Blood and Buttercups (A Vampire’s Guide to Gardening #1)

Chapter 20

20

The police station has tea.

Officer Kerrington hands me a mug with a logo from last year’s Strawberry Shortcut, a local race that’s held during Strawberry Days. The community festival is coming up in a few weeks. I have a booth reserved.

Since the prescription blood seems to be working, I should make it. You know, unless my crazy vampire stalker kidnaps me and takes me across the border, where we’ll enjoy cheap vampire healthcare and live out our long lives while fanning ourselves with our money.

Maybe I should be grateful. Some people have stalkers who can’t hold down a job and are barely able to scrape up enough cash to purchase their drugs. My stalker is handing out Lamborghinis like they grow on trees. On the stalker scale, Ethan’s pretty high up there.

I laugh to myself as I blow the surface of the steaming tea. I thought I was doing all right, but now that the adrenaline has worn off, I’ve realized I’m not okay.

I’m waiting to go into the back for a “chat.” Max is in there now. The chairs in the waiting area are upholstered but hard, and the large room smells like strong disinfectant and coffee.

Concerned, Officer Kerrington kneels in front of me. “How are you holding up?”

“My stalker offered to buy me for two hundred thousand dollars and his very expensive car, there’s vampire blood on my front porch, and all my records keep getting erased in the NIHA system. I’m feeling a bit freaked out, to be honest.”

“Why didn’t you tell us you were attacked the night before we brought you in to talk about your boyfriend?”

“ Ex ,” I say scathingly, not sure why it even matters. But it does . “And I didn’t have any idea it might be relevant. As far as I knew, I just went out with a freak with a vampire fetish.”

A smile crosses his face, but he schools it stoically. “We’re going to work with NIHA to figure out what’s going on.”

I study him over the top of my steaming cup of tea, wanting to believe him but starting to lose faith in the system.

He gives me a lopsided smile that’s probably supposed to be reassuring. With his wholesome vibes and officer’s uniform, he’s cute. Olivia would probably trip all over herself to talk to him.

But my mind is on Noah.

Another officer appears with Max, this one a man I don’t recognize. “You can come on back, Miss Edwards.”

Officer Kerrington rises with me, and he follows me into the room they took me to before.

“We just need to get your statement,” the man says. “Have a seat. Can we get you anything?”

He looks like he’s in his mid-fifties, with short, graying hair and a beard. He was probably home with his family before he was called in to deal with this.

I settle onto the hard plastic chair and show him the mug. “I have this, thanks.”

He sits behind a laptop. “When you’re ready, why don’t you tell us what happened tonight?”

I take a fortifying sip of over-steeped, slightly stale tea and begin.

When the officers are finished with me, Officer Kerrington escorts me down the hall and into the waiting area. A familiar man sits next to Max and a woman I’ve never met.

Noah’s boss rises when he sees me, his expression grim.

“They called you?” I say.

“Montgomery and the police both.”

“Sorry you had to drive over here again.”

It’s not a terrible trip, but it’s a good two to three hours, depending on where you’re at in Denver. And if you’ve already driven it once, I don’t think you’d be eager to do it again on the same day.

“It’s fine. I’m sorry you’ve been put into this position.”

My eyes move to the woman next to Reid. She’s about his age, with a sleek blonde bob and a warm smile. She looks like a real estate agent.

“Piper, this is Ainsley,” Reid says. “She’s your new conservator.”

Oh, this is his girlfriend.

She extends her hand in greeting. “Hi, Piper. It’s nice to meet you.”

She has a perfect manicure. Her nails are painted a soft shade of neutral pink, and a sparkly tennis bracelet hangs from her wrist. It might be real or fake—I’d never be able to spot the difference.

I’m conscious of my short, unpolished nails as we shake and very aware of how hot her skin is. Mine must have felt like a dead fish. “You too.”

With introductions out of the way, Reid says, “Now that you’re done here, we’d like you to come to the administration office so we can go over everything in more detail.”

“I promised Noah I’d go to the hospital when I was finished,” I tell him.

Ainsley frowns, glancing at Reid, unsure.

“Piper,” Reid says with a heavy sigh. “I like Montgomery. He’s like a son to me. But he’s got himself into hot water, and I don’t want to see you dragged into it. It might be a good idea to put a little space between you.”

“He’s renting a room from me.”

“Listen, I don’t know how to even start this. But I talked to IT, and he’s the only one who’s been in your file.”

I shift, uncomfortable. “Are you saying you think Noah’s the one who erased everything?”

“I’m not saying anything. But if I were involved in something sketchy, I’d probably try pretty hard to get assigned to my boss’s pre-vamp so I could keep an eye on her and wipe him out of her records.”

I open my mouth and then close it. “Noah didn’t…”

“He bribed a guy in our administration department so he’d be placed on your case.”

“That doesn’t even make sense. Ethan sent those vampires after me, but Noah didn’t hand me over.”

Reid gives me a pitying frown. “Come on back to the office, and we’ll talk some more. I have some stuff to go over with you.”

I’m reeling.

I turn to Max, but he just widens his eyes and shrugs, still freaked out that vampires exist.

“I think Miss Edwards has been through enough tonight,” a man says from behind me, his voice dark and vaguely familiar.

I jump when a hand settles on my shoulder. When I turn, I find a drop-dead gorgeous vampire who has a penchant for offing those who show up bearing his line’s mark.

“You,” I say softly, so profound.

Cassian turns his eyes on me, giving me a bare smile. “Shall I take you to the hospital?”

“I have a brother,” I say stupidly.

“That’s a relief, as I wasn’t applying for the position.” His eyes are deep brown, dark like espresso, and his lashes are as black as his hair.

“I mean, he drove me.” I clear my throat. “He has a car.”

“Good for him.” Amusement tugs at his lips, but then he looks back at Reid, and it’s gone. “Noah is a straight arrow. You know that.”

Reid looks highly uncomfortable. “I don’t like it any more than you do. But facts are facts, Cassian. And I?—”

“I’d like you to assign me as Miss Edwards’s conservator.”

I jolt so badly; I spill tea on my hand.

Cassian looks down at my cup, his expression mildly confused. Apparently, people in his life don’t randomly flail.

“You’re not on the payroll,” Reid argues, growing really uncomfortable.

Cassian takes several steps forward, lowering his voice. “No, but I fund it, don’t I?”

Reid gulps. “I’ll figure it out.”

“Good.” He turns to me. “Now that we’ve settled that, shall we go to the hospital, Piper?”

“I…” I clear my throat. “I don’t usually get in the car with strangers.”

“If that were true, we wouldn’t be standing here.” His eyes drop to my neck.

Swallowing, I cover the twin scars he’s blatantly eyeing. “I learned my lesson.”

His eyes spark with amusement. “Go with your brother. I’ll follow you and make sure you get there all right.”

Not feeling like I have much of a choice, I give him a sage nod, offer Reid and Ainsley a tight smile, and start down the hall.

“I’m sorry,” Max interrupts, following us. “ Who are you?”

“My name is Cassian Chevalier.”

Max raises his brows, waiting. Cassian doesn’t offer more.

The three of us step into the cool night, and I realize I’m still holding the Strawberry Days mug.

“Oh, shoot.” I turn back toward the door, but before I can take so much as a step, Cassian snatches the cup from my hand and hands it to a female officer as she walks toward the building.

“Will you return this to its owner?” he asks.

She blinks at him, starstruck as she palms the cup. “Of course.”

He gives her a half-smile and nods, collecting me by the arm and directing me toward the parking lot.

“You can’t talk to an officer like that.” I pull my arm from his hand.

He turns toward me, his eyes sweeping over my face. “Like what?”

“Like…bossy?”

“She didn’t object.”

“Well, that’s because…” I frown. “You know why.”

The man’s good humor reaches his lips. “Enlighten me.”

My phone vibrates, and I snatch it out of my purse, relieved when I see Noah’s name on the screen. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. It wasn’t as bad as it looked.”

“Yeah, you hear that about bullet wounds all the time—not that big of a deal. Papercuts, really.”

He chuckles. “How are you doing? Have you given your witness statement yet?”

“I’m just leaving the police station with Max and Cassian. ”

“What’s Cassian doing there?” the hunter snaps, though I can tell he’s not upset with me.

“He showed up right when your boss was trying to explain how you’ve been tampering with my file. You’re working for Ethan. Did you know that?”

Silence is followed by an incredulous huff of breath. “Reid said what? ”

“He wanted me to go with him and Ainsley to the administration office, but Cassian said that can wait for tomorrow.” I eye the vampire, not trusting him any farther than I can throw him—and I can’t even pick him up.

“Stay put,” Noah says. “Don’t go anywhere with anyone. I’m headed your way.”

“I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

I end the call and then look at Cassian. “Noah is on his way, so you can probably…” Not murder me in a dark park somewhere. “Go now.”

“I’ll wait,” Cassian says.

“Great.” I cross my arms, chilled.

Noticing, Cassian slides off his jacket. “Are you cold?”

“No,” I lie, and then my eyes turn to my brother. “Give me your sweatshirt.”

Max shoots me a look. “No thanks.”

“I don’t need it,” Cassian insists, setting the jacket around my shoulders like a modern-day Casanova. “I can feel the chill, but I don’t get cold.”

Max’s eyes cut to the man. “Wait. Are you a…”

“Gentleman?” Cassian asks. “We’re rare but not extinct.”

“No, a vam…” Max can’t even get it out. “A vamp…”

“A vampire ?” Cassian asks, raising a brow.

Max steps back, roughly reaching for me like he suddenly feels a protective urge. “ Are you? ”

“I have been for a few hundred years, yes,” Cassian answers.

Max makes a choking noise, and his fingers dig into my arm.

I tug away from Max, tired of people trying to pull me around. “Would you knock it off?”

“How are you not freaking out?” he demands.

“I have a prescription for synthetic blood in my fridge. I’m past the freaking out stage!”

“How do you like the synthetic blood?” Cassian asks me curiously. “Did they take care of the metallic taste?”

“It’s the texture I have trouble with,” I admit. “But it hides well in smoothies.”

“I’ve heard that if you?—”

“Would you two shut up for a minute?” Max exclaims, clutching his sides and breathing hard.

“What is this?” I ask. “Are you having a breakdown?”

“You’re actually a vampire?” he says to me, his eyes wide.

“No, I’m a pre-vamp. You have to be bitten like three times before you become a full-fledged creature of the night.”

“Sometimes two,” Cassian corrects. “You really can’t be too careful. It’s best to abstain altogether.”

“No unprotected biting?” I say incredulously.

The ancient vampire frowns. “What?”

I wave away the question. “Never mind.”

Max laughs, sounding a little hysterical.

“We haven’t actually been introduced,” Cassian says when the conversation dies off. “I’m?—”

“I know who you are,” I say, my tone a touch too abrupt. Sighing, I soften. “Noah told me.”

He presses his lips into a grim line and nods.

“You said I’m from your line. Did you infect Ethan?”

Curious irritation darkens his expression. “I didn’t, no.”

“But someone you bit did?”

Cassian doesn’t answer. His eyes move to the blue sedan that pulls into the quiet parking lot. Noah gets out and waves a thank you to the driver, who then pulls away.

Noah doesn’t have his jacket on, and there’s a large bandage taped to his bicep. My eyes focus on it, and my stomach drops.

The hunter barely spares a glance at Cassian, and then he takes me by the shoulders. “Are you all right?”

I nod, feeling like I’m going to cry again. The tears keep coming and going, sporadic and unstoppable. No matter how many times I try to tell myself it’s fine, it doesn’t change the fact a man died at my home today.

“Who brought you?” I ask.

“My friend Daniel met me at the hospital. He gave me a ride.”

Closing my eyes, I step into his embrace, happy to let him hold me. “They got the bullet out quickly.”

“It didn’t fragment.”

“That’s a relief.” Drawing in a steadying breath, I step out of Noah’s arms.

He finally acknowledges Cassian. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m Piper’s new conservator.”

That bit of information goes over just as well as you might imagine.

Noah narrows his eyes. “You don’t work for NIHA.”

“Reid didn’t seem to think that was a problem.”

“After you reminded him where his pay comes from,” I say.

Cassian turns his eyes on me, laughing once under his breath. “Details.”

“What happened to Ainsley?” Noah demands.

“Ainsley is too close to Reid.”

Noah thinks about that. “Why, exactly, does Reid think I’ve meddled with Piper’s file?”

“He doesn’t,” Cassian says coolly. “He wants to use you as a scapegoat.”