It's been three months since Delilah "Del" Cross stumbled her way into the mysterious town of Whisper Valley. During that time she's grown to appreciate her new life amongst ghosts, vampires, mages, zombies, and werewolves. Yet, there's still so m...
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The next morning, I opened my apartment door to find a long table covered in breakfast food and an assortment of morning beverages. The Bodies were all housed in the service corridor of Whisper Valley's hotel. Some ways down the hall from where our solitary rooms sat, were the laundry room and utilities closet. Past that were the kitchen and dining hall. Usually, we were granted access to the hall to grab our meals for the day, but apparently with the influx of guests in the hotel, Spencer decided we'd be dining in our rooms for awhile.
Despite the displeasure of being relegated a second class citizen, I took some comfort in the new arrangement. It wasn't just an entourage of werewolves that were checking in, but also guests for the wedding being held between my bosses, the vampire Matias and the zombie Calista; attendees for the grand masquerade that included the conversion ceremony of Zelda, the beloved wife of the vampire lord, Dragan Antonov; and paranormal tourists who were eager to take part in the town's Blood Moon festivities. The hotel was bursting with vampires, werewolves, zombies, and perhaps other strange creatures I hadn't even been introduced to yet. It was easier for me, and them, if we all kept our distance, especially when the guests were feeling hungry.
Grabbing myself a bagel to go, I headed down the hall and past the hotel's front desk. I didn't even bother to look around the lobby to see what mythical monsters might be perusing their phone in one of the elegant wingback chairs. I had enough on my plate dealing with the town's residents, I didn't need to bother myself with studying visitors.
I headed down the street, taking small bites of the cinnamon raisin bagel that had caught my eye. It was good, Spencer's food usually was, but it lacked the warmth and appeal that I was accustomed to.
Usually I started my mornings at the Brew and Stew diner. There I'd meet Everett and we'd whittle away the morning by sharing coffee and smiles. Admittedly, his cheer started to darken as the Blood Moon drew closer and closer, but it was still the highlight of my day, even if his stress blanketed an uncomfortable silence over our usual booth.
As I passed the diner on my way to the neighborhood near the woods, I glanced through the tall windows that encompassed the long building. To my relief, I didn't see the burly sheriff sitting upon a chrome stool or in a vinyl booth. I shook my head, feeling foolish for even doubting his word. He said we had to put a hold on our meals together until after the visiting pack left, which made sense. There was no reason to suspect anything weird was going on despite his strange relationship with Claire and the secretive conversations they have when they think I'm not looking.
You're overreacting, I told myself, reprimanding my uncertain heart. You heard one conversation about a blood moon, a treaty, and a deadline between him and Claire. They're wolves and that have wolf things they need to attend to. There's nothing to be concerned with. I trust him as he trusts me. I know he does because he cares for me.
I knew it. I just knew he did. I knew that Everett treasured me in some way. I felt it in his kiss, in the way he held me close, in the way his eyes stripped me of my armor and left me blissfully vulnerable before him. Yet, I still found another voice inside my head. A voice that was filled with spite as it cursed the empty diner.
