She didn’t speak, just turned to the side to let me through. I jumped around her and into a half-run down the hall, but each time I glanced behind me, she stood in the hallway in the same position, making the same face.

The door to my right opened and Everest emerged. He threw his arm out and caught me, then pulled me into the door. “Sam’s inside. Good place for you tonight.” He tapped my shoulder, then vanished into shadow.

“Pierce, is that you?”

I flinched and then turned toward her voice. “Hey, yeah, um . . . can I come in?”

“Yeah, please do!” she shouted, though I couldn’t see her. When I did finally spot her, I found her sitting near the stained-glass outer windows with streams of moonlight sweeping across her face. She was unbelievably beautiful. Those pale golden and red eyes were—staring right at me. She smiled. “Hi, Pierce.”

“Hi, Sam.” My face was on fire.

“What’s up, Pierce?”

I cleared my throat and glanced around. “Can I hide out here with you?”

Her smile widened into a full grin. “Goddess, yes. Please sit. Keep me company. I just ordered a bunch of room service, so this is good—wait, you hungry?”

“Yeah, I could eat for sure.” I sat down and let out a breath I’d been holding. “What’d you get?”

She leaned forward and giggled. “She turned a chef from New Orleans, and while I do not approve, I can’t help but want to die over his food. I had beignets over lunch, and oh my Goddess, I could have died.”

My stomach tightened into knots. “What’s his name?”

“I have no idea.” She pursed her lips. “Why do you ask?”

“Oh, nothing . . . I’m just . . . I’m from New Orleans, so I was curious if I’ve had his food before⁠—”

“You’re from NOLA? Not England?”

“Well, England to start. Clearly. But then we moved here when I was young, and NOLA became home.”

“We? You have family in NOLA still?”

My face fell. I shook my head. “I’m an orphan, have been for a little bit now⁠—”

“Me too,” she whispered and reached over to squeeze my hand. “But we don’t have to be. We have each other now . . . for eternity. What do you say?”

“That sounds lovely. I say it’s nice to have someone.” I gave her a small smile. “So, you’re from Florida?”

“Born and raised.” She used both arms to make a chomping motion. Then she leaned forward and wagged her eyebrows. “So, do you miss it? Being a human?”

I sighed and rested my elbows on her table. “Yes. But in fairness, I haven’t gotten much help with my life as a vampire.”