Bad Vampire by Lauren Dawes (read aloud books txt) 📕

arm. I spun to look at my attacker and actually breathed out a sigh of relief.

“Oh, thank God, Sawyer.”

His eyes narrowed on the crumpled heap behind me. “Stay here,” he said, then strode towards the bundle of cheap frills. Crouching down, he pushed the old woman’s hair from her face, then leapt back onto his feet. And about four feet away. At the same time. Really, it was quite a feat.

“What is it?” I asked, huddling into my borrowed jacket. It was warm, and the smell of sandalwood and something else deeply masculine tickled my nose.

“Not what,” my partner said, returning to my side but keeping his eyes glued to the old woman. “Who.”

“Who?”

“Baba Yaga.”

“Baba…” My voice trailed off with my thoughts as I tried to recall who that was. I knew the name. I snapped my fingers. “The witch from fairy tales?”

Sawyer’s expression was grim as he nodded. “The body of that child had been partially devoured.”

“Can you give a girl a little warning before you say stuff like that?” I told him hotly, resting a hand to my stomach. I was starting to feel a little queasy. That may have had something to do with the goddamn nightmare from children’s stories attacking me though.

He glanced back over at Baba Yaga, like he was waiting for her…or the Antichrist to rise. Hell, maybe they were the same thing.

“Is she dead?”

He shook his head. “Just stunned.”

My laughter, which I’d tried to contain, came out as a snort. “Yeah, that’s because she brained herself of the corner of a shipping container.”

“She isn’t known for her intelligence.” He looked down at my gun and frowned. “Those bullets should’ve stopped her though.”

“They didn’t.” I shrugged.

He studied me for a minute, then said, “Let’s go. I’ve collected as much evidence from the scene as I can.”

As we walked, Sawyer stayed close, his hand protectively on the small of my back, but the sensation of spiders crawling all over me came back, and I shivered. I felt Sawyer stare at me but chose not to look. Yup, I was brave like that. My ears were suddenly equalizing, and we stepped back into the pool of light. The cops were still there, but now there was an ambulance and the coroner too.

It all looked the same, except for the faintly lightening sky. It would be dawn soon. I glanced at my watch and was horrified to discover it was nearly four-thirty. I’d been with Baba Yaga for over an hour? How was that possible? It only felt like ten minutes had passed.

Sawyer said something to the cops standing by the tape, then guided me back to my truck. With each step, it felt like my body gained twenty pounds, weighing me down and sending a wave of lethargy over me. I couldn’t wait to crawl back into my bed again.

“You need to eat,” he said, opening up the passenger door and gesturing for me to get in.

“I need to sleep more.”

“Food first.” He slammed the door, then jogged around to the driver’s side. I snuggled down into the jacket and shut my eyes. Maybe I could get five minutes while we drove to wherever the hell we were going.

Eight

“Cat?” Sawyer murmured, his warm breath feathering over my skin.

“I don’t want to go to school today, Dad,” I said, squeezing my eyes more tightly.

He heaved a sigh, just like my dad would’ve done. “We’re here. I’m not carrying you in there.”

I peeled open one eye and looked at him. Fuck, he was hot. I frowned. “You could bring food to me out here. It would save you time, because I’m pretty comfortable right here.”

“Jesus,” he muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair. His sexy hair. Fuck! What was wrong with me? I was suddenly all hot and heavy for teacher? Although, if I was being honest, I was secretly already crushing on him.

“Okay, okay,” I said reluctantly. I had to change the subject, otherwise my brain was liable to make me jump his bones and then things would be awkward at work. I slid from the car and would’ve collapsed onto the asphalt, if it weren’t for Sawyer’s arm on my elbow.

“Easy, pussy cat.” His words were soft, careful…caring maybe. “We’re just going to walk over to the door, then you can collapse all on your own again.”

Reaching up, I pinched his cheek. “Such a sweet talker.”

He jerked his head away with a snarl, and I smiled, leaning heavily on him. I felt like the energy was draining out of my feet, and all I wanted to do was sleep.

“Cat! Wake up!” Sawyer shouted. His grip on my arm tightened, and I realized I actually had fallen asleep on him. What the actual fuck was going on? I concentrated on getting through the door of the twenty-four-hour diner he’d brought us to, slumping down into the booth when we got there. Instead of taking the seat opposite, Sawyer sat beside me.

“Don’t get handsy,” I slurred, resting my head on the table.

“I’m just making sure you don’t list sideways and fall on the floor. You’d be a trip hazard.”

“Mmmm,” I said, already drifting off again.

I jerked upright when Sawyer pinched my thigh under the table, and I frowned at him.

“What the fuck was that for?”

“You need to stay awake.”

“I am awake,” I replied indignantly.

“No, you’re drooling all over the table like it’s made of candy.”

“Try Channing Tatum.” Unfolding my arms, I placed them on the table and forced myself to sit upright. It was a struggle, because it felt like someone one was literally sucking all the energy from me.

“The food will be here in a minute.” Sawyer’s soft murmur gave me some sort of peace, and I nodded.

“Food…”

He listened, rapt, like the next thing I was about to say would be gold. “Yes?”

“I like food.”

He snorted softly. “I already know this.”

Lifting my hand in front of me, I see-sawed it from side to side. “Why do I feel like I’ve been drugged?”

He