Touched By His Vampire Charm: A Nocturne Falls Universe story by Kira Nyte

Author:Kira Nyte [Nyte, Kira]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sugar Skull Books
Published: 2018-10-16T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Saturday morning blueberry pancakes at Mummy’s Diner. A small tradition that brought a smile to Vivian’s mouth and excitement to the beginning of another day.

Except for today.

Tucked in a booth with Jackson beside her and Fawn and Kalen opposite them, she couldn’t muster much excitement. Apparently, neither could anyone else. Anxiety thrummed between them, dense and suffocating. Not even the sweet smell of pancakes could tease her mouth to water or will away the unease stirring her belly.

Jackson glanced at his watch. Again. He lifted his coffee mug for a sip, but put it down before actually drinking.

Vivian lowered her fork to the table, giving up on breakfast. She finally looked at her brother, whose haunting gaze had watched her hawkishly for the last ten minutes. She’d been avoiding his worried look.

“Jackson, one minute. Sixty seconds. Give your arm a rest before I take that watch off your wrist,” Fawn said, pushing her barely-touched pancakes to the side with a sigh. Jackson grumbled something under his breath as he dropped his hand on the table.

“Vivi,” Kalen murmured, his voice soft and comforting, a promise of support not in words but in the tone and the emotion behind his nickname for her. She forced a small smile, acknowledging what he was trying to do. He’d done it so many times before when they were prisoners at the lab. A secret embrace through one single word and all the love he held for her behind that word when he spoke.

“A setback is not the end. Mustn’t forget that,” Fawn finally said, addressing everyone’s dour mood directly. “This will get figured out and fixed. For good.”

“It’s hard to fix something that hides,” Jackson groused, tugging a hand through his hair. The mussed strands stood up in every direction until he smoothed them down, not that it helped much. He looked at Vivian. “I think it would be a good idea not to bring Douglas arou—”

“Draven,” Vivian corrected.

Jackson waved a hand. “Draven. Until we have this controlled. You know, just in case there are any moments where you regress.”

“Jealously doesn’t play well on you, Jackson,” Kalen said, his voice taut. Jackson’s cheeks reddened, but he met Kalen’s gaze without flinching.

“I’m being serious. One of the variables from my blood samples regressed twice as fast as the day before. Like math. Today is one-plus-one, tomorrow is two-plus-two, the following day four-plus-four. You see? At this rate, the loss of control could happen sooner than later, and almost without warning.” Jackson blew out a breath. “I’m not jealous, Kalen.”

“You’re as not jealous as I am not smitten.”

Fawn snorted a laugh. Vivian’s eyes widened.

“Oh, don’t go there.” Jackson twisted to look at Vivian, his eyes pleading and his face flushed. “I’m not jealous. Really. Your brother needs some manners.”

Vivian patted the back of Jackson’s hand. “I know you’re not.” She knew very well he was. “He’s just concerned. We’re all concerned.”

“That’s one hell of a strange way of showing concern when his jab was directed at me.

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