Carve My Pumpkin (The Night Realm: Halloween Marked #3)

Chapter 11

ELEVEN

MATEO

“You cannot be serious.” Nash shook his head as he walked beside me.

“Oh, I’m dead serious.” I pulled the big black helmet onto my head and beamed at him. Then I knocked on it. “It’ll be hilarious.”

Nash smacked me across the back of the head and chuckled. “It might be slightly hilarious.”

We strolled into the animal sanctuary. I couldn’t wait for Torren to see my helmet. It was an ongoing joke, the way I got knocked out right before the Christmas parade. More like I was the butt of the joke, so if I couldn’t beat them, I would join them. At least that’s the approach I was taking. Because really, how often does an immortal vampire get knocked unconscious.It was actually rather funny now that I was healthy.

Two little kids ran between us, and one of them stopped to stare up at me. He was small with white-blonde hair and huge brown eyes. “Nice helmet.”

“Thanks, kid.”

“My mom tells me to protect my head all the time.” He shrugged. “Sometimes I forget.”

I chuckled and Nash bent down low to look the kid in the eye. “We’ve talked about this before, my friend. You do have to be careful. No more accidents.”

“I know, Doc. I know.” He gave Nash a thumbs-up and then took off running in another direction.

“I worry about that kid.” Nash shook his head. “He’s a young fae who loves to fly into things.”

Maybe I need to give him the helmet .

Nash sighed and we both continued walking into Torren’s event, Boo at the Zoo. I always loved the sanctuary. We didn’t just capture animals and put them on display. We did real work here by rehabilitating them, helping save species, and we let the citizens of the Island visit and support them. Tonight’s Boo at the Zoo would put all proceeds toward our programs. It wasn’t just spooky fun. It was so much better than that.

The rescue was homey and comfortable, not only to the animals but to all the people who worked here. The buildings were made of warm wood that made each one look like a camping lodge that blended in with the habitats. Everything was smooth and warm while not being invasive to the animals. The pathways between the exhibits were made of cobblestone and plants grew all around each building. We wound our way through the exhibits, trying to find the shifters in each one. Boo at the Zoo was like a Where’s Waldo game. We all had to try and find the hidden shifters. Whoever found the most would win. We were in search of Torren, my brother’s soon-to-be wife.

“I hardly think that’s blending in.” We stopped at the panda enclosure, and it was easy to spot Torren.

“The pandas are her favorite.” Nash gave a dopey smile as he watched Torren roll around the enclosure with the other pandas. She was so easy to spot with that patch of teal hair on top of her head.

Even I had to admit it was fun to watch them rolling up and down the hills with their barrels and toys. Their natural clumsiness seemed to suit Torren and the way everything always had a way of going a little wrong. “Hey, Torren.”

She jumped at the sound of her name and stood up straight. Her body tipped to the side and another panda crashed right into her. It was like watching a rag doll get tackled by a linebacker. Her body snapped to the side like it was made of rubber, and they both tumbled to the ground and rolled over each other. Nash flinched and I chuckled. Torren rolled to the side and landed flat on her back, starfish style. There was a flash of light, and she was back to herself. She staggered to her feet and threw her long teal hair out of her face.

“Whoa.” She stood up and shook her head. Her eyes widened, and when she turned to look at us, the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile. She walked toward us, barely dodging the other pandas as they all rolled around her.

“Very nice,” I teased as she hurried toward the wall and leapt over.

Her toe caught on the edge and she fell right on top of Nash. He wrapped his arms around her, and they both went down with Torren right on top of him.

“Oh shit! I’m so sorry.”

“I’m used to it, love.” He rolled them both to the side and quickly jumped to his feet while pulling Torren with him.

When she stood next to both of us, she looked me up and down. “What’s with the helmet?”

“Just in case you decide to get me trampled.” I knocked on it. “I’m not missing one more holiday season.”

“Ha. Ha.” She stuck her tongue out, then lowered her voice and glanced around to make sure no one else was listening. “But really kind of . . . smart.”

I pulled her in and gave her a quick hug. She smacked her hand on top of my helmet. “Now I don’t have to worry about hurting you.”

I shook my head. “I happen to think it’s genius.”

“I might have to invest in one.” Nash chuckled.

Torren swatted at his arm. “You’ve survived so far.”

He threw his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in tight to his side. “Yeah, I’ve always been stronger than my brother.”

I scoffed. “You wish.”

Though Nash and I were twins, we couldn't be more different. Sure, we looked somewhat alike, but all the Vauntero children did. Those vampire genes ran deep. His hair was wild and wavy while mine was more contained. He had an earthy feel to his clothing choice which left something to be desired for me. I preferred for things to match and be . . . neat. I could see why he and Torren fit so perfectly together. Their relationships only made me more eager to find my own.

She glanced down at the watch on Nash’s wrist and her eyes widened. “Crap, crap, crap. I’m late. I have to go find my sister.” She went up on her tiptoes and placed a quick kiss on his cheek, then took off running down the pathway. “Come find me!”

Nash chuckled and shook his head. I gave him a little nudge with my elbow. “You’ll never get bored with that one.”

“Yeah, makes eternity sound like a short period of time.” He gave me that love-struck smile, and I shoved him to the side.

“Yeah, well, don’t rub it in.”

“I wouldn’t dare.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “You’ll find her, Brother.”

I gave a heavy sigh and shook my head. When I turned to the side, I spotted Colette standing at another exhibit. She was with those two older mage women and her werewolf friend, she called them the golden girls. I found it fascinating that she always hung around with the older citizens on the Island. It was almost like she didn’t have friends her own age. They all huddled around her like tiny gossiping hens. I knew Sylvie and Gertie from the library, and Susan was notorious for her blunt, brash ways with the pack on the Island. They all held their phones out toward her, and she tapped her iPad against each one. When they all seemed to get what they wanted, they split off in different directions.

“Excuse me.” I walked away from my brother and headed over toward where Colette stood. She was too pretty in her black leggings and oversized sweater. At work she was all pantsuits and professional. But every time I saw her outside of the office, she was adorable in her comfortable yet stylish outfits. Her hair was pulled into a bun on top of her head, and she had an easy smile for anyone who approached her . . . until I did.

The smile dropped from her face as she turned toward me. “Mr. Vauntero. Any particular reason you’re wearing a helmet?”

“Ms. Rothchild.” I tried to sound as cold as she did. “That’s a long story but also none of your business.”

“Really? I thought it might be something to do with the fact you’re trying not to get knocked unconscious again.” She shrugged. “But that’s just a wild guess.”

So much sass. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why the way she said my name grated on my nerves, and the way she made such perfectly direct observations . . . It was too sweet, too sassy, too on-target. It was as though she had a perfect read on me already while I was still struggling to read her at all.

I motioned toward the tiger exhibit she stood in front of. “Rather blasé for someone who only has their dream job for another week.”

Colette began to walk away from me, and I found myself falling into stride with her. She gave me the side-eye. “Tell me, do you enjoy keeping people on a razor’s edge? Or is it because you’re grouchy as hell and you want everyone else to be?”

“Is he really bothering you after work hours?” Susie, the wolf, marched up to Colette and me. She was older, with salt and pepper hair and smile lines around her face. Her eyes were sharp. She wore a white turtleneck, a plaid blue and brown shirt, and with dark-blue jeans. She put her hands on her hips. “Listen here, buck-o, she’s doing the best she can.”

“Susan, it’s fine.” Colette smiled at her. “I can handle him.”

I raised my eyebrows at that. Oh, can you? But I didn’t say that out loud.

Sylvie walked up next, then glared up at me with clear blue eyes. Her hair fell around her face in silvery wisps. She was only slightly taller than Gertie, but her nose was straighter and she had a more serious way about her. When she locked eyes on me, she pursed her lips. “Well, he is pretty to look at?—”

“Thank you?” My brow furrowed.

“But so are all the Vaunteros,” she finished, looking completely unimpressed.

Gertie pushed in beside her and pinched my chin, wagging my face back and forth. “He’s just adorable. Well, except for the helmet. That’s a bit weird.”

“Okay.” Colette stepped between us. “Let’s all focus here. How are we doing, ladies?”

They all held their phones out toward her. Susan sighed. “Gimme more, I struck out with my last list.”

“Us too.” Sylvie shook her phone at Colette.

“No, this is great.” Colette brought something up on her tablet and then tapped each of their phones. “There you go.”

Gertie looked down at hers, gave Colette a salute, then winked at me. “Happy to help. He’s such a cutie.”

I smiled at her. “Thank you.”

“It’s the cute ones you have to look out for.” Sylvie gave me a sour look.

“Or bury them in the yard somewhere.” Susan glared at me as she walked away with her two friends.

Once they were gone, I turned to look for Colette, but she was already walking farther down the pathway. I caught up with her in an instant. “Interesting company you keep.”

“I generally only keep the best kind.” She looked me up and down. “Generally.”

“So what’s going on here?” I pointed toward her tablet.

She raised her eyebrows at me. “It’s called divide and conquer, Mr. Vauntero.”

I failed to see how her choice in teammates would help my soulmate situation. “With older grandmothers?”

She chuckled, “Can you think of anyone else who’d know more about the Island than them? Think bigger, Mr. Vauntero. Teamwork makes the dream work.”

“Did someone say teamwork?” A voice came from the exhibit next to us and we both turned.

Torren stood there. Well, it was Torren, but it wasn’t. She was a full-sized reindeer with huge antlers and a patch of teal hair in between them.

I waved her off. “No, Torren, I think we’ve got it under control.”

“Wait, is this the Torren?” Colette’s face lit up. “Your brother’s fiancé?”

“The one and only.” Torren did a little prance and the herd around her shifted uncomfortably.

“It is so nice to meet you.” Colette beamed at her. “I’ve heard so many great things. I would love your input.”

“Really? That’d be so exciting.” There was a flash of light and Torren was herself once more. She leaned on the fence. “I want to help in any way I can, since you know, what happened last year.”

“Hey, that wasn’t your fault.” I didn’t want her to feel responsible for what happened to me. “It was an accident.”

“I know.” She reached out and placed her hand on my forearm. “I just want to see you happy.”

“That is the goal,” Colette muttered. “Do you have any ideas?”

“Oh, uh . . . ideas.” Torren bit her bottom lip, and I could tell she was getting nervous.

The last thing I wanted was to make her nervous. “No, really, we’ve got it under con?—”

She turned back into a reindeer, then herself once more. “No, I can help.”

“Great, what ya got?” Colette held her tablet in her hand and ran her finger over it.

“Um.” She turned into a big brown bear and the reindeer panicked. “Crap.”

She tried to turn back but only ended up shifting into an even bigger bear. The deer darted in all different directions. Torren turned to try to calm them down, but it was too late. They all ran from her and ended up leaping over the fence. I shoved Colette out of the way. “Look out.”

She stumbled back and caught herself on another piece of the wall farther down. The deer stampeded around us, and I held my arms out, trying to calm them down. Suddenly, a huge buck spun in a circle and then charged right at me. “Not again.”

He lowered his head and jabbed his antlers right at me. I held my hands up, blocking them from stabbing, but the momentum lifted me up off the ground. My body went airborne and I soared back from the herd. My arms pinwheeled and I kicked my legs out searching for footing. I crashed headfirst into a solid wall right across from us. My body fell to the ground, and I smacked my arm and hip. Pain shot through me, and I groaned.

“Oh, GOD! Not again!” Torren screamed, and I heard her footsteps rushing toward me along with another set of hurried footsteps that were much lighter.

I groaned and sat up to see Torren and Colette standing over me with worried looks on their faces. I pointed toward my helmet. “All we needed was a helmet.”