very often. Her eyes closed as she took a breath as if gathering herself. “You look nice,” she said, and I could almost feel my blood pressure drop. “Don’t let him bite you,” she added softly. “I don’t want to have to kill Kisten if he binds you to him.”