“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 gravelly 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.

“Thank you, Daddy!” Erica squealed. She flung herself at him, almost knocking her taller father down. In a clatter of boots, she yanked the door to the stairwell open and thumped downstairs. The door arched closed, and Erica’s shouts grew muffled.

The man sighed, his thin shoulders moving. “Just how long were you going to let her beg before you told me you were going?” he asked wryly.

Her eyes on her juice, Ivy smiled. “Long enough that she will listen to me when I tell her to wear her caps or I’ll change my mind.”

A chuckle rose. “You learn well, young grasshopper,” he said, affecting a strong accent.

There was a thumping on the stairs and Erica burst out, eyes black in excitement, chains swinging. “She said yes! Gotta go! Love you, Daddy! Thanks, Ivy!” She made a pair of bunny ears with her fingers, crooking them as she said, “Kiss, kiss!” and darted out of the room.