Page 73 of Havenfall Harbor
“I won!”Quinn lifts her arms in the air—one Griff is still attached to—as soon as I hit the unlock button. Her cheeks are flushed pink and her eyes are bright. She’s definitely got a little buzz going, but I can tell by her scent she’s nowhere near intoxicated.
You could have knocked me down with a feather when she reached over and grabbed Griff’s hand. I don’t think the vampire has ever held hands withanyone,but he held hers. “I didn’t realize that was a contest, but I’ll concede to defeat. What spoils do you claim?”
Quinn tilts her head to the side. “Just your never-failing fealty,” she quips backs quickly.
“Is that all?” I chuckle as Griffin guides her through the parking lot.
“I suppose I could release you of your bonds, however I must insist you escort me home safely.” Quinn tips her nose in the air, adding an air of mocking superiority that goes against everything I’ve learned about her over the last several days.
Griffin shifts his hold on her hand and raises her knuckles to kiss the back of her hand. The smirk on Quinn’s face slips as her lips part. “You can’t take it back. A bond spoken is a bond that must be fulfilled.” Griff delivers the words somberly as he keeps her hand trapped in his and stares into her eyes.
Quinn swallows, her eyes going large. After a long pause, Griffin tosses his head back and lets out a bark of laughter. I’m pretty sure Quinn really believed him. Her eyes narrow before she snatches her hand away from him, which makes Griff laugh even harder.
I start to chuckle, finding his joy contagious. Quinn pivots and trudges over to the truck. “That was mean,” she calls over her shoulder.
“That was priceless,” Griffin murmurs under his breath, cocking his eyebrow at me. Quinn beats us to the car, but not by much, and she slides quickly into the backseat.
“Seatbelt.” Griff manages to make it sound like it’s a reminder opposed to a demand. Quinn complies easily and leans her head against the seat. I watch from the rearview mirror as she lets out a little sigh and her eyes fall closed. I glance at the digital clock on the radio and note it’s already near ten, still early for us, but she seems kind of tired.
Though we did try to keep her occupied all day, it wasn’t an accident we didn’t make it to the hardware store. Without a lock she can’t make an argument about going back to her room.
“Thanks for letting me tag along, guys, I had fun,” Quinn says as we pull out onto the road.
“Good, mission accomplished, now we just have to decide what to do tomorrow.”
“Griffin, you don’t mind that your buddy keeps volunteering you and your house to keep me entertained? I’m like the neighbor from hell.” Quinn chuckles, but it sounds a little self-deprecating, like she believes her words.
Griff turns so he can look into the backseat. “I thought you’d gotten to know me well enough to understand that I don’t do anything I don’t want to.” He holds her stare for a few seconds, then readjusts in his seat. “I’m sure we’ll be able to find something to do tomorrow to occupy our time,” Griffin adds, his tone suggestive.
Quinn doesn’t respond, but I keep my eyes on her in the mirror and watch her bite her bottom lip to hide the smile on her mouth.
The rest of the ride home is fairly quiet. There’s a tension building between us, an undeniable attraction, but I still don’t think Quinn is really ready to know just how serious Griff and I are about keeping her.
The well illuminated gate of Havenfall opens when I hit the control button. I timed it so I barely need to stop. I hear the click of Quinn’s seatbelt, then she slides over into the middle seat. “How long have you been in charge here,Director Stone?” Quinn places an emphasis on his title, but there’s no anger with it, it’s more like she’s just giving a little playful dig.
I watch as Griff peers to the left but doesn’t move his head. “As long as I care to remember.” I’m happily surprised he’s giving information freely. “This was once my family home.” Griff looks out the side window at the forest between the entrance and the manor.
I, myself, can’t imagine growing up in a place like this, at least not the way he did. “Wait.” Quinn scoots forward on her seat to draw herself closer between the front seats. “Havenfall was once your house, as in singular home?”
“Yes, my father had it built before I was born.”
Quinn blinks her eyes several times and leans back into the seat. Clearly astonished. “Wow, are you royalty or something?” She lets out a little laugh.
Griff doesn’t respond. She has no idea how true her words are. Griffin is the closest thing to vampire royalty there is, at least in the United States. “I could go for some ice cream, want some?” I change the subject, pulling up near the front stairs and parking.
“Oh, ice cream,” Quinn coos, easily distracted.
Griff gives me a grateful look before opening his door then reaching for Quinn’s right after. She’s a little slow to ease out of the backseat, and her nose scrunches up cutely when her foot hits the ground. Griff takes her hand and folds it over his elbow like the noble he is, and heads for the staircase. His steps are slow, measured beside Quinn’s, so I reach the heavy door well before they do and hold it open for them. Quinn gives me a sweet smile of thanks as she passes through.
Bill is behind the security desk. He rises when we enter, his eyes darkening when he sees Quinn. Bill doesn’t like humans, doesn’t see much use for them, and doesn’t bother trying to keep it a secret. He was one of the few supes who opposed having a human liaison come to Havenfall, not that Griff allowed anyone to think it was their choice.
Before, I could ignore his dislike. We’re pretty removed from humans here, so it made little difference, but seeing the way he looks at Quinn with clear disdain has a growl working its way up my chest.
Griff saunters Quinn right over to the front desk, her hand still laced over his arm. It’s a clear show of unity. Bill’s lips thin, but he doesn’t utter a word, he lowers his eyes to the desk then his body into the chair, any aggression completely subdued after one look from Griff.
I walk over to the entrance door and wave my badge, unlocking it. Griff holds his ground a few seconds longer, Quinn shifts her weight. She probably has no idea why Griff is staring down the man in front of her. Eventually, he guides her over to me, where I’m still holding the door.
Once the solid door snaps closed behind us, Quinn pulls her hand free from Griff. “Okay, so I may sound ignorant, but what was that?”
