Free Hunting Season (Aurora Sky by Nikki Jefford

back and practically sprinted out the door.
    I stared down the hallway after he’d gone, wondering what the heck had just happened—not just with the vandalism and phone call, but with us.
    I suddenly felt weak and shaky in the hungry sense. I remembered the blood on the kitchen counter. Getting it back into the bag without staining the counter would be nearly impossible. I could stick the mug in the fridge. Or I could stop kidding myself and drink the damn thing.
    Why fight nature?

    Once the front window had been replaced, I retreated to my bedroom and sat at my desk, the start of an English paper open on my laptop and my hoodie zipped to my chin. Try as I might, it was a little hard to concentrate on homework after Valerie’s surprise attack.
    Who was I kidding?
    My concentration had blown out the window long before she threw the rock. It had shattered the moment my lips touched Fane’s.
    Then there was the other issue. I had trouble seeing myself sticking around long enough to complete a college degree.
    There was still the question of what I would do once free of Melcher. How would I support myself? I had no skills, no experience that mattered in the real world. How many companies were looking to hire ex-vampire hunters? None that I’d be interested in.
    Maybe I could get a fresh start in another country or state—another do-over to add to my list.
    I wasn’t really in the mood to be alone. I tried streaming music online, but it only made the house seem emptier.
    Shortly after eight o’clock, I heard the front door open and close, which gave me a brief start. I’d been so caught up in my own thoughts, combined with online radio, I hadn’t heard anyone pull up.
    â€œNoel?” I yelled from the stairs. I was pretty sure it was her, but these days I could never be sure.
    â€œYeah,” she called back. “I picked up a pizza if you’re interested.”
    â€œI’ll be right down.”
    I paused the music and headed downstairs.
    Noel had plates and napkins set out on the kitchen beside a pizza box. Her back was to me as she rummaged through the fridge.
    â€œWine cooler?” she asked.
    â€œNo, thanks.”
    The blood had satiated me quite nicely. I wasn’t even hungry, but the pizza smelled good, and I could use some normalcy to end the day. Noel had missed all the action.
    I grabbed a plate and slice of pie. “How’d it go with Henry and Zeke?”
    Noel put two pieces of pizza on her plate. She took it to the table and rested her elbows on the surface.
    â€œI’m exhausted,” she said.
    â€œThat bad?” I bit off a piece.
    Noel lifted one of her slices, took a bite, chewed and swallowed. “It was like trying to convince a three-year-old to bathe.”
    I wrinkled my nose. Henry bathing was not the visual I wanted to have while eating.
    â€œBut he ran it by Richard and got the green light. Henry refused to invite anyone until we came up with an appropriate theme. Friday night is going to be a tribute to Marcus. Everyone is to dress in black.”
    I snorted. “Won’t be a problem for Fane.”
    Noel put her pizza down and frowned. “Unfortunately I won’t be able to attend.”
    Not that I’d been thrilled about Noel and Fane teaming up together at the palace, but what the hell? Noel had as much motivation as me to get Dante and Gavin back. She knew what Jared looked like. This was our mess, and I didn’t like leaving it all on Fane, especially with Valerie on the loose.
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œI phoned Melcher after school to tell him about the party at the palace and let him know I heard Giselle had been invited.”
    I sat up straighter. “Did he buy it?”
    Noel shrugged. “It’s a tribute party. The palace was the last fête Marcus and Andre ever attended. It’s possible Giselle might want to speak with some of the last vampires to spend time with her father.”