“Always be prepared for anything.” Those wise words from her mother had gotten Gwyneira through a lot in her life. They got her through law school, filled with vamps who saw her as nothing but a fresh bloodbag, and now, they were protecting her from a nasty curse that would have left her unconscious for a twisted killer to cut her open and steal her organs.  Or maybe eat them.

Such a gruesome thought made her nauseous as she rested her head down on her desk.  They had entered through her hidden door in the back of the firm with a mere wave of her wand, then she concealed it back so nobody thought to put any foul curses near it next.  Nightshade had curled up under her desk at her feet after she’d given her salmon-flavored kibble for dinner, likely sensing something trouble.  Familiars had a sixth sense for that kind of thing, after all.

Emrys had paced around the room so much, her head started spinning, and she couldn’t even pinpoint where he’d gone. Not until he gently touched her shoulder.  “Here.” 

Gwyneira poked her head back up. His features softening in the dim light as he offered a tiny half-smile and a mug that read: World’s Greatest Lawyer.  Her dad had bought it for her after she passed the bar exam.  She always drank from it when she had a tough case ahead of her, hoping the words would give her that confidence.  And honestly, she needed that more than ever. 

“It’s tea. Careful, it’s a bit hot.” Emrys placed the mug down in front of her.  

“How did you make tea?” Gwyneira frowned.  She didn’t keep a kettle in her office, nor was it equipped with a mini kitchen like in her hidden room.  

“Bottled water, tea bag, and fire magic.” Flames danced along the tips of his fingers with his explanation.  “I considered brewing you some coffee, but I have no clue how to use that coffee contraption of yours over there.”

“You just happen to have tea bags on you?” Gwyneira laughed.

“Yes.  It’s a natural remedy to heal sunburns.  My skin was very sensitive as a kid. Still is, but not as extreme after I fully turned.” Emrys gently rubbed the side of his neck.  “I liked playing out in the sunlight a lot.  Directly in it, like a fool.  Especially come summertime.”

“That’s why you keep tea bags with you then?” she asked, taking a leisure sip of her tea.  

“Just became a habit.” Emrys shrugged.

“Always be prepared for anything, right?” Her mother’s words echoed like a ghost, and she smiled sadly.  What would her mother have thought of Emrys?  Would she have liked him? Perhaps found him suspicious? 

“I’m sorry for bringing my mess to your doorstep.” Emrys slouched down in his chair, raking a hand through his windswept hair.  He looked so tired.  Heavy bags clung beneath his crimson eyes and his skin took on a more ghastly pallid shade.  No color touched his cheeks or ears like it once had.

“Don’t apologize on behalf of the bastard trying to frame you.” Gwyneira took another sip of her delicious tea as it lightened the aches in her head.  “We just need to work hard to catch them.  They must feel cornered and scared if they’re trying to kill me, so that’s good.”

“I don’t see how someone wanting to kill you is a good thing,” Emrys murmured.

“It means I’m doing something right.” Gwyneira sat up a little straighter.  “And I don’t take kindly to threats either.”

Her crystal ball suddenly vibrated against her desk, and a plume of red smoke filled the glass orb. The sweet scent of cinnamon drifted through the room, her brother-in-law’s signature magic ID. 

Gwyneira waved her wand over the globe, and the smoke faded to reveal Percy’s familiar,rigid features. “Are you okay? I just got reports back from Talon and Victor about a goddamn Blightbreath curse on your doorstep.”

“Don’t worry, I’m perfectly fine.” Gwyneira flicked her wrist, her wand sparking on the tip. “I’ve got Emrys safe here too.”

“I don’t give a bat’s ass about Emrys.  That Blightbreath curse could have killed you.  All because of him.  His life isn’t worth yours, Gwyn.” 

“Jeez, thanks.” Emrys rolled his eyes from across the desk. 

“You act like Emrys is the one who placed that curse at my door.” Gwyneira frowned.  “It’s not his fault we’re being targeted, you know.”

“The vampire mafia wants his head on a silver platter,” Percy said with a low growl rumbling in his throat.  “They won’t care to kill you to get you out of the way.”

“Or they want me dead to silence me. Did you consider that?” Gwyneira asked, her patience running on thin ice.  While she appreciated her brother-in-law’s concerns for her, she did not need him to coddle her. “Perhaps I’ve dug too close to the truth and they’re scared I’m going to unravel this whole thing, thus proving Emrys’ innocence.”

“I know you won’t drop his case, Gwyn.  I understand why too.” Even in the hazy image in her globe, the exhaustion in his face and in his voice were clear as day.  “If I were in your boots, I’d do the same thing.  Please, just be careful. That curse is merely child’s play for them, compared to what they can do.  I’m always a call away.  Those bat cops are staying posted outside your firm too.”

Gwyneira huffed under her breath, but didn’t bother to argue with him over it.  Those bat cops barely understood the curse at her door.  They were no match to what their culprit was capable of.  Percy went over what all they’d gathered in their cases so far, with the latest victim looking far less likely to be something Emrys committed.  Which was a start. 

Despite how she tried to convince him it was clear Iron Fang’s wasn’t either, and that clearly the same person killed them with how they stole their hearts, all he could tell her was that the evidence leaned too far in Emrys’ direction at being responsible. Especially with how he tampered with the body and had witnesses overhear them fight. 

The crystal ball call ended with Gwyneira even more determined to prove Emrys was innocent.  Those bat cops merely wanted a scapegoat so they wouldn’t need to accuse any mafia members because they were terrified of them.  Bat cops who could barely understand the curse at her door stood no chance against them.  

“He doesn’t want to admit it, but the vampire mafia has them by the balls.” The venomous glint in Emrys’ piercing crimson eyes sent a shiver through her.  She’d never seen him look like that before. Despite his kindness toward her, it reminded her that a predator still lurked beneath his skin. 

“How do you know that?” Gwyneira already knew about the corruption on their force, but how did he catch wind of it?

“Seen them around their dens.” Emrys shrugged.  “Blood and gold makes any vamp greedy enough to turn a blind eye to crime.  I don’t know if Percy’s under their wing, but the bats outside are.  I couldn’t tell you that without them overhearing, and I couldn’t risk flying with them because I knew damn well they’d try to knock me out of the sky on my arse.”

“What do you mean by dens?” Gwyneira frowned.  

“Basically feeding rooms. It’s disgusting and demoralizing.  You already know my, uh, issues with drinking blood, so you can imagine how much I hated those wretched places. It was my father’s twisted way of trying to make me man up and drink blood from the source.” Emrys folded his arms across his chest with a shudder. “He stopped my once prescription blood pills and made me get them off the streets.  As you know, most blood pills are given to vampires who are binge drinkers.”

“I’m sorry, Emrys.” 

Gwyneira hated how her brother-in-law and the rest of them deemed Emrys guilty for his family’s background.  He had no involvement with those bleeding farms.  The poor vamp was too traumatized to even drink blood properly.  If it wouldn’t come across as inappropriate, she would’ve gotten up and given him a hug because he looked like he could really use one. However, she remained professionally in her chair. 

“When I read about what you did to help that wolf walker, I knew you’d be the best to defend me.  We haven’t even gone to court… I haven’t even been officially charged with anything yet…  And you’ve already done so much for me.” The look in his eyes, like on the verge of breaking but somehow still holding onto some unreachable speck of hope, tugged on her heartstrings.  

Gwyneira struggled to form a proper response, awkwardly stammering out, “Well, it’s all added to your bill.  I charge extra for murder attempts on my life.”

 

Emrys laughed, and despite the joy that rang out in his voice, it didn’t match the pain that glistened in those brilliant red eyes of his.  Faint streaks of pink blood trickled down his jaw.  He quickly swiped it away with his sleeve, as if Gwyneira wouldn’t notice.

“Are you all right?” she murmured. 

“Sorry, I know it wasn’t that funny.” Emrys shook his head. “I think I’m just exhausted.”

Exhaustion was one of the first symptoms that manifested when a vampire was starved. Lack of bleeding and color to the skin also presented itself in vamps who desperately needed blood. Those pink streaks of blood that trickled down his cheek showed he was on the verge of starvation. 

Gwyneira had learned to pick up on those symptoms for her own protection. Along with picking up signs of a vampire who preferred to overindulge. She tried to mask her worries deep down, not wanting to make matters worse, but she couldn’t let Emrys starve himself of blood. Not when it could force him to lose control and hurt her. Or worse. 

“How’s your supply of blood pills?” Gwyneira asked softly. 

Emrys’ brows furrowed. “Why do you ask?”

“Do you need blood?” The words slipped out before she could stop them. 

She worried he would get confrontational or deflect with anger, but instead, he hung his head low. “Is it that noticeable?” The defeat in Emrys’ voice pained her heart. “I ran out last night. After I bit your wrist, the cravings became unbearable. The pills weren’t working. I don’t blame you for that, but it’s been so long since I tasted blood like yours.” He squeezed the armrests of his chair with a grimace. “I’m fighting my instincts to seek out more.  I promise I’m okay.  It’s just… a pain in the fangs to deal with.”

“You can’t ignore your cravings,” Gwyneira said as gently as she could.  It wasn’t her intention to scold him because he couldn’t help his situation, but she had to consider her own safety if he lost control and lashed out. He could drain her dry.  

“I’m not.” Emrys frowned.  “It’s just complicated.  If you want to toss me out on my arse tonight, I understand.  I’ll go back to the motel.  Hopefully get a different room this time.”

Gwyneira groaned, because he was right. “You’re not going back to the motel, Emrys.”

 Things had gotten very fanging complicated.