An Unacceptable Mate

Chapter Three

That day was full of nothing but a headache and a constant stream of questions from Matt that, of course, I couldn't answer.

The pain of the migraine lasted the entire day and when the bell finally rang out, I was gone from the room before anyone was out of their seat.

    "We're running," he'd told me with a tone coated in regret.

Gritting my teeth, I tried to focus on anything except that monster's words. Who ran from their threats? He was a vampire, he of all people should know to face the enemy head on. What's more, now I had a meeting with my ray-of-sunshine boss to add to my misery.

Fuming in silence, I started my daily walk home. Alone. Shoving in earphones, I turned the volume to maximum and selected some heavy metal. I didn't know who'd put that on my iPod, but it was perfect for absorbing almost all of my attention. By the time I'd reached home, the lyrics burned on my tongue.

I also lived alone, which was a bonus because I only had to look after myself and needn't worry about privacy. In fact at my school I was somewhat a nobody which was exactly what I'd been wanting since I'd started working for British Intelligence.

Speaking of which.

Eric – the car is picking you up in ten. Be prepared.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Really, he made things ten times more dramatic than they needed to be.

Heaving a sigh, I stripped out of my school uniform and slipped under the hot stream of the shower, relaxing my muscles. There wasn't a window in here, which had its pros and cons, but being a pessimist, I found the steam more than irritating. You couldn't see a bloody thing because of it.

Stumbling over the cold floor, I reached for a towel and then wrapped it around myself. The art of ignoring him had been going so well up until I opened the bathroom door, entered my bedroom and started to pull on some black leggings. Something cold shot down my spine like a trembling exhale. Topless, I swivelled round, expecting to find an open door or him. To my slight disappointment, it was the door which I had left ajar.

Calm down. He wouldn't dare come into your home, especially when you're naked, I reminded myself and then hesitated. Or would he?

I returned to the double bed to pick up a tight, dark grey top and then my black, zip-up hoody. My phone buzzed as I pulled my damp bronze hair up into a bun, allowing a few tendrils to escape over my face.

Eric – We're outside.

Me – Rodger that.

I gripped my mobile and shoved the only stake I owned into a specific pocket on the inside of my hoody, trying not to think that he'd touched it just last night.

A black, shiny Rolls Royce sat just outside the large, empty drive. A tiny smile pulled at my lips. It felt good to travel in style at least.

Just as I was about to slide in, someone whispered in my ear, or maybe it was the wind? I snapped my head to the side, eyes narrowed. Nothing. Clearly I was going insane having thought a voice had purred, "Run, Charlie."

I wasn't running. There wasn't a chance in hell that I was leaving this place out of fear that someone was going to harm or kill me. It just wasn't how I functioned.

    "Charlie! How have you been?" Eric asked enthusiastically from across the back seat.

I managed a smile of sorts, closing the door behind me. "Fine," I lied. "Yourself, Eric?"