Page 51 of Twice Bitten

“Edmund?”

“Too fast for me to see. A vampire, perhaps?”

Shit. I carried my coffee into the kitchen and set the mug down. “They left something?”

“A small box. Gift wrapped.”

Beware gifts left by dangerous vampires…

“Is there anyone outside?”

“You’re safe to retrieve.”

I opened the door and snatched the box from the porch, stepping inside a second later and ensuring I locked the door. A small amount of magic leaked from the box, but I sensed nothing harmful.

“Are you sure this wasn’t from a shifter?”

“No way to tell. Whoever left it was quick.”

A small slip of paper fell from the box when I opened the top. Silver glinted from the cotton where a small wolf pendant with an emerald eye nestled. Frowning, I pulled the necklace from the box and held it up, staring at it closely before picking up the paper.

Wear this to prevent shifting during the full moon.

I stilled. “Edmund?”

“Four days away, Alex. You’ve been keeping secrets.” Disapproval simmered in his tone.

“No.” I shook my head. “I haven’t felt right since the attack,but I wouldn’t expect to shift.” I sank into the kitchen chair. “What is happening to me?”

“You need to see someone unbiased who can help.”

I held up the necklace. The emerald winked in the light. “Should I wear this?”

“Take it to the basement and test it thoroughly. I don’t sense any malice from the pendant, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a trigger.”

“Good idea.” I tucked the necklace back into the box and left it on the table. “I’ll take it after I finish my errands.”

I had an appointment to fix my implant today and couldn’t afford to miss the time slot. Marinka was prickly at the best of times and she also didn’t seem to like me much, so if I missed this one, there was no telling when I could get back in. The witch’s words from last night kept replaying in my head, increasing my urgency to get this taken care of but also piquing my curiosity.

What magic was leaking and why did she seem so worried about it? Edmund didn’t seem to have noticed, and he usually noticed everything.

“Are you going by yourself?”

“Yes, Edmund. My driver is off for the day.”

“No need for sarcasm. It makes you ugly.”

“Ouch.” I flicked my fingers at the ceiling. “Just for that, I’m turning the Wi-Fi off.”

“Alex!”

I sailed to the back to get ready for the day. Turning off the Wi-Fi would be cruel and unusual punishment, and I used it only as a last resort. If I disabled my Wi-Fi, Edmund couldn’t function. He’d be trapped within my walls, unable to communicate or do anything except be alone with his thoughts. I’d never do such a thing, but I messed with him all the time because he could be really annoying.

Half an hour later, the coast was clear and I was out thedoor. No signs of vampires or shifters, or other mysterious threats. My car hadn’t exploded, and I wasn’t craving red meat as intensely as before.

Things seemed normal in a way they hadn’t for weeks now.

Which made me nervous for the other shoe to drop.