Stake Sauce: The Secret Ingredient is Love. No, Really. by RoAnna Sylver

Author:RoAnna Sylver
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Kraken Collective Books
Published: 2017-10-24T13:34:29+00:00

“Just try not to do anything… shocking,” Jude said, trying to keep the plea out of his voice as he and Pixie approached Jasper’s store.

The crowds had thinned out, and they almost had the mall to themselves, a last few underpaid retail workers closing metal shutters across their storefronts and securely locking them. He had no doubt Jasper would be here, though. The few occasions he’d been here after everything else was dark and quiet, he’d noticed Jasper’s storefront stayed open, its owner working overtime. Catching up on inventory, he’d said. Jude had honored their unspoken agreement: don’t push Jasper for details, and he wouldn’t inconveniently remember that Jude didn’t actually work nights.

“You got it,” Pixie said in a casual tone that did nothing to calm Jude’s nerves. But, despite his misgivings, Jude was relieved Pixie was here with him. He’d die before admitting it, but there was just something eerie about a deserted mall. The mannequins in particular.

“I mean it,” he said, stopping outside the store entrance. There was one other mall patron left; the woman in black still haunted her regular table, still with her cards and coffee. She raised it to them in a little toast and Jude nodded back, maneuvering Pixie far enough away that their near-whispers wouldn’t be overheard. “I’ve told him as much as he’ll let me, so this won’t be a complete shock, but there’s a difference between knowing and seeing. I don’t know if you can ever be ready for it.”

“So, showing off the fangs, turning into a bat…” Pixie started to tease, but stopped at the look of increasing apprehension on Jude’s face. “Are on the list of things I won’t be doing.”

“I just don’t want to scare him,” Jude mumbled, eyes on the doorway he was suddenly having a hard time walking through. Jasper had enough hard days without Jude adding to them.

“So just act natural?” Pixie gave him an unconvincingly wholesome smile. But it was a closed-mouth one, which Jude greatly appreciated under the circumstances.

“Natural is good. Still, maybe it’s better if I do the talking, at least to start.” Trying to gather his somewhat scattered thoughts, Jude led the way inside, stopping when he saw nobody behind the counter. “Jasper? Are you here?”

“In the back!” Jasper called and, a moment later, the rest of him followed. “Jude! And…” His eyes lit up in recognition, but he was looking past Jude, at the vampire behind him. As he looked at Pixie, his face underwent a strange series of undisguised reactions. First Jasper seemed dumbstruck to see him, then on the edge of panic—but then he seemed to reach some resolution and smiled. It wasn’t one of his theatrical grins, instead looking a little sad, or maybe resigned. “Pixie. Didn't expect to see you here before sundown.”

“I didn't really plan on it either,” Pixie said, looking considerably less-chagrined, but still peering at Jude out of the corner of his eye, as if gauging his reaction. Jude didn’t have one yet. That required a working brain, and his had just ground to a halt.

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