"You can recover most of that shit."
"I don't really think I can. I have nothing to prove I am who I say I am," she said, eyes going panicked.
"Your parents can—what?" I asked when she dropped down on the side of the bed, letting out a pained groan. "Is the pain coming back?" I asked, worried we'd started celebrating too early.
"No. Yes, but no. Different kind of pain. When I left my family, I sincerely hoped I would never have to see any of them again."
"Well, maybe you won't. There are ways to get fake documents. Ace has been doing it for ages for all of us. We look real legit. Socials and filed taxes and everything."
"Yeah, but that was back in your old town. We can't go there now."
We.
I also-fucking-lutely didn't really like the way that sounded.
Nope.
Not me.
"There are experts that do that shit everywhere, Nova. Don't worry about it so much. You're supposed to be happy today," I reminded her.
"Yeah," she agreed, exhaling hard. "I think I got wrapped up in the escape and the possibilities. Now I have to learn to figure out the realities. Money, food, lodging."
"You'll figure it out. You want it. You'll find a way. Gotta give that to you humans. When you want something bad enough, you figure it out. Seen it happen time and time again over the years."
"Yeah," she agreed.
"I think you need a drink," I suggested, grabbing the bottle, twisting off the lid, then bringing it over to her. "Bottoms up."
"Oh, God. That's awful," she grumbled, wiping her mouth. "It's like swallowing fire."
"Therein lies the appeal," I agreed, taking a long chug, enjoying the burn.
"Oh, the pizza," she said when there was a knock at the door.
She'd already socked away a double cheeseburger, fries, onion rings, a soda, and a milkshake. But, somehow, she still had room for pizza.
I guess it had been the better part of the day. I was still learning about humans and their constant need for nourishment. After Lenore and Jo, it became a more prominent part of our lives. But it generally impacted their men more than me.
"Good timing. You need to take your iron again," I said as she grabbed some of the cash out of the backpack, and made her way toward the door.
"Oh," she gasped as soon as she pulled it open. "God," she said, voice more desperate as she flew back a step.
I didn't have to see to know what—or who—would elicit that kind of reaction out of her.
Still, I rushed forward, moving behind her, grabbing her around the waist.
And there he was.
Renwick.
Her former master.
The vampire with the most ruthless reputation I'd personally ever come across.
You got the appeal when you looked at the bastard.
He was what they wrote stories about.
Tall, dark, handsome, impeccably dressed.
His dark hair was pushed back up top away from his classically good-looking face. Everything was in perfect proportion. All the parts worked. From the dark blue eyes to the strong jaw to the slightly cleft chin.
"Nova," he said in a cool, deep, slick voice. "I've been looking for you," he added, head cocking to the side as his gaze moved over her, taking in the sweatpants and tee. It was a far cry from the fancy dress he'd had her in back at Sanctuary. "You look...well," he said, and I couldn't tell if he was being honest or an asshole.
"Oh," Nova whimpered again, sinking back against me.
"Have you missed me?" he asked, brow arching. Almost like he dared her to say she didn't.
"Leave," I demanded, pulling Nova back a step because she seemed like she was losing her shit.
"I'll deal with you later, demon," he snapped, but his gaze stayed on Nova as her legs seemed to give up on her, leaving me holding up her weight.
"Oh yeah?" I asked, jaw tight. "And how are you going to do that? You can't come in here without permission. Sure, you could try to wait it out. But unlike your sun-challenged self, I can go out in the daylight."
The low, unbothered chuckle that moved through him made a pit of uncertainty settle in my gut.
I knew.
I knew at that moment that shit had just gone bad fast.
And it was right then that his hand lifted, going into his breast pocket, and producing a door key card. "Interesting how accommodating the owner of this establishment is. This looks a hell of a lot like permission to enter to me," he said, taking a step forward and over the threshold to prove his point.
A low, horrified whimper escaped Nova as he did so.
"I have to admit, I've been puzzled as to why a demon would steal my property," he said, tucking the card away again. "And I am even more puzzled to find my pet here, thousands of miles away. And not insane with pain."