The Sharpest Kiss by Elizabeth Myles (the false prince .txt) 📕

“Believe me, you won’t have to worry about me again.” He went inside to look for Frankie.

The rest of the group instinctively gathered around Nathan, like they were awaiting further instructions from him. They looked exhausted, dirty, and in some cases bloody, but triumphant, and Jessica thought the vampire seemed pretty proud as he swept his gaze over them.

“You were all very valiant tonight,” he said. “You fought bravely and well, and I thank you for standing with us. But you should all go home now and try to forget about what has happened here. Return to your normal lives, now that you have reclaimed them.”

“Won’t you need help tracking down the vampires that ran away?” Lucy asked him.

He smiled at her. “I believe Kiefer and I can handle that.”

Lucy looked skeptical, but she walked over to Jessica, Dara, and Jason, and gave them each a fierce hug, not seeming to mind that with the latter two, she was getting blood on her shirt. She returned to Kiefer and Nathan. “Thank you, guys,” she said, pressing her borrowed rosary and magical amulet back into Kiefer’s hand. “Seriously.”

Aaron stepped up beside her. “Yeah. I don’t even know where to start…”

“It’s okay.” Kiefer offered a magnanimous wave and grin. “Don’t bother.”

“Yes, please do not,” Nathan agreed, with a much graver expression. “After all, one could consider this Kiefer’s and my blunder to begin with. Celia did escape our confinement. That is why she was able to attack you in that alley.”

Kiefer made a face at him. “Well, you didn’t have to remind them of that,” he groaned.

Lucy chuckled. “I guess that’s one way of looking at it,” she said, “but really, the two of you didn’t have to hunt down Celia in the first place, did you? You’ve both been working hard behind the scenes all these years, trying to save all our hides when we didn’t even know we were in danger. I think that qualifies you both as heroes.”

Kiefer waved at her again, but the twinkle had returned to his eyes. “Just go on,” he said. “Get out of here and enjoy your normal lives, like Nathan said. That’ll make it all worthwhile for us.” He punctuated it with a smile, which Aaron returned. He and Lucy meandered away down the sidewalk, back to Lucy’s car.

After they’d driven away, a similar scene played out with Jason and Dara, until it was only Jessica left with the two vampire hunters.

“I should stay and talk to the police,” she told them.

“I do not think that is wise,” Nathan said.

“It’s my store,” she reminded him with a weary smile. “As soon as Frankie contacts the cops, they’re going to call me and tell me to come down here, anyway.”

“They will wonder why you were here ahead of them.”

“I’ll tell them Frankie called me and I happened to be in the neighborhood and…Oh, don’t worry, I'll come up something.”

“Very well. Kiefer and I will wait around the block for you. Text us when you are done.” Nathan’s tone and expression left no room to argue, so she didn’t. She watched Kiefer go over and talk to the two people on the sidewalk, presumably to scrub away their more problematic memories. Meanwhile, Nathan gathered up the weapons and supplies still lying around and stowed them in the truck.

Jessica went inside to get her story straight with Frankie.

◆◆◆

When the police had finally arrived and filled out her paperwork—and Frankie had kindly helped her board up the storefront before taking off—Jessica texted Kiefer. His pickup truck trundled to the curb and she leaned in the driver’s side window.

“Hey guys, can a girl get a lift? It won’t be out of the way or anything. I live right across the hall from Peter Cushing over there.” She nodded at Nathan.

“Believe me, I know.” Kiefer’s laugh was short and insinuating.

Jessica cocked her head. “What does that mean?”

“It does not mean anything,” Nathan said, “but yes, of course we will escort you home.” He exited the truck and came around to lead her to his side of the vehicle.

“Had you talked to Kiefer about me before all this happened?” she asked, her eyes wide with wonder. He didn’t answer her. “What’d you tell him?” she persisted. He still didn’t answer, but she thought she saw his lips tug up at the corners.

“Put on your seatbelt, Jessica,” he said as he handed her up into the cab.

She narrowed her eyes at him but did as she was told, taking the space in the center of the bench seat and strapping the lap belt across her middle. Once Nathan was resettled at her side, Kiefer pulled away and aimed the truck in the direction of her complex. As they rounded a corner, Jessica felt the vampire staring down at her.

“What?” she asked him.

“Peter Cushing,” he said, an amused smile still touching his mouth. “He portrayed Abraham Van Helsing, not Dracula.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“I have seen those films as well. When they were new.”

“Yeah, well, I know who played who,” she assured him, “but you were definitely in much more of a Van Helsing mode tonight. The ultimate vampire killer. My hero.”

He chuckled, and she rested her head on his shoulder. He didn’t move, but she thought she felt him relax just a smidgen. She tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and closed her eyes, trying to picture what might happen between them when they got back to their apartment building. Hoping he would kiss her goodnight. Or good morning, as it were, since it wasn’t long until sunrise now.

“Thank you,” she said, pressing her cheek against his shoulder, “for everything.”

“Do not mention it.” He patted her hand, the brief touch sending a soft sizzle sparkling through her blood. With a note of regret, he added, “Now, um...you should get some sleep.”

“What?”

She laughed, but something about the way he’d said it made her leery. She tried to pull away to look at him, and felt Kiefer touch her other