Free Sucking Bites (San Francisco Vampires Series #3) by Jessica McBrayer Page B

three days. I’m exhausted. I should probably go home.” Liam yawns.
    “We have a guest room here, you can be safe and we’d love to have you. Then we could do the tests in the morning,” Helena says. “That is if you feel comfortable staying here. I would understand if you don’t. Aidan or Sebastian could take you home.”
    “Andrew sleeps here doesn’t he?” Liam asks.
    “Yes he does. Andrew lives here full time,” I say.
    “That’s enough reassurance for me. I would be happy to accept your invitation Helena. Thank you.”
    “Let me show you to your room. We can finish talking in the morning or afternoon, whenever you wake up. By the way if you hear noises coming from the room down the hall that’s just Lily and Sebastian,” Helena says.
    Liam laughs. But Helena is serious. As a gracious hostess, she is warning him.
    “I haven’t soundproofed their room yet. As you can see we are remodeling. I am working on a suite as a present to them.”
    “You should have seen my condo before I moved in. I gutted it and started from scratch.”
    “That’s the only way sometimes. I almost have the contractors talked into working twenty-four hours a day here, but I have yet to see it. I want to get this finished…”
    “Andrew, would you serve some coffee, dearest?” I ask.
    “Of course, Miss Lily. Thank you all for taking care of Liam. He is a good man. Mark, our mutual friend, has known him for years and has been worried about him lately. If I had known what was wrong I would have talked to you about it sooner.”
    “No one would have guessed, Andrew. I think he was deliberately infected. A truly sadistic bastard did this. But to what purpose? It is almost as if he was targeted,” Julian muses then as so often happens when he tunes back in to the real world, his compassion kicks in. “I’m truly sorry for your friend,” Julian says quietly.
    “Me too,” Andrew picks up the room as he prepares to leave to make the coffee. “It comforts me that at least he’s in good hands now.”
    “Julian, do you have everything you need in the lab to do the tests in the morning?” Sebastian asks.
    “Almost, I was going to ask my friend, Aidan, if he would help me acquire the other items I need. I could get them but not in the middle of the night.”
    “I heard my name. What is it you need, Julian?” Aidan asks.
    “I need to get a centrifuge, Aidan. I could get one but not in the middle of the night. Is there any way you could oblige me?”
    “Of course, is there anything else you need for the tests?”
    “Let me make a list and check my inventory. It will be trivial if there is anything else.” Julian gets up, but before he leaves for the state of the art lab he keeps, he turns back to the Djinn. “Thank you, you are not only a good friend but you are proving to be invaluable as well in our very unusual lives,” Julian says. Sebastian grunts. Aidan ignores Sebastian. They both turn towards me. I seat myself in a chair not in the mood for either of their attentions.
    The heavenly aroma of coffee precedes Andrew as he returns. He looks weary. It’s not every night one’s vampire employers host a werewolf. Or have an acquaintance revealed as someone who turns into a slavering beast once a full moon.  Instead of the usual heavy silver serving carafe, Andrew has switched to a beautiful gilded porcelain pot. It seems the changes are already being made.
    “Sit down and have some with us, Andrew,” I say. “This must have been a disquieting night for you.”
    “It has been, Miss Lily. Sometimes I think I’m sorry I waited to become a vampire and then nights like this I realize it doesn’t matter if you’re vampire or not. Bad things still happen.”
    “That they do,” Sebastian says. “Vampirism isn’t automatic protection, Andrew. In many ways it is a curse. This is an example of some benefits but as we’ve discussed, with those benefits come responsibilities. You’ve been exposed to more of the