Free Vampire in Denial by Dale Mayer Page A

us."
     
    Cody looked over at Tessa's mom in surprise. "Rhia, I think she's more like us than you realize."
     
    Rhia stopped stroking a white streak of Tessa's hair to glance up him. She looked surprised. "What do you mean?"
     
    "I spent more time alone with her tonight than I think I ever have, and I know she surprised me. Maybe I've been as guilty as everyone else of assuming her genetics made her less of a vampire." He shook his head. "I have to tell you, I think it's made her a better one." With that cryptic comment, he cast one final look at Tessa and walked out to face the gathering of angry vampires below.
     
    There was only one way to handle this and that was to give the truth. Tessa wouldn't appreciate it. It could mean she might never be allowed free on her own again, at least for a good long time. That didn't change the fact that something ugly brewed in their vampire world, and everyone needed to know what was going on. Cody, for one, wanted the others to help him find out what that was. The best he could do would be to minimize Tessa's involvement.
     
    Or better yet, accent the strengths she'd showed tonight. Foolish and impulsive actions, maybe…except her heart had been in the right place.
     
    Then again, as he thought about it, he didn't need to embellish anything. Tessa had done just fine tonight – all on her own.
     

CHAPTER SIX
     
    T essa woke to a darkened room. She surged upright, wincing at the pounding in her head, as memories of last night crowded into her awareness. Her panicked glance showed the same curtains on the window of her childhood room and the cozy blanket David had bought for her birthday last year. Home. Sighing, she relaxed into the pillows.
     
    Not wanting to face the day and not yet truly rested, she pulled the blanket up to her neck and tried to snuggle deeper.
     
    Loud noises from below disturbed her peace. She didn't know what they were arguing about, but it had gone beyond normal family fighting. That's probably what had awakened her. She lifted her hand to her head and gently explored her skull, wincing as her fingers caught on the dried blood matting her hair. A shower would be wonderful. Just the thought of putting out that much effort made the rest of her body scream in protest. The events from last night were still shady, still sapped her energy.
     
    Images and feelings mixed with odd impressions and partial memories, leaving her unsure of what had actually happened. And then there was Cody. Even as she thought his name, a gentle sense of connection swept through her. She sighed. She needed to get a grip before Cody got wind of that. He'd laugh her into tomorrow.
     
    Speaking of Cody. Was that his voice? Shit. She glanced at the clock and groaned. She'd hardly slept. Less than an hour had gone by since her return. As her father's blustery voice whipped through the house, Tessa cringed. Cody had saved her. She'd been the one who hadn't wanted to go back and get help. Please don’t let him get ripped by her father.
     
    Cody had been the hero. She'd been the idiot.
     
    They could blame her if they wanted. They would anyway, to a certain extent. But they shouldn't be treating Cody badly. Knowing she'd never rest if she didn't do her part to right the injustice, she slowly sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed.
     
    The room spun around for a few seconds, then calmed down. Using her night table for support, she stood up and carefully made her way to the doorway. She didn't want to face her father's wrath. In truth, no vampire in the world would. But she couldn't let Cody take the blame for her actions.
     
    Good intentions were fine, in theory, navigating the stairs to make good on them was a different matter.
     
    She accidentally stepped down on the last stair hard and gasped as spikes drove into her temple. Biting her bottom lip, she forged ahead into the living room. The room swelled with vampires.
     
    Great, there'd be an audience to hear her admit