Page 61 of Vampire's Cupcake
Thano took a deep breath and waited.Not long after, Romeo's car drove toward him.Alice parked it in front of one of the cabins and got out.The front door of Romeo's house opened, and people exited.Thano ignored them and went to meet Eli who was gingerly getting out of the passenger seat.
Thano touched his arm."Did it go okay?"
Eli shrugged."Alice told me to pack."He gestured at the car, which was packed to the roof.
"I have chickens and rabbits in there.I couldn't leave them to die should I stay here for a few days."
Thano hadn't spared any thought for the animals, but it was good they were here.It meant there would be something for Eli to eat."My house is some distance away.There is no road, so we can't drive there."
Eli's eyes widened."Oh."He glanced at the car."I guess I'll have to walk back and forth a few times."
"I'll help!"Humbert flew from where he'd been seated."Where are the rabbits?"
There was a small smile on Eli's lips, and Thano stepped a little closer.He wanted to feel Eli's heat against his skin.Eli looked at him, a bewildered look in his eyes.Thano slipped an arm around his middle and rested his cheek against his shoulder.Eli stiffened."Thano?"He whispered, but Thano was sure anyone who listened could hear him.He muzzled Eli's throat only to have him jerk away.Thano didn't let him go, though.
Romeo cleared his throat then chuckled.Thano assumed there was some silent communication going on between him and Eli, but he didn't care.He blew out a breath and slumped against Eli, not realizing how tense he'd been until now.
"Thano."Eli placed a hand on his neck, and he shivered.
"Mmm."
"Maybe we should...eh...get a move on."
Reluctantly, Thano let go of him and met his gaze.His eyes were wide, and he looked nervous.Then Thano looked at Romeo who was trying hard not to laugh.Thano flashed fangs at him, but instead of being scared, he stopped trying not to laugh and let it tear free.
"I'm not trying to steal your man."He held his palms up."No need to bite me."
Eli gaped at them.
"Where are the rabbits?I want to see the rabbits."Humbert was peering in through the car windows.
"Do we need to build coops?"Romeo looked between the car and Eli.
"Yeah, Alice and I grabbed them and shoved them into wooden boxes.There was no room for any big structures, but I packed some feed."
Romeo nodded, and Thano feared he wouldn't get any alone time with Eli before it was time for the meeting.
"Right.Humbert, you know what to do.We need two coops.One for chickens and one for rabbits."
"How big?"
Romeo looked at Eli as did Thano."I...eh...I have fourteen birds and eight bunnies."
"Wow, fourteen.You must get a lot of eggs."
Eli nodded."Twelve hens and two roosters."
Before anyone could say anything else, Byrd and Lark landed and shifted into human form next to the car."Did you bring my shinys?"Byrd focused on Eli as if he too was a shiny.Thano gritted his teeth.
"I did.They're in--" He gestured at the car."Somewhere in there."
Byrd yanked the backseat door open."Where?"
"I'm not entirely sure."Eli walked closer to the car."We packed as much as we could."
Alice walked over too and lifted things out of the trunk."This is my bag, and these here."She placed several plants on the ground."We can plant them in Romeo's kitchen garden."
Alice's things were quickly carried off, while Eli's formed a smaller mountain on the gravel.
